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Social work courses

Develop the skills to support and advocate for others

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Introduction to Social work

What drives you? If it’s a passion to level the playing field, you’re in the right place.

Social workers serve the marginalised and oppressed, applying skills and knowledge in advocacy, counselling, social policy, law and social justice.

Become a social worker by taking social work courses online—choose from multiple options, including bachelor degrees, master degrees and short courses by leading Australian universities, through Open Universities Australia.

Explore social work courses
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Debbie studied community development with Murdoch University, through Open Universities Australia

Discover social work courses

Online social work subjects and short courses

University of New England
Study method
100% online
Entry requirements
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Start dates
Starts 21 Oct 2024, 23 Jun 2025, 20 Oct 2025

Next enrolment closes 13 Oct

View all subjects

Online social work degrees

Charles Sturt University

Bachelor of Social Work

UndergraduateCSU-SOC-DEG

Help people from all walks of life

Study method
Online & on-campus
Duration
4 years full time or part time equivalent
Southern Cross University

Bachelor of Social Work

UndergraduateSCU-SWK-DEG

Get professionally accredited and become a social worker

Study method
Online & on-campus
Duration
4 years full time or part time equivalent
University of Southern Queensland

Bachelor of Social Work

UndergraduateUSQ-SWK-DEG

Advanced communication skills and relationship building

Study method
Online & on-campus
Duration
4 years full time or part time equivalent
University of New England

Bachelor of Social Work

UndergraduateUNE-SWK-DEG

Become an accredited social worker and empower individuals and communities

Study method
Online & on-campus
Duration
4 years full time or part time equivalent
View all bachelor degrees

Discover 27 ways to study social work with leading Australian universities.

Explore social work courses

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Social work study FAQs

What is a social work degree?

A social work degree teaches you how to improve the lives of vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, First Nations people, migrants, refugees and those impacted by domestic violence, alcohol or drug abuse, or mental illness.

With a degree in social work, you could directly counsel or advocate for affected individuals, groups or communities—often, these jobs are with government-funded or non-profit organisations. Other social work graduates choose to direct their efforts into program planning, social action and policy making.

To practise as a social worker, you must complete a Bachelor of Social Work or Master of Social Work that that is accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)—all courses offered through Open Universities Australia meet this standard.

What do you learn in a social work degree?

Your social work degree will include units and topics such as:

  • sociology
  • mental health
  • human services
  • human rights
  • inequality
  • developing cross-cultural competency
  • understanding First Nations perspectives
  • interpersonal communication
  • ethics
  • social policy
  • law in relation to social work

While most of your degree can be studied online, you’ll also be required to complete two placements of at least 500 hours each, in a health or human service organisation. This workplace learning will help you stride with confidence into your future social work career.

Why should I study social work?

You should study social work because it’s a profession that pushes for social justice and human rights. No matter how tough your day at work, you’ll always leave knowing that you’ve improved someone’s life.

According to the Australian Government, we’ll need 25.2% more social workers by 2026, which translates into an additional 19,100 jobs. Knowing that ‘doing good’ is in demand—priceless. 

Why should I study social work online?

Studying a degree in social work online is ideal if you have a busy schedule. With most coursework taking place online, it’s easy to make the jigsaw puzzle pieces of work, family, friends and study fit together.

But what about putting theory into practice? It's a person-centred career, after all. In addition to online coursework, you’ll complete two work placements as part of your social work degree. Your work placement could be in-person or a combination of in-person and remote working.

Why should I study online through Open Universities Australia?

There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.

  • You can enrol without entry requirements 
    We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don’t meet the entry requirements for a degree, we’ll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
  • You have total control over how you study
    Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We’ll introduce you to flexible study options you didn’t even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.
  • You’ll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
    Once you enrol through us, you’ll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you’ll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.
  • We’ll help you navigate the university world
    Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.
What ATAR do you need for social work?

Depending on the university, social work degrees ask for an ATAR that can range from the high 50s to the high 60s. However, at Open Universities Australia, you don’t need an ATAR to be accepted into a social work degree.

Because we have a special arrangement with our university partners, you can bypass entry requirements on undergraduate courses. Instead you can instantly enrol in online social work subjects that are open to all. Upon successful completion of these subjects, you will meet the academic requirements for a full degree.

How long is a social work degree?

It depends on the course and whether you choose something short or long-term. Here’s a general guide: 

CourseDuration
Single subject10-18 weeks
Short course10-18 weeks
Undergraduate certificate6 months (if full time)
Diploma1 year (if full time) 
Associate degree2 years (if full time) 
Bachelor degree3 years (if full time)
Graduate certificate6 months (if full time)
Graduate diploma1 year (if full time)
Masters degree2 years (if full time)

If you study a degree in social work through Open Universities Australia, you have the flexibility to choose how many subjects you take per term. This means you can complete your qualification at a faster or slower pace than you would on campus.   

What jobs are available with a social work degree?

Social work offers a range of careers to support to people in need.

Some examples of social work roles include:

  • social worker
  • counsellor
  • case manager
  • mental health clinician
  • community worker
  • housing worker
  • policy development advisor
  • youth worker
  • child protection officer
  • outreach coordinator
  • community development coordinator
  • domestic violence women’s advocate
How do I know if I’m eligible to apply for a course?

Before starting an enrolment, it’s important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you’re eligible to apply. If you don’t quite meet the requirements, we may be able to help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study.

Chat with us to find out more.

How do I enrol?

Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.

When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Apply now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.

Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.

Please note that enquiries and applications for some courses are handled directly by the university. If this is the case, it will be indicated on the course listing page.  

For more information about enrolment, read our online self-service enrolling instructions. If you get stuck at any time, contact us and we’ll talk you through it.

Student stories and study advice

What’s in the 2024 budget for online students?

The Federal Government made a lot of education announcements in its 2024 budget last week, including a welcome change to HELP indexation. So what are the main things you need to know about as an online student? Here’s a quick and easy recap. 

5 inspiring reasons to pursue a community services career

You could support people living with disability, advocate for those suffering a health crisis, or assist those experiencing family violence. Find out why a career in community services can be rewarding and varied. 

Burnout in social work and what you can do about it

While social workers are at higher risk of burnout than many other professions, here are some real, actionable strategies to keep it away.

What is a Bachelor of Social Work?

A Bachelor of Social Work is your must-have qualification to become a social worker. With it, you’ll help individuals, groups and communities heal, exercise their rights and determine their own lives.

We’re here to guide you to the right uni course

A student leaping from one side of a platform to another, with a blue sky in the background.

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation helping every Australian to access thousands of university courses.

Over 523,000 students have enrolled in university through us since 1993.

How we can help you

Studying through Open Universities Australia means we take care of the guesswork and administration of university study, so you can focus on learning.

You don't need a strong academic history to go to uni

We make it possible for everyone to start university through single subjects, regardless of ATAR or study experience. These subjects are covered by government loans, and can be used to upskill or gain entry into a qualification.

You have the flexibility to start at multiple points during the year

We’re not restricted by a traditional academic calendar, so you can enrol when it suits your life. You also have total control over how you study. You can scale up (or down) your study load and even pause your course if you need to.

You can rely on us as an unbiased destination for online tertiary education

As a not for profit, we have your best interests at heart. Our advisors are here 7 days a week to guide and support you. It’s our priority to get you qualified with the university of your choice.

Enrol in courses from 25 of Australia's leading universities

Southern Cross University logoCharles Sturt University logo
University of South Australia logoTorrens University Australia logo
University of the Sunshine Coast logoUniversity of Adelaide logo
Griffith University logoJames Cook University Australia logo
Flinders University logoThe University of Queensland logo
Edith Cowan University logoThe University of Notre Dame Australia logo
Curtin University logoThe University of Newcastle logo
University of New England logoBond University logo
Macquarie University logoUniversity of Southern Queensland logo
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