Social Work - M6012

As we transition to a COVID-normal, we need social workers more than ever. Our Master of Social Work prepares you as a work-ready, qualified social worker in two years, and gives you the skills and practical experience to drive change, advocate for individuals, families and communities.

Social work is a hands-on, people-focused profession and we apply this approach to our teaching. You’ll start thinking like a social worker from day one of your degree, with an early focus on developing the essential skills, such as interviewing, counselling and collaborative decision-making. In our course, you learn by doing - whether that’s practising your assessment skills with actors or applying your knowledge to a case study in an interactive workshop. You’ll also gain professional experience by completing two 500-hour supervised placements, working with real clients at one of our partner organisations.

Why study Social Work at Monash?

Your studies start with the foundations of social work - learning to use and develop evidence for practice. You’ll then explore social work in specific settings, like working in trauma, with families and communities. You also have the opportunity to choose electives in specialist topics - such as child protection, alcohol and drugs, and family violence - allowing you to discover different areas of practice and shape your future career pathway.

Professional recognition

The Master of Social Work is accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). Following successful completion of this course, you’ll graduate as a qualified social worker and be eligible for membership with the AASW.

Career opportunities

With a Monash degree in social work, you will be ready to practice in a range of settings, and work with people of all ages and backgrounds. Social workers are in-demand and it’s a career with strong projected employment growth. Social workers empower people and drive important change - whether that’s working one-on-one, as part of a team of professionals, or by shaping policy.

Our course prepares you for the diverse career opportunities in social work. You can work in hospitals, mental health programs, government departments, community, human service and non-profit organisations. You may choose to specialise in working with specific populations - such as young people, victims of family violence, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander or LGTBQI communities or those affected by addiction. You can also choose to drive change on a large-scale, with roles in policy or research.