Social Work is a career for those who refuse to accept injustice. With a Bachelor of Social Work, Flinders will equip you with the knowledge and skills to tackle the toughest social issues facing our communities, such as homelessness, domestic violence, and racial inequalities.
When you study at Flinders, you'll experience an adaptable degree that incorporates learning from a range of disciplines, including psychology, sociology and social policy. You'll learn from an experienced teaching team who will show you what life as a social worker can be like and where you can go with a Social Work degree. As a social work student, you'll graduate job-ready, completing a total of 1000 hours of placement, with opportunities both locally and rurally.
Social Work is an industry in high demand — join the community of Flinders Social Work graduates who have enjoyed diverse careers, including roles as a social worker, community development practitioner, policy officer, project officer, program coordinator, researcher, advocate and activist.
Change the world for the better at Flinders University. Explore your study options at Bedford Park, our City campus, and online.
Explore a range of postgraduate Sport courses with up to 80% off fees, including Master of Social Work and the Graduate Certificate in Leading Mental Health and Wellbeing.
*Government subsidies enable Flinders to offer domestic applicants a reduction of up to 80% off full course fees through Commonwealth Support Places. Not all courses. Offer subject to change.
No.1 in SA
in Social Work for full-time employment and overall educational experience.
(The Good Universities Guide 2023 (postgraduate), public SA-founded universities only)
No.1 in SA
in Social Work for full-time employment, learning resources, overall educational experience, student support and teaching quality.
(The Good Universities Guide 2024 (undergraduate), public SA-founded universities only)
Find your fearless at your own pace, from your own place.
With online study at Flinders, you can balance your study with the rest of your life — and we're here to support you every step of the way.
*National Skills Commission, 2021 employment projections for the five years to 2026.
Flinders Social Work provides career-ready skills and knowledge to those people who are driven to create a society that is fair, supportive, and inclusive. We are South Australia's No.1 for full-time employment and median salary,* in a field with over 40,000 workers (nationally) and very strong job growth projected through to 2026.**
Social Work careers are not for the faint-hearted, but they are incredibly important and in high-demand. Social Work graduates work in government departments, hospitals, health and community centres, welfare agencies and many other organisations across the world.
Social Work graduates make a difference, and Flinders Social Work degrees provide hands-on study and real-world placements to ensure our graduates are prepared for a challenging, rewarding career. Our overall quality of educational experience is rated No.1 in South Australia.***
*No. 1 in SA in Social Work for full-time employment and median salary . The Good Universities Guide 2021 (postgraduate), public SA-founded universities only ** Social Work is projected to have very strong employment growth through to 2026 National Skills Commission 2021 ***No. 1 in SA in Social Work for overall quality of educational experience . The Good Universities Guide 2020 (undergraduate), public SA-founded universities only.
Potential occupations:
Employers:
Supporting Children who have Experienced Trauma micro-credential
This micro-credential is designed to support and guide your learning on interpersonal trauma and its impacts on children. Whatever context you work in, this topic will help you to work with children and their families with increased confidence and skill, providing them with the support that they need.
Research to change the world
Flinders' Social Work research is world-standard#, and our Social Work Innovation Research Living Space (SWIRLS) is a leading national social work research centre, undertaking research that uses evidence and lived-experience, to create innovative solutions in and around social work.
SWIRLS' 'Living Lab' approach brings together skilled researchers, policy makers, social work practitioners and related professions to collaborate, innovate and co-design answers to complex social problems.
#Excellence in Research for Australia 2018
Working towards a better society
With world-standard research, ever-deepening partnerships with major industry stakeholders, highly skilled teachers with practical social work experience and an embedded passion to solving the problems of social injustice, Flinders Social Work is determined to help the troublemakers change the world and work towards a more inclusive, fairer society.
“
Flinders University Social Work course offers all the academic and professional tools needed for students to achieve their goals. The environment of the campus and learning areas are very encouraging. With supportive and helpful teaching staff, and endless opportunities, studying Social Work at Flinders will help you to achieve your goals and help improve people’s lives"
Danielle Hanson, Bachelor of Social Work
Danielle Hanson’s decision to undertake a Bachelor of Social Work at Flinders University was born of a deep interest in people, and a desire to help them when life gets hard.
“Compassion and a general interest in people are two elements which made me gravitate towards this course; the practicality of the course and all the areas one can work in after graduation also appealed to me”.
Danielle is not alone. Social work contributes to a more just society, and many students are keen to see how they can help make their mark in this rewarding field. Flinders’ Bachelor of Social Work can take your passion and combine it with work ready skills to prepare you for a range of career options.
“My desired goal is to be in a job where I can utilise my degree and all the tools I learnt at university to my full potential, in a work environment that's challenging and rewarding”.
Your path could lead you towards becoming a social worker, advocate, drug and alcohol counsellor, assessment officer or child protection practitioner. Flinders’ teachers and mentors are highly experienced, and the course offers intensive work placements.
“Flinders University Social Work course offers all the academic and professional tools needed for students to achieve their goals. The environment of the campus and learning areas are very encouraging. With supportive and helpful teaching staff, and endless opportunities, studying Social Work at Flinders will help you to achieve your goals and help improve people’s lives”.
Study a Master of Social Work
If you already have an undergraduate degree, our Master of Social Work will allow you to enter the profession and become a qualified social worker, building on your first degree.
A Flinders’ Master of Social Work opens the door to a meaningful career in a diverse, multiskilled profession. This professionally accredited degree will enable you to have a career as an advocate for a more just society. You can promote awareness of the injustices in today’s society, and by working with policies, people, families, communities, and systems, make a positive change.
I decided to study a Master of Social Work at Flinders because I believe that everyone in the society, irrespective of our differences in race, religious /cultural belief, age, ability, gender, sexuality or social economical class, all deserve a fair go in achieving their life goals. My degree has prepared me to be a voice to the voiceless, oppressed and vulnerable persons in society. And to practice in a way that promotes their empowerment, strength, rights, safety and wellbeing.
In Flinders Master of Social Work, students come from diverse backgrounds and professions, it really enriches the discussions we have in classrooms and tutorials because everyone contributes from their own unique perspective. Our lecturers have both academic and professional backgrounds and therefore can teach from both theoretical and practical perspectives. Flinders campus has beautiful trees and nature and overlooks the sea which enables us to enjoy sunset. Flinders has the complete package from beautiful campus to quality education.
I have always had a keen interest in social issues and social justice, and this course provided the opportunity to develop my skills and learning in these areas. I have had a very positive learning experience at Flinders University. I have developed my academic skills, gained a vast array of employability skills and broadened my critical thinking skills in both the area of study (social work) but also as a global citizen. I left with confidence in my knowledge and skills as a young social worker and have grown as a person from the University experience. I'm now working full-time as a social worker. I'd say to anyone, if you want an environment that inspires and supports your learning experience in a supported and welcoming community, then Flinders University is the place for you.
My social work degree has prepared me for my career in several ways and equipped me with numerous theories and tools that I can incorporate into my future practise when working with clients. I completed my first placement with Aged Care and Housing (ACH) where I had the privilege of working within a multi-disciplinary team with some extremely passionate, inspiring, hard working professionals. Working in their team allowed me to understand my role as a social worker and consequently, assisted me in developing my own social work identity.
Studying social work at Flinders has enabled me to fully acknowledge my personal strengths and facilitated my strong desire to help, support and empower people in a meaningful way. The placement experience and learning opportunities within the degree will focus your strengths and skills, increasing your confidence and enabling you to become an advocate for human rights and equality for all.
Social work is a career that makes a positive impact on society. Your career could see you working in child protection or with older people. You could become a disability advocate or a drug and alcohol counsellor. You will enhance the wellbeing of individuals, groups and communities and address inequality and injustice.
You can study a Bachelor of Social Work if you haven’t studied at university before or Master of Social Work if you have a previous university degree with social science qualifications.
At Flinders we offer a variety of Social Work courses at postgraduate level; you can study a Master of Social Work, a Graduate Certificate in Society and the Individual, or a Graduate Certificate in Trauma Responsive Practice.
Yes, you can study the Master of Social Work online. The Bachelor of Social Work (External) allows online study, however, 20 days of face-to-face learning at Flinders University's Bedford Park campus is required.
Social work jobs in Adelaide include:
Government, not for profit and private organisations working in child protection, homelessness, domestic violence, mental health and wellbeing. You could work in policy development or research or within community centres or hospitals.
Yes, if you have studied at TAFE (or another RTO) you may be eligible for credit. Related areas include:
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