If you're interested in human relationships, helping others, and promoting social change, then you might be considering a career as a social worker.

To help you choose if it's the right path for you, let's look at how to become a social worker in Australia, the qualifications you need and where your career might take you.

Social work qualifications

So, what do you need to be a social worker? There are specific qualifications in Australia. Social workers must register with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). To register, you must satisfy the AASW education requirements. The social worker education requirements are either a bachelor's degree in the discipline or an approved undergraduate degree and a master's degree in social work.


Social work areas of specialisation

Understanding how to become a social worker is just the beginning of a meaningful career that changes lives for the better. As people face diverse challenges, you may choose to pursue a specialisation in social work. Here’s just a brief overview of the social work specialties you could choose:

As a social worker in Australia, you can make a real, positive impact on people's lives and society through mental health support, child protection, social justice, human rights advocacy, community development, and more. If you study social work as a double degree, you can open up more career opportunities with a specialisation in social scienceslawthe arts or criminology and criminal justice.

Students learning in the Medicine & Health facilities at the UNSW Kensington campus

How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree in social work?

To get the qualifications needed to be a social worker in Australia, you can expect to study full-time for four to six years. At a minimum, an undergraduate bachelor’s degree will take four years of full-time study. A postgraduate master’s degree is an additional two years of study.


What courses do you need to become a social worker?

It is possible to study social work courses or subjects associated with social work in related degrees (such as social welfare or community services). However, to become a registered social worker, you need to complete a bachelor's or master's degree in social work.


Frequently asked questions

Drive change in your community

Discover a range of career options across many sectors, including private and government agencies, social welfare support organisations and community groups.

UNSW’s strong industry partnerships and placement opportunities will elevate your professional recognition and employability upon graduation.

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  Want to find out more about social work?

If you have any questions about studying at UNSW or how you can make your studies work for you, contact us below. We’re here to help.