Master of Social Work (Qualifying)

The Master of Social Work (Qualifying) at the University of Tasmania is a two-year degree for people who already hold a bachelor's qualification in another field and want to become social workers. It is an Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) accredited qualification, which matters because accreditation is what lets you register and practise as a social worker in Australia. The course runs over two years full time, usually across semesters, with each unit carrying credit points toward the 192 credit points typically required for a master's by coursework. You will study units in social work theory, social policy, law and ethics, human development, mental health, and research methods, then apply that knowledge in supervised fieldwork placements.

What you actually study

The core units cover the foundations of social work practice: understanding how people and communities function, how policy shapes people's lives, and the legal and ethical frameworks that guide decisions. You will learn interviewing and assessment skills, case management, group work, and community development. Research units teach you how to evaluate practice and contribute to evidence, which matters in a field where funding and service design increasingly depend on demonstrated outcomes. The capstone is usually a substantial research project or thesis, completed alongside your final placement, where you bring together the theory and the practice.

Placements and professional experience

Field education is a required part of the degree and typically involves two supervised placements totalling around 1,000 hours, as set by the AASW. In Tasmania, placements happen in hospitals, community health centres, child protection, family services, mental health teams, aged care, schools, and non-government organisations. You might work with refugees, people experiencing homelessness, or families in crisis. Placements are arranged by the university and are usually full time blocks, so you need to be available to travel within the state. This is where you build the professional judgement that no classroom can teach.

Who it suits and how to get in

This course suits career changers and graduates from fields like psychology, sociology, education, nursing, law, or community services who want a professional social work qualification. Entry normally requires a bachelor's degree with some study in the social and behavioural sciences, plus English proficiency. International applicants need IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall as the common coursework-postgraduate standard, but social work sits in the higher band of 7.0–7.5, so check the exact requirement on the official page. TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the university's own English programmes are accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa itself. On a Student visa you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while studying, and after graduating you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 098281J. Confirm all details, including intake dates and placement requirements, on the official university page.

• Hospital social worker, supporting patients and families through illness, discharge planning, and crisis in public and private hospitals.
• Child protection practitioner, working with state departments to assess risk and support children and families.
• Mental health social worker, providing assessment, counselling, and case management in community mental health teams.
• Family services worker, counselling and supporting families through relationship breakdown, violence, or parenting challenges.
• Aged care social worker, helping older people and their families access services, navigate aged care, and manage transitions.
• Community development officer, working with local councils and NGOs on community programs and social inclusion projects.
• Refugee and settlement worker, supporting newly arrived migrants and refugees with housing, employment, and systems navigation.
• Policy and research officer, in government departments and non-profits, using research to shape social policy and service design.
• School social worker, supporting students and families in educational settings, often employed by state education departments.
• Private practice counsellor, after gaining experience and meeting AASW requirements, some social workers move into private practice.

Social workers are employed across Australia in hospitals, state and federal government departments, community health, schools, aged care, disability services, and the non-government sector. The AASW accreditation means your qualification is recognised for professional practice and, in many cases, for migration skills assessment.