Bachelor of Social Work
at Flinders University, 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 Flinders University 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 introduces the foundations of social work and human services. You study human development across the lifespan, the social and structural causes of disadvantage, social policy, and an introduction to social-work values and ethics, alongside communication and interviewing skills. The focus is on understanding people in their social context. Second and third years build practice theory and method. Topics cover counselling and casework skills, working with families and children, mental health, child protection, community development, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives. The first of two supervised field placements usually begins here, where you apply theory in a real agency under supervision. Flinders has a strong social-work tradition and well-developed placement networks across South Australia. Fourth year centres on advanced practice and the second, longer field placement. You study research-informed practice, leadership, and specialist areas such as mental-health or statutory practice, and you complete the bulk of the 1000 supervised field-education hours required for accreditation. The year prepares you directly for eligibility for AASW membership and registration.
Example first-year subjects
- Introduction to Social Work and Human Services
- Human Development Across the Lifespan
- Social Policy and Social Justice
- Communication and Interpersonal Skills
- Aboriginal Societies and Cultures
- Understanding Disadvantage and Inequality
How you will be assessed
- Supervised field-placement assessment and learning plans
- Reflective practice journals and process recordings
- Case studies and intervention plans
- Policy analysis essays and reports
- Role-play and recorded interviewing assessments
- Theory examinations and written assignments
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 a hospital or community-health team
- Child-protection or family-support practitioner
- Mental-health or drug-and-alcohol support worker
- Case manager in a not-for-profit agency
- Youth, disability or aged-care support worker
- Housing or homelessness support worker
Graduate starting salary
$65,000 - $72,000 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 registered social workers. Career progression leads into specialist and clinical practice, statutory child-protection roles, and accredited mental-health social work after further supervised practice and study. Postgraduate options include masters in social work, mental health, counselling or public policy, and research Honours and PhD pathways for those moving into academia or policy.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- People with strong empathy and a commitment to social justice
- Students who can sit with distress and remain composed
- Those who reflect honestly on their own values and practice
- Resilient learners who manage demanding unpaid placements
- Good listeners and communicators across diverse communities
It is probably not for you if
- Those who want a purely office-based or theoretical degree
- Students uncomfortable with emotionally heavy material
- People unable to commit to long unpaid field placements
- Those who prefer clear technical answers over ambiguity
Related courses at Flinders
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and ATAR cutoffs on the Flinders University handbook and on SATAC before applying. Page generated at https://examexplained.com.au/uni/flinders/bachelor-of-social-work.