Bachelor of Social Work
at James Cook University, Queensland.
A four-year social work degree at Townsville (ranks shown), Cairns (67.30 in 2026) and online, with 1,000 hours of supervised field experience. The prerequisite is English, Literature, English and Literature Extension or EAL (Units 3 and 4, C).
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 JCU 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 | 62.95 | qtac.edu.au |
| 2025 | 70.00 | qtac.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 QTAC.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
Brush up on each prerequisite with our state-syllabus explainers and dot points.
What you will study
The degree provides broad and specialised knowledge of Australian society, the welfare state and social issues, with study in psychology, social justice and social policy. Practical skills are built through supervised field experience totalling 1,000 hours.
Placement and industry experience
Students complete supervised field education placements totalling 1,000 hours in social work settings, building practical skills alongside their academic study.
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-safety practitioner with the Queensland Government
- Family-violence or youth case worker at a community service
- Hospital social worker in a Queensland Health service
- Mental-health clinician at community mental-health services
- NDIS support coordinator or local-area coordinator
- Remote or Indigenous community-services worker
- Aged-care or disability social worker
Graduate starting salary
$65,000 - $72,000 per year
Source: qilt.edu.au. Last reviewed 2026-05-24.
After graduation
Graduates are eligible for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers and work in child protection, health, community and Indigenous services, especially across regional Queensland.
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
- People committed to rural, remote and Indigenous community work
- Patient writers who can produce reflective and case-based writing
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
Related courses at JCU
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and selection ranks on the James Cook University website and on QTAC before applying.