Bachelor of Social Work
at The University of Adelaide, South Australia.
An AASW-accredited four-year social-work degree. Includes 1000 hours of supervised field education and leads to eligibility for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.
ATAR cutoff history
Published cutoff data for the The University of Adelaide Bachelor of Social Work. We never invent figures; entries marked "not published" mean the university or admissions centre has not released a verified cutoff for that intake.
| Intake year | ATAR cutoff | Admissions centre |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ATAR cutoff not published | SATAC |
| 2023 | ATAR cutoff not published | SATAC |
| 2022 | ATAR cutoff not published | SATAC |
No verified cutoffs are available. Confirm the latest figure on the official SATAC cutoff release.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
Brush up on each prerequisite with our state-syllabus explainers and dot points.
What you will study
First year at the University of Adelaide introduces the foundations of social work, human development and the social context, communication and interpersonal skills, and an introduction to social policy and Australian welfare systems. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives and social-justice frameworks are embedded from the start. Middle years build practice theory and skills: working with individuals, families and groups, case-work and counselling micro-skills, mental health, child protection and trauma-informed practice, alongside research methods and policy analysis. The first supervised field-education placement begins, applying classroom theory in a real agency under supervision. Final years deepen specialised practice and complete the second, longer field placement. AASW accreditation requires 1000 hours of supervised field education across the degree, typically in two placements spanning settings such as health, child protection, mental health and community services. A research or capstone course completes the degree, after which graduates are eligible for AASW membership.
Example first-year subjects
- Foundations of Social Work
- Human Development and the Social Context
- Communication and Interpersonal Skills
- Introduction to Social Policy
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives
- Social Justice and Human Rights
How you will be assessed
- Supervised field-placement reports and supervisor evaluation
- Case studies and practice-skill role-plays
- Reflective practice journals
- Essays on social policy and theory
- Research and policy-analysis assignments
- Group projects and presentations
Career outcomes
- Graduates work as registered social workers in child-protection, mental-health, hospital and family-support settings.
- Common destinations include state-government child-safety roles, community-health centres and not-for-profit support agencies.
- Many alumni progress into clinical specialty practice, policy roles or accredited mental-health social work after further study.
Professional accreditation
- AASW accredited
Typical first jobs
- Social worker in hospital and health settings
- Child-protection worker with SA government
- Mental-health social worker
- Family-support or case worker in not-for-profits
- Community-development or youth worker
- Welfare or housing-support officer
Graduate starting salary
$60,000 - $70,000 per year
Source: https://www.qilt.edu.au/surveys/graduate-outcomes-survey-(gos). Last reviewed 2026-05-24.
After graduation
Graduates are eligible for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers and can practise as qualified social workers in health, child protection, mental health, family support and community services. With experience, social workers pursue Accredited Mental Health Social Worker status, clinical specialisation, or supervisory and management roles. Postgraduate options include masters in social work, counselling or public health, and research Honours or a PhD for policy and academic careers.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- People with strong empathy and communication skills
- Those committed to social justice and helping others
- Students resilient enough for emotionally demanding work
- People comfortable with reflective practice and supervision
- Those willing to commit to long supervised placements
It is probably not for you if
- Students wanting a desk-based or purely academic career
- Those uncomfortable with distressing situations and emotional load
- People who dislike reflective writing and supervision
- Students seeking a maths-heavy or lab-based degree
Related courses at Adelaide
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and ATAR cutoffs on the The University of Adelaide handbook and on SATAC before applying. Page generated at https://examexplained.com.au/uni/adelaide/bachelor-of-social-work.