Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) available.*
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*For eligible domestic applicants, T&Cs apply.
Master of Social Work (Qualifying)
* This is an AASW-accredited qualification. It is an entry qualification into the social work profession and has been determined to meet the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards.
Duration: 2 years full-time/4 years part-time (domestic students only)
Delivery: On campus
Credit points: 96
CRICOS CODE: 102798H
Available to: Domestic (FEE-HELP) and International
IELTS: 7.0 with no band less than 7.0 or equivalent
Course accreditation: AASW (fully accredited)**
AQF: Level 9
Tuition Fee: International students: $10,840 per semester/$43,360 total tuition fee
^For international applicants.
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Course overview
The Master of Social Work (Qualifying) (MSW [Q]) is an Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) provisionally accredited qualification. It is an entry qualification into the social work profession and has been determined to meet the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS).
Social work is an academic practice-based profession that promotes social justice, inclusion and wellbeing. The MSW (Q) aims to produce graduates who are professionally competent, aware of socio-political realities in the human services and committed to social change through supporting and promoting the strengths of disadvantaged and vulnerable populations.
The course focuses on face-to-face small classes, and intensive interaction with fellow students and experienced social work academics. As social work engages with a changing world where social media, online material and interactivity are prevalent, student learning will also include blended learning technologies.
The learning will be delivered through: workshops; case studies; in-class exercises; experiential learning strategies; flipped classrooms; social work laboratory; written reports; oral presentations; blogs; essays; and research reports. Finally, students will explore social work practice through field education practicums.
Why study Social Work at Excelsia University College:
- A powerful, hands-on introduction to the world of social work.
- Highly-qualified, friendly and experienced academic staff who are ready to help you on your journey.
- Smaller class sizes where you are treated as more than just a number.
- Study with a community of likeminded students.
- Work placements give students hands-on experience (1000 hours in total, two of 500 hours) and professional skills in a range of settings (health, aged care, community services, child and family welfare, mental health, community work, research, policy and planning).
- Course includes assisting students with locating professional practicums’ in agencies such as Anglicare, Catholic Care, Centrelink, Department of Community Services, Hospitals, Community Health Centres, Local Government, etc.
- Prepare social work graduates to have a career locally, regionally and internationally.
Where this will take me
What do our students say?
‘The Master of Social Work has brought me a lot of learning and personal and professional growth. Also, I feel very happy to be at Excelsia University College, where the academic team is very good and support the students beyond expectations.’
Isabella Pezolato De Luca
Master of Social Work alumnus
Course program
Year 1 Semester 1
Context for Social Work Practice
The unit explores the history of the social work profession in Australia and internationally and the purpose, practices and fields of practices of social work. The human service system and how it responds to social issues will also be examined as well as the different human services contexts to help students gain an understanding of the diverse and dynamic nature of social work. The unit provides an understanding of how different social policy responses are developed in relation to changing conceptions of social ‘problems’. The unit also focuses on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ social issues, policy and service responses.Diversity, Power and Identity in Social Work Practice
The professional practice of social work is fundamentally rooted in the principles of social justice and human rights. In this unit, students will explore the principles and ideologies embedded in these core concepts and critically analyse their application in professional practice. Students will be introduced to and apply theoretical frameworks of feminist theory, political economy theory, critical race theory, discourse formation, and symbolic violence. Throughout the unit, students will use their understanding of these theories and concepts to examine the disadvantage affecting individuals, families, and groups and analyse the discourses that perpetuate that disadvantage. They will learn strategies to identify and dismantle oppressive power structures at both macro and micro levels, including advocacy and other social action, with the goal of fostering a more equitable and inclusive society.
Social Work Practice in Groups and Communities
The unit explores social work practice in groups and communities. The theories and skills in group work are examined and developed with attention to therapeutic group work, self-help groups, teamwork and community organising. Students will explore the theoretical frameworks and practical skills for group and community work. The unit focuses on assessing the need for a group, understanding group formation, development and processes and closure.Skills and Models of Intervention in Social Work Practice 1
The unit focus is on developing skills in working with service users and carers. This unit provides an initial overview of the perspectives of service users and carers and gives students an opportunity to develop an understanding of the needs and perspectives of service users and development of beginning skills of engagement with and empathy for key people in the sector. The students will develop skills in complex assessment, planning, and intervention with service users with high needs. Exploration of social work theories and practice frameworks will also be undertaken.Intensive before Semester 2
Law, Accountability and Professional Judgement
The unit focuses on exploring the Australian legal system and the relationship between the law and social work. Areas of relevance to social work practice such as child wellbeing and safety, mental health, guardianship law, probation and parole, ageing and income security will be reviewed. The legal responsibilities of social work, particularly duty of care, will be explored, as will the issues of professional negligence, mishaps and misdeeds and the impact on accountability. Social workers are like other human service professionals required at times to appear before, and provide reports and other documents to bodies such as courts, complaints commissions, and human rights bodies.Year 1 Semester 2
Research and Evaluation in Social Work Practice
This unit focuses on advanced critical problem solving skills, particularly on the production and analysis of evidence through collaborative research and evaluation. Using a scaffolded approach, students will design research evaluation projects addressing specific social research questions within their field education practice. As part of this process, students will be required to demonstrate their understanding of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) ethical guidelines, particularly in research projects involving human participants.
Field Education Practicum 1
The unit provides students with an opportunity to practice social work, under supervision in a range of settings that may include, but is not limited to, health, aged care, community services, child and family welfare, mental health, community work, research, policy, and planning. During the field education placement students will integrate theory, acquired during course work, with practice, and develop their ability in a range of social work approaches and fields of practice. This is the first of two field education placements designed to ensure that students meet the requirements of the Australian Association of Social Work (AASW) Practice Standards (2023) The field education placement consists of 500 hours and by the end of this placement students must demonstrate basic capability against the AASW Practice standards.
Year 2 Semester 1
Child, Youth and Family Social Work Practice
The unit focus is on developing skills in working with children, youth and families. It considers challenges that children, young people and families may experience, including physical abuse, neglect, child sexual assault, emotional abuse, family violence, trauma, and poverty. Students will develop skills in complex assessment, planning and intervention with high need or complex service users. Protective factors and strengths of diverse families, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, are also explored. Services and organisations along a spectrum from prevention to treatment are identified and discussed.
Social Work Practice with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Communities
The unit has a focus on building skills and knowledge of working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities. Working with these communities is an important field of practice for social workers in community contexts as well as statutory ones. The unit critically analyses the history of the relationship between social work, human services, and Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander peoples. Partnership models of helping are to be developed through collaboration and building skills in working with and engaging communities. This involves developing practice principles, strategies, and skills. The emphasis of the unit is on the significance of culturally responsive practices requiring students to be self-reflective and aware of their positioning.
Psychosocial Health and Wellbeing in Social Work
This unit examines social work practice in the broad area of health and wellbeing. Students will enhance their knowledge of the Australian health care system and critically analyse the dominance of medical discourse in the provision of health services in Australia. Students will explore a range of therapeutic interventions relevant for work with people who confront issues and concerns around mental health, addiction, life stage transition complexities and disability. Concepts of resilience and recovery as well as holistic perspectives of health and wellbeing will inform the development of knowledge and skills in this area.
Skills and Models of Intervention in Social Work Practice 2
The unit provides students with advanced practice approaches and skills in working with individuals, families and groups. Trauma-informed practice and narrative approaches are significant for social workers working across a variety of settings. Students will focus on clinical practice with individuals and/or families with trauma and abuse. Narrative therapy as a specifically developed social work intervention will be critically examined and the skills for this practice approach to working with individuals, and communities developed.Intensive before Semester 4
Leadership, Organisational Practice and Policy Development in Social Work
The unit examines the nature and role of leadership in social work practice including leadership development and how students might develop leadership qualities in others, and themselves in all aspects of their practice. The unit also examines leadership in the context of the challenges that have confronted human service organisations. This unit will also develop students’ understanding of the organisational contexts in which their professional practice will take place. The role of social workers in a range of organisations will be explored, with students developing skills in areas such as organisational analysis and change.Year 2 Semester 2
Field Education Practicum 2
The unit provides professional social work experiences in a range of settings that include health, aged care, community services, child and family welfare, mental health, community work, research, policy and planning. Through the field education practicum, students will integrate theory and practice and develop competencies in a variety of methods and fields of practice. The practice will be determined by the setting in which the student is placed. This is the final practicum and students must ensure that they meet the requirements of the AASW Practice Standards (2013) for entry-level proficiency. The practicum consists of 500 hours of which 100 hours will be involved in the Integrated Research Project.Integrated Research Project
This unit is designed to integrate student’s knowledge, values, and skills as a beginning social work practitioner. The capstone project is the culmination and demonstration of learning across the MSWQ course. It includes advanced demonstration of applying theoretical knowledge, evidence, critical analysis and reflection, and social work professional values. Students will demonstrate integrated theory and practice knowledge in social work through the development of a work-based project related to a practice field or area of specialisation.
Summary of Assessment Strategies
Assessment practices/expectations
- Case studies – analysis and planning
- Reflective journalling
- Video presentations
- Essays
- Quizzes
- Exams
- Critical reflections
- Individual reflections
- Group presentations
- Group posters
- Group debates
- Multimedia projects
- ViVa voce
- Literature reviews
- Research proposals
- Research reports
- Role plays
- Technical skills demonstrations
- Online forums
- Field Practicums – indirect and direct placements
Educational prerequisites (Direct entry)
- Psychology
- Sociology
- History
- Media and arts
- Community and welfare studies
- Human development
- Gender studies
- Nursing, allied health
- Anthropology
- Law
- Counselling
- Philosophy
- Politics
Educational prerequisites (pathway entry)
Suitability assessment
Criminal History Record: Provide a National Criminal History Record check at time of application obtainable from: nationalcrimecheck.com.au
Working with Children Check: Provide a Working with Children authorisation at time of application obtainable from: wwccheck.ccyp.nsw.gov.au/Applicants/Application
International applicants
The Master of Social Work (Qualifying) is available to international students, subject to satisfying the aforementioned admission criteria.
In addition to meeting the educational prerequisites above, international applicants who have not completed an educational qualification in English must provide proof of proficiency in English through internationally recognised tests such as IELTS or through satisfactory completion of an approved course at one of the College’s partner language colleges.
Examination Minimum Score
IELTS 7.0 with no band less than 7.0 or equivalent
PTE Academic 65 with no score less than 65
Overseas students applying for admission to Excelsia College courses must have reached the age of 18 years by the commencement of their studies. Excelsia College will not admit overseas students who have not yet reached 18 years of age.
For more information visit the International Student page
Recognition of Prior Learning
If the applicant is successful they will be issued an offer letter and a written agreement. Students will need to respond to the offer within 6 weeks. This is done online and a confirmation will be emailed back to the applicant. At this point, applicants are welcome to apply for Credit or Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). If you are eligible for credit or RPL, you may be exempt from completing some units and you may be able to finish your degree in a shorter amount of time.
Please refer to the Credit and Recognition of Prior Learning Policy reference.
Download the Student Selection and Admission Policy and Procedure.
The Experience
| Applicant background | Number of students | Student Percentages |
|---|---|---|
|
A higher education award course (Australian or overseas equivalent; complete or incomplete) |
299 |
99.01 |
|
Recent secondary education was undertaken (whether undertaken at school, VET or another Australian or overseas provider) – only other criteria, ATAR not considered |
3 |
0.99 |
|
All students |
302 |
100 |
|
Based on commencements for the 2024 calendar year |
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