Master of Social Work (Qualifying)

The Master of Social Work (Qualifying) at Excelsia University College is a two-year postgraduate qualification for people who want to work as social workers in Australia. It is a qualifying degree, which means it prepares you for professional social work practice rather than simply extending an undergraduate major in the field. You will study subjects that cover social work theory, Australian social policy and law, human development across the lifespan, mental health practice, child and family work, and research methods. Field education is a core part of the degree, and you should expect supervised placements in agencies such as hospitals, community health services, schools, family support organisations and government departments. Placement is where most students say the learning clicks, you sit with real clients, write real case notes and learn how to work inside a real organisation.

The course runs over two years of full-time study, usually across semesters or trimesters. Each unit of study carries credit points, and you need to pass the required number of credit points to graduate. As a master's degree, it sits at AQF Level 9. That means it builds on prior study, normally a bachelor's degree with some social science content, and takes you to a professional level of practice. The final part of the degree often includes a capstone unit or a research project where you apply what you have learned to a question that matters to the sector. Some students use this to look closely at a placement experience or an issue they encountered in the field.

Skills you build include interviewing and assessment, case planning, group work, advocacy, working with people in crisis, understanding legislation that affects practice, and writing clearly for courts, agencies and reports. You also learn how to work with people from different cultural backgrounds, which matters in Australia's diverse communities. The degree suits people changing careers into social work, graduates in psychology, sociology, youth work or community development, and people already working in welfare or human services who want to become qualified social workers. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and after graduating you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. English requirements for social work are higher than for many other courses, IELTS Academic 7.0–7.5 is the usual standard because of the communication demands of the job. Check the official Excelsia University College page and the CRICOS register for current details on fees, intake dates and English equivalents.

• Hospital social worker, public and private hospitals, working with patients, families and discharge planning.
• Child protection practitioner, state and territory child safety departments.
• Mental health social worker, community mental health teams, NGOs and clinical services.
• Family support worker, family relationship centres and community organisations.
• School social worker or wellbeing officer, government and independent schools.
• Community development officer, local councils and community agencies.
• Aged care social worker, residential aged care and home support services.
• Disability support coordinator or case manager, NDIS service providers.
• Refugee and settlement worker, migrant and multicultural services.
• Policy or research officer, government departments, peak bodies and social research organisations.