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CL90 - Master of Social Work (Qualifying)

Overview

Course Overview

The Master of Social Work (Qualifying) program is designed to prepare knowledgeable, ethical and competent entry-level social work practitioners. Through the integration of theoretical concepts with practical experience, graduates cultivate a nuanced, critical analytical approach to navigate the complexities and diversity of social work practice. This approach equips graduates to effectively respond to the needs of diverse individuals, groups and communities in various practice settings.  Critical reflection, rigorous appraisal, empathy and respect for diversity form the foundation of the course. During field placements, students, supervised by qualified social workers, have the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in practice creatively. Students receive encouragement and support to actively engage in all aspects of learning and teaching, including participating in practice-based activities within living labs.  

As a graduate of the Master of Social Work (Qualifying) Course, you will demonstrate advanced knowledge of theories, practice research and methods for responding to complex social work contexts. You will apply ethical frameworks to specialised practice skills, including communication, assessment, intervention, and evaluation, empowering you to support people facing social and structural injustice. Throughout the program, you will develop a critically reflective and reflexive understanding of social work theory, research and professional practice. You will critically examine assumptions related to psycho-social development across the life cycle. Additionally, you will evaluate the implications of medical and social constructions of disability, chronic illness, trauma and mental health and reconstruct practice approaches that will contribute to health and well-being. Furthermore, you will be able to assess how the broad social, cultural, political, legal, policy, economic, historical and global structures perpetuate inequality and injustice and explore avenues for promoting social change and advocating for marginalised communities.

All graduates will be eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).

   

Career Information

A social work qualification provides a wide range of employment opportunities across diverse fields of practice. Many of these will involve social workers assisting client groups to achieve social inclusion, supporting people to achieve a better quality of life and facilitate individual and community well-being. Graduates have the opportunity to practice in a large number of human services across every state and territory as well as internationally. The most prominent sectors in which social workers are found are in health, government administration, child protection, youth justice, prisons, disability, aged care, mental health, and working with people from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background. Social workers are employed at federal, state and local levels of government. Non-government agencies in the community sector are also large employers of social work graduates where the work can include counselling, case-management, early intervention strategies with families at risk, advocacy, mediation and community development. Agencies include Relationships Australia, Anglicare, Baptist Care, Red Cross, Women's Health and many others. A growing trend for social workers with several years experience is moving into private practice focusing on the mental health issues experienced by their clients.

Course Details
Duration 2 years full-time
Credit Points that Must be Earned 96
Number of Units Required CQUniversity uses the concept of credits to express the amount of study required for a particular course and individual units. The number of units varies between courses. Units in postgraduate courses normally consist of 6 points of credit or multiples thereof (e.g. 12, 18, 24).
Expected Hours of Study One point of credit is equivalent to an expectation of approximately two hours of student work per week in a term.
Course Type Postgraduate Award
Qualification (post nominal) MSocWk(Q)
AQF Level Level 9: Masters Degree (Coursework)
Course Fees
Indicative Year - 2025
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $17,040
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $34,080

Admission Codes

Domestic Students
Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes 		Not Applicable
International Students
CRICOS Codes
Where and when can I start?
Units offered internally at the below campuses may be delivered using a combination of face-to-face and video conferencing style teaching.
Units offered via MIX mode are delivered online and require compulsory attendance of site-specific learning activities such as on-campus residential schools, placements and/or work integrated learning. See Course Features tab for further information. Online units are delivered using online resources only.
Please Click Here for more information.
The following tables list the courses availabilities by location and term. Directing your pointer over your preferred location will provide further information if this course is not available for the full duration. Please be sure to also check individual unit availability by location and term prior to enrolling.

Domestic Availability

Term 3 - 2025

Sorry, no domestic availabilities found.

Term 2 - 2025

Sorry, no domestic availabilities found.
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International Availability

Term 3 - 2025

Sydney

Term 2 - 2025

Sydney
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For any problems regarding admissions availability for the selected course please contact 13 CQUni (13 27 86) or send us an email at http://contactus.cqu.edu.au/
What do I need to start?
Entry Requirements

To apply for entry to the MSW (Q) course, applicants must satisfy academic and English language requirements.

Academic Entry Requirements:

To be eligible for this course, applicants must have completed a relevant three-year AQF 7 or 8 level degree course that includes at least one year (equivalent to 8 units) of full-time studies in the social and behaviour 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, and
  • 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, and
  • sustainability with a health/social focus.

English Requirements:

To meet the English language proficiency requirements, applicants are required to provide documentation confirming completion of one of the following qualifications within the last five years, where the language of instruction was English:

  • a secondary qualification (Year 11 and 12, or equivalent), or
  • a bachelor-level qualification study for at least two years full-time with a minimum overall GPA of 4.0 completed.

If you do not satisfy any of the above, you will need to undertake an English language proficiency test:

  • an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) achieving an overall band score of at least 7.0 with a minimum 7.0 score across all four skill areas: reading, writing, speaking and listening. 

English test results remain valid for no more than two years between the final examination date and the date of commencement of study and must appear on a single result certificate.

Each student will be assessed individually.

Assumed Knowledge

Students with knowledge of the behavioural and social sciences will be well prepared for undertaking the Master of Social Work (Qualifying).

Security Requirements

All field education contexts will require relevant state based working with children clearances. State based criminal background checks and Federal police checks are required. Where issues emerge with these checks the Head of Course will implement a formal process of internal and/or external ethical consideration.

Health Requirements

There are a series of mandatory checks that can differ slightly from State to State. For example, Queensland students have the most comprehensive list and the following is required (If they have a placement at Queensland Health some additional checks are required):.:

Mandatory Checks:

Immunisation and Serology

Hepatitis A This item may take up to 6 months to complete

Hepatitis B This item may take up to 7 months to complete

Influenza Annual vaccination

Tuberculosis Long waiting periods may apply, allow adequate time

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccinations take up to 1 month to complete

Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Renewed every 10 years

Varicella (Chicken Pox) Vaccinations take up to 1 month to complete

Security Checks

Working With Children This item may take over 28 business days to complete

Australian Federal Police Check This item may take over 28 business days to complete

CPR and First Aid

CPR Allow adequate time to book/obtain your certificate

First Aid Allow adequate time to book/obtain your certificate

State Health Documents

Qld Health Deed Poll

Qld Health Orientation Checklist

CQUniversity Documents

CQUniversity Student Declaration

CQUniversity Student ID Renewed every 3 years

Driver's Licence

Course Features

Awards and Accreditation

Interim Awards Not applicable
Exit Awards Not applicable
Accreditation

  • Core

    This course will be accredited with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). Once the course is approved by Academic Board the Head of Course will write to the AASW informing them that they intend to offer a Master of Social Work (Qualifying) degree commencing in Term 1, 2021. The Head of Course will follow the guide-lines provided by the AASW in preparing a document to be submitted to the AASW with full details of the course structure. The AASW will appoint a consultant to review this documentation early in 2020 and this person will work with the Head of Course to enable provisional accreditation to occur. An accreditation panel will be appointed in 2022 where a review of the course will occur and a positive outcome will see full accreditation for a 5 year period.

Residential School Requirements

No Residential School for this course.

Practicum/Work Placement

SOWK28005 - Social Work Field Education 1 is the first work-integrated learning placement comprising 500 hours. The placement occurs in an agency approved by the University Field Education Coordinators and requires supervision from a qualified social worker. Field education may be organised in metropolitan, urban, regional, rural and remote areas. Students must complete all units in accordance with the prerequisites and undertake a successful interview with the Field Education Coordinator to determine placement readiness. Students must meet the inherent requirements for the course and successfully complete all necessary administrative/screening and legal obligations to undertake placement in organisational settings.
SOWK29007 - Social Work Field Education 2 is the second work-integrated learning placement comprising 500 hours. The placement occurs in an agency approved by the University Field Education Coordinators and requires supervision from a qualified social worker. Field education may be organised in metropolitan, urban, regional, rural and remote areas. Students must complete all units in accordance with the pre-requisites and undertake a successful interview with the Field Education Coordinator to determine placement readiness. Students must meet the inherent requirements for the course and successfully complete all necessary administrative/screening and legal obligations to undertake placement in organisational settings.

Predicted Enrolments

Year Number of Students
First Year 25
Second year 40
Third Year 60
Inherent Requirements
There are currently no inherent requirements associated with this course.
Core Learning Outcomes
  • 1. Evaluate the theoretical and empirical knowledge-base that informs the discipline of social work
  • 2. Demonstrate sophisticated verbal and non-verbal communication strategies with individuals, families, communities and organisations
  • 3. Develop an ethical practice framework based on a critical examination of social work values and assumptions
  • 4. Analyse and appraise structural inequality embedded in policy, practice, education and research
  • 5. Integrate knowledge and skills in order to enhance inclusive practice
  • 6. Describe the historical and structural inequality experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and the impact of this on their lived experience
  • 7. Develop strategies for respectful practice with diverse communities
  • 8. Justify and defend the promotion of advocacy for social transformation. .
  Course Learning Outcomes
Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1. KNOWLEDGE Have a body of knowledge that includes the understanding of recent developments in a discipline and/or area of professional practice
2. KNOWLEDGE Have an understanding of research principles and methods applicable to a field of work and/or learning
3. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge and to reflect critically on theory and professional practice or scholarship
4. SKILLS Have cognitive, technical and creative skills to investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories and to apply established theories to different bodies of knowledge or practice
5. SKILLS Have cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate and evaluate complex ideas and concepts at an abstract level
6. SKILLS Have communication and technical research skills to justify and interpret theoretical propositions, methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions to specialist and non-specialist audiences
7. SKILLS Have technical and communication skills to design, evaluate, implement, analyse and theorise about developments that contribute to professional practice or scholarship
8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to use creativity and initiative to new situations in professional practice and/or for further learning
9. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to use high level personal autonomy and accountability
10 APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to plan and execute a substantial research-based project, capstone experience and/or piece of scholarship.
APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Communicate, interact and collaborate with others effectively in culturally or linguistically diverse contexts in a culturally respectful manner
Course Structure

In order to complete this course, you must:

  1. Complete the core structure

Core Structure

View Full Course Structure
Number of units: 12 Total credit points: 96

The Master of Social Work (Qualifying) requires students to complete 12 units, a total of 96 credit points. Each unit is a compulsory unit.

Year 1 - Term 1
Students must complete the following compulsory units:
SOWK28001 Interviewing, Negotiation and Mediation Skills
SOWK28002 History, Culture, Resilience and Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
SOWK28003 Psychosocial Health and Wellbeing Across the Life Cycle
SOWK28004 Cross-Cultural Issues in Social Work
Year 1 - Term 2
Students must complete the following compulsory units:
SOWK29001 Ethical and Legal Issues in Practice
SOWK28005 Social Work Field Education 1
Year 2 - Term 1
Students must complete the following compulsory units:
SOWK29002 Working with Families, Groups and Communities
SOWK29003 Contemporary Social Policy Development and Implementation
SOWK29004 Interpersonal, Family and Structural Violence
SOWK29006 Social Work Research for Practice
Year 2 - Term 2
Students must complete the following compulsory units:
SOWK29005 Social Work Theories and the Practice Context
SOWK29007 Social Work Field Education 2

More Details
There is no additional information for this course.