Master of Social Work (Qualifying)

Social work is an academic, practice-based profession that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people (AASW Practice Standards 2013). Consistent with this statement, upon completing the course, you will be equipped with a sound knowledge of the underlying principles, concepts, and critical skills in social work as well as demonstrated capabilities in critical thinking, ethical and reflective practice, and continuous professional development. The Master of Social Work (Qualifying) will incorporate theoretical content that builds on knowledge acquired in previous higher education. In line with the accreditation standards set out by the AASW (ASWEAS 2021), the Master of Social Work (Qualifying) course will prepare you with the requisite theoretical knowledge, skills, and ethical framework for social work practice within diverse client systems across various practice contexts. This two-year course will encompass required AASW (ASWEAS 2021) core curriculum content on constructions of social work purpose, place, and practice; power, oppression, and exploitation; culture, identity, and discrimination; psychosocial health and wellbeing across the life course; and working with First Nations people including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities. The course will focus on assisting individuals, groups, and communities at the personal and structural levels to bring about positive social change. In keeping with this dual focus, the contemporary curriculum is ensconced within a human rights and social justice framework and the Master of Social Work (Qualifying) will develop your knowledge about a wide range of fields and methods of social work practice, including direct practice, social policy and research, group work, community development, management, and leadership, while at the same time situating this knowledge to take into account local, national, international, and global trends. You will be encultured into the profession of social work through an integrated curriculum that merges direct practice with leadership and advocacy social work roles within a contemporary and transformative approach to practice and social change. Field education through placements will contribute to opportunities for experiential learning, application, and development of theoretical knowledge and understanding across a variety of workplace settings where social work takes place. Experiential learning via classroom activities, online activities, and field practicums will assist you in linking theory to practice and applying learning to practice.

To meet the academic entry requirements for the Master of Social Work (Qualifying), you will need to meet one of the following criteria:

Direct Entry

You must have completed a relevant three-year AQF Level 7 degree course that includes at least one year (equivalent to 8 units) of full-time studies in the social and behavioural sciences.

Examples of studies in behavioural science include:

Psychology, including psychology research and policy

Counselling/therapeutic roles in areas such as play therapy, rehabilitation counselling, art therapy, disability, and inclusion

Specialist clinical areas such as child development, drug and alcohol, working with ageing/disability populations, emergency services, education, family violence

Allied health areas such as nursing/midwifery, health promotion, occupational/speech/physiotherapy, occupational health, audiology

Examples of studies in social sciences include:

Anthropology

Community development

Criminology

Economics with a health/social focus

First Nation/Indigenous studies

Geography

International relations

Legal studies with a health/social focus

Politics/political sciences

Public health

Sociology/social sciences

Sustainability with a health/social focus

Graduate Certificate Pathway

If you have successfully completed an AQF Level 7 Bachelor degree with four relevant units of study in social and behavioural sciences AND have successfully completed Acknowledge Education’s Graduate Certificate in Health and Community, you are eligible for a pathway to the Master of Social Work (Qualifying) at Acknowledge Education.

Pre-requisite Unit Set Pathway

If you have successfully completed an AQF Level 7 Bachelor’s degree but do not have any relevant units of study in social and behavioural sciences, you have the opportunity to complete 4 units of our Bachelor of Community Services course. By successfully completing Acknowledge Education’s Graduate Certificate in Health and Community, you will be eligible for a pathway to the Master of Social Work (Qualifying) at Acknowledge Education.