Bachelor of Social Work
at Australian Catholic University, New South Wales.
A four-year social work degree at Strathfield and Canberra (ranks shown are for Strathfield), accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers. Students complete up to 1,000 hours of supervised field education plus 35 hours of community engagement. No prerequisites.
Lowest selection rank
The lowest selection rank (LSR) is the lowest ATAR plus adjustment factors (equity, subject and regional bonuses) that received an offer to the ACU Bachelor of Social Work for that intake. Universities publish it in their admissions student profiles. Only intakes with a published figure are listed.
| Intake | Lowest selection rank | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 58.70 | uac.edu.au |
| 2025 | 59.15 | uac.edu.au |
| 2024 | 58.80 | uac.edu.au |
| 2023 | 58.75 | uac.edu.au |
A lowest selection rank describes a past intake, not a guaranteed entry score. Check the current entry requirements on the official course page before you apply through UAC.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
No formal Year 12 subject prerequisites; assumed knowledge may still apply.
What you will study
Study areas are social work and sociology, covering human behaviour, social policy, law and professional practice with individuals, families, groups and communities. Supervised field education of up to 1,000 hours runs alongside coursework in the later years, with an additional 35 hours of community engagement. Honours is offered on merit and integrated into third and fourth years.
Placement and industry experience
Students complete up to 1,000 hours of supervised field education plus 35 hours of community engagement, run in conjunction with their units. State legal and industry policy checks must be met before placements.
Career outcomes
- Graduates work as social workers in child protection, hospitals, mental health, family support and community services.
- Common employers include state government agencies, health services and not-for-profit organisations.
- Many progress into specialist practice, such as accredited mental health social work, or into policy and management.
Professional accreditation
- Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)
Typical first jobs
- Social worker at NSW Department of Communities and Justice (child protection, OOHC)
- Hospital social worker in NSW Health (acute, oncology, palliative care, mental health)
- Family and domestic-violence caseworker at NGOs
- Mental health social worker in community and inpatient settings
- School-based social worker (under NSW Education)
- Aboriginal community-controlled organisation caseworker
Graduate starting salary
$70,000 - $80,000 per year
Source: jobsandskills.gov.au. Last reviewed 2026-05-21.
After graduation
The program is accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), and graduates are eligible for AASW membership. Graduates work in child protection, health, mental health, family support and community services.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- Students with high emotional resilience and people skills
- Those willing to engage with violence, child protection and trauma material
- People comfortable with reflective writing and supervision
- Students happy to do 1000 hours of unpaid placement
- Those committed to a regulated, values-driven profession
It is probably not for you if
- Students who avoid emotional content and difficult conversations
- Those unwilling to take unpaid full-time placement blocks
- Anyone hoping to maximise starting salary out of undergraduate study
Careers this leads to
Australian career pathways that name this Bachelor of Social Work as an entry route. Each page shows uni, TAFE and apprenticeship alternatives.
Related courses at ACU
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and selection ranks on the Australian Catholic University website and on UAC before applying.