Social Work

The Health and Community Services industry

underpins the national economy and workforce
The industry:

UQs Master of Social Work Studies

Advancing your career

is the 3rd largest employer, with 1.069 million

employees across 350+ occupations
represents 10.4% of the workforce

Projected Employment Growth by Industry to 2011-2012 (% share)

has the fastest industry growth rate predicted

in next 5 years

Personal and Other Services 6%

Construction 12%

Accommodation, Cafes and Restaurants 6%

will create over 170 000 new jobs between

now and 2012.
(Source: DEWR
Australian Jobs 2007)

Education 5%

With an increasing demand for qualified social

workers and continued growth in the Health and
Community Services industry, there has never been
a better time to enrol in UQs Master of Social Work
Studies.
Responsive to the needs of the profession and community, our
new and innovative program will enable you to extend your current
qualifications and become a professional social worker in two
years of full-time study or less*.

Government Administration
and Defence 4%
Retail Trade 18%

Transport and Storage 4%

Other Industries 2%

Property and Business

Services 19%

Health and
Community
Services
24%

Accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers

(AASW), our program is particularly suited to: recent graduates
looking for a clearly defined career path; mid-life career changers;
human service workers looking to upgrade their skills; and
international students seeking to work as a social worker in
Australia or overseas.
*Students with an approved undergraduate degree complete the #32 unit program over 2
years (full-time) or 4 years (part-time). Students with an approved human services degree or
other similar degree accredited by the Australian Institute of Welfare and Community Workers
(AIWCW) may complete a fast track #24 unit program over 1.5 years (full-time) or 3 years
(part-time).

Why study Social Work at UQ?

We have a track record of over 50 years of social work
education.
We have strong links with the Health and Community
Services industry and offer students a wide range of
industry-based learning experiences.
We offer part-time and full-time study options to suit your
lifestyle and career plans.
We have a multi-disciplinary base, with staff expertise in
areas such as social work and human service practice,
social policy, community development, psychology,
sociology, family therapy, counselling, social anthropology,
human geography and criminology.
We are one of the largest providers of postgraduate social
work and human services education in the country and have
produced more doctoral graduates than any other Australian
social work program.
We are nationally and internationally recognised for our highquality research and our staff are leaders in their fields.

FAMILY SUPPORT DISABILITY SERVICES WORKING WITH INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES CORRECTIONAL SERVICES HEALTH SERVICES DRUG AND ALCOHOL CLINICS MENTAL HEALTH POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH CHILD PROTECTION
PRIVATE PRACTICE YOUTH WORK AND YOUTH JUSTICE FAMILY SUPPORT DISABILITY SERVICES WORKING WITH INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES CORRECTIONAL SERVICES HEALTH SERVICES DRUG AND ALCOHOL CLINICS MENTAL HEALTH POLICY
DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH CHILD PROTECTION PRIVATE PRACTICE YOUTH WORK AND YOUTH JUSTICE FAMILY SUPPORT DISABILITY SERVICES WORKING WITH INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES CORRECTIONAL SERVICES HEALTH SERVICES DRUG
AND ALCOHOL CLINICS MENTAL HEALTH POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH CHILD PROTECTION PRIVATE PRACTICE YOUTH WORK AND YOUTH JUSTICE FAMILY SUPPORT DISABILITY SERVICES WORKING WITH INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES

In preparing for a personally rewarding

and satisfying career, youll develop core
knowledge and skills in social work,
including direct practice with individuals,
families, groups and communities, as well as
social policy practice and research practice.
You will gain an understanding of the legal
context of practice, human development, the
moral and ethical foundations of social work,
and contemporary practice frameworks. With
a particular focus on mental health, you will
also develop competence in working with
people with mental health needs and their
friends and families.
Towards the end of the program you will
have the opportunity to undertake advanced
practice elective courses in areas such
as child and family practice, counselling,
community development, social policy, and
social research. Based on your interests
and your career plans, you may select up to
three elective courses.

Learning in the workplace

Field placement is an integral part of studying
social work at UQ. The Master of Social Work
Studies offers 1000 hours of supervised
practice. This on-the-job learning enables

you to extend your skills in a range of social

work methods in the practice environment.
The field education component also meets
the internship standards of American and
Canadian professional associations and may
result in the ability to be licensed as a social
worker abroad.

What job can I get?

The Health and Community Services
industry is growing rapidly and rewarding
job opportunities are excellent. You can
find yourself working in front-line, advanced
practice and leadership roles in the health
and community services, government
administration and defence sectors, as well
as in project management roles in nongovernment agencies.
Examples include:
Family support
Disability services
Working with Indigenous communities
Correctional services
Health services
Drug and alcohol clinics
Mental health
Policy development and research
Child protection
Private practice
Youth work and youth justice

Applications
Domestic Students:
Applications should be lodged through the
School of Social Work and Human Services,
with the closing date of January 31 of the
current year of enrolment.
Closing date for International Students:
Applications should be lodged through UQ
International, The University of Queensland.
Visit www.uq.edu.au/international for more
information.
Application closing dates are:
November 15 of the previous year for
Category 1 and 2 countries
October 15 of the previous year for
Category 3 and 4 countries.

More information
School of Social Work and Human Services
The University of Queensland
St Lucia Qld 4072
Tel: (07) 3365 2068
Web: www.uq.edu.au/swahs
Email: swahs@social.uq.edu.au
Cover pic: Tanya Vanderiet (left) chose to study
a Master of Social Work Studies at UQ so she
would be qualified, trained and prepared to provide
the best support possible in her role at Karuna
Hospice Services.

2993 SEP09 1K CRICOS Provider Number 00025B

What will I study?

MASTER OF
SOCIAL WORK
STUDIES
Advancing your career