Bachelor of Social Work
at Murdoch University, Western 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 Murdoch 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 | TISC |
| 2023 | ATAR cutoff not published | TISC |
| 2022 | ATAR cutoff not published | TISC |
No verified cutoffs are available. Confirm the latest figure on the official TISC 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 combines social-science foundations with an introduction to social work: human development across the lifespan, social policy, sociology and the history and ethics of the profession. You begin developing communication and reflective-practice skills that field placements will later test. Middle years cover practice theory and methods: working with individuals, families, groups and communities, mental health, child protection, trauma-informed practice and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives. Social policy and research-methods units run alongside, and you begin the first of two extended supervised placements. Final year is dominated by the second field placement and a capstone that integrates theory, ethics and practice. Across the degree you complete around 1000 hours of supervised field education, which is required for Australian Association of Social Workers accreditation and for eligibility to practise as a qualified social worker.
Example first-year subjects
- Introduction to Social Work
- Human Development Across the Lifespan
- Social Policy and Society
- Sociology and Social Issues
- Communication and Interpersonal Skills
- Ethics and Professional Practice
How you will be assessed
- Supervised field placements assessed against AASW standards
- Case studies and practice-based assignments
- Reflective journals and process recordings
- Policy analysis and research essays
- Role-play and interview-skills assessments
- Written exams in some foundation units
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
- Child-protection or family-support worker
- Hospital or health social worker
- Mental-health or community-services case manager
- Family-violence or crisis-support worker
- Aged-care or disability social worker
- Youth or homelessness support worker
Graduate starting salary
$62,000 - $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 AASW membership and work as qualified social workers in government, health and community-services settings. With experience and further study they can gain Accredited Mental Health Social Worker status, which allows Medicare-rebated practice, or move into clinical, policy or management roles. Postgraduate options include a Master of Social Work (advanced practice), counselling or mental-health qualifications, and research masters or PhD study.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- People with genuine empathy and resilience for difficult situations
- Students committed to social justice and helping vulnerable people
- Strong communicators comfortable with emotionally demanding work
- Reflective learners who can examine their own assumptions
- Those willing to undertake long unpaid field placements
It is probably not for you if
- People who find emotionally heavy or distressing work draining
- Students wanting a desk-based or highly technical career
- Those uncomfortable with self-reflection and supervision
- People who cannot commit to extended placement hours
Related courses at Murdoch
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and ATAR cutoffs on the Murdoch University handbook and on TISC before applying. Page generated at https://examexplained.com.au/uni/murdoch/bachelor-of-social-work.