Bachelor of Social Work
at Deakin University, Victoria.
A four-year AASW-accredited social work degree at Geelong Waterfront, Warrnambool and online (ranks shown are for Waterfront). VCE prerequisite is a study score of at least 25 in English other than EAL (or 30 in EAL).
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 Deakin 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 | 60.10 | delta.vtac.edu.au |
| 2025 | 65.10 | delta.vtac.edu.au |
| 2024 | 66.00 | delta.vtac.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 VTAC.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
Brush up on each prerequisite with our state-syllabus explainers and dot points.
What you will study
Students study social policy, socioeconomic factors and social equity, and learn contemporary approaches to social work with individuals, families and communities. An Honours version of the degree is available for research pathways.
Placement and industry experience
Students complete two field education placements of at least 500 hours each (1,000 hours in total) in health or human service organisations in metropolitan, regional or rural settings.
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
- Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)
Typical first jobs
- Front-line child protection practitioner with DFFH
- Family-violence case worker at a community service
- Hospital social worker in Victorian public health services
- Mental health clinician at community mental-health services
- NDIS support coordinator or local-area coordinator
- Youth worker or homelessness case worker
- Aged-care or disability social worker
Graduate starting salary
$75,000 - $90,000 per year
Source: jobsandskills.gov.au. Last reviewed 2026-05-21.
After graduation
Graduates are eligible for AASW membership and can practise as social workers across Australia in health, child protection, community services and policy.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- Students with lived or volunteer experience in community services
- Empathic listeners who can hold tough conversations
- People with strong self-awareness and capacity to debrief
- Patient writers who can produce reflective and case-based writing
- Self-starters who pursue advocacy and policy interests
It is probably not for you if
- Students seeking a corporate or desk-only role
- Those uncomfortable with emotional content and vicarious trauma
- People wanting a maths-heavy or lab-based course
- Students unable to complete 1000 hours of placement
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 Deakin
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and selection ranks on the Deakin University website and on VTAC before applying.