Graduate Diploma of Social Work

This Graduate Diploma of Social Work is a one-year qualification for people who want to move into social work practice or build on an existing degree. It sits at graduate diploma level on the Australian Qualifications Framework, which means it's a shorter, more focused qualification than a master's. You'll study the core of social work: how to assess a person's situation, how to work with families and communities, the legal and ethical side of the job, and the theories that guide practice. Because it's a graduate diploma, you're expected to already have a bachelor's degree, so the teaching moves quickly and assumes you can write at a university level.

How the course is structured

Australian graduate diplomas are usually made up of units of study, each worth a set number of credit points. You need to pass a certain total to graduate. Most institutions run these courses over two semesters or trimesters, and some offer part-time study over two years. The exact unit list and credit points for this course are on the official CRICOS register and the institution's page, so check there before you apply. You can expect a mix of lectures, tutorials and workshops, with assessment through essays, case studies, presentations and exams.

Social work is a field where you learn by doing, so work-integrated learning is a normal part of the qualification. That usually means supervised placement in a community organisation, hospital, school, government department or non-government agency. Placement is where you put assessment and intervention skills into practice with real clients, under a qualified social worker. If you're an international student, your visa lets you work up to 48 hours per fortnight during study, but placement hours are part of the course, not a job.

What you'll actually learn

You'll learn how to interview and assess clients, how to write case notes and reports that stand up in court or a case conference, and how to work within the law, things like child protection legislation, mental health acts and privacy rules. You'll also look at how social work addresses disadvantage: poverty, family violence, housing stress, disability, and the particular issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Group work, community development and advocacy come into it too. By the end, you should be able to explain your practice decisions and work safely with people in crisis.

Who it suits

This course suits people who already have a bachelor's degree in something else, psychology, sociology, education, health, law, or even a completely different field, and want to retrain or specialise in social work. It also suits people already working in community services, youth work or disability support who want a formal qualification to move into a social work role. If you're aiming to become a registered social worker, check the accreditation status of the course with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) before you enrol, because registration and some jobs depend on it. English requirements for social work are higher than for many courses, IELTS 7.0 to 7.5 overall is common, so plan your English test early. After graduating, you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, which lets you stay and work in Australia. Confirm the details on the official page.

• Social worker in hospitals, community health centres, mental health services and aged care
• Child protection or family services practitioner in state government departments and non-government organisations
• Case manager or support coordinator in disability services, housing and homelessness services
• Youth worker or family support worker in schools, youth justice and community programs
• Community development officer in local government, multicultural services and Aboriginal community-controlled organisations
• Policy or program officer in government and the not-for-profit sector

These roles are found across Australia in health, education, justice, housing and community services. Some positions require registration or eligibility for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), so check the accreditation of the course and the requirements of the roles you're targeting.