COMMUNITY SERVICES SOCIAL WORK. inspiring achievement FLINDERS.EDU.AU

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1 COMMUNITY SERVICES SOCIAL WORK inspiring achievement FLINDERS.EDU.AU

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3 04 SOCIAL WORK AT FLINDERS 06 COMMUNITY SERVICES 08 SOCIAL WORK

4 University should be about much more than classes, coursework and exams. You deserve the chance to extend your learning, and develop new networks, skills and expertise that will enable you to succeed in your future career. At Flinders we are enhancing our courses to offer an educational experience that you will enjoy and that will be valued by future employers. Our new Student Plaza and Hub will open in Semester One in 2016 with state-of-theart facilities, creating an inspirational space for you to learn, study and socialise. The new development incorporates individual and group study areas, cafes and student kitchens, outdoor performance areas, all embedded with the latest in technology and internet access. Simply put, we are investing in creating the best possible facilities for you at Flinders. We encourage you to compare the quality of our courses with those offered at other universities and hope that you will recognise the value of undertaking a Flinders University degree. Professor Colin Stirling Vice-Chancellor and President

5 HELP CHART A BETTER COURSE Flinders social work courses equip you with an understanding of social work policy and funding as well as giving you the knowledge and skills to thrive as a qualified social worker. Understanding the bigger picture while having the skills to deliver services on the ground equips you with skills to make a significant difference to the lives of others. HANDS-ON Students gain hands-on experience via placements totalling 1000 hours in third and fourth year. RECOGNISED COURSES Flinders courses are accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers, meaning that students are recognised as qualified social workers when they graduate. MAKE A DIFFERENCE Flinders social work degrees enable you to develop an understanding of the mind and human behaviour, and to apply this knowledge in the real world.

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7 Flinders was ranked among the world s top 400 universities by the 2014 Academic Ranking of World Universities and in the top 100 universities under the age of 50 by the Times Higher Education rankings. Flinders has earned a reputation for delivering high-impact research and courses that students love. The $63 million Plaza Redevelopment and Student Hub will provide an extraordinary new facility for students commencing in 2016, with a 2,000 seat outdoor amphitheatre, new social learning spaces where students can gather to study and a range of services tailored to deliver an all-round campus experience for students. Flinders offers an excellent staff-student ratio rated as 5 stars by the 2015 Good Universities Guide, reflecting the University s commitment to teaching. Flinders students frequently comment that they value access to lecturers and the learning environment created on campus. Our academics and teachers are connected to the current issues of the day, guiding you to question, challenge and think beyond the limits of convention, and equipping you with important skills for a successful career. Whether you are relaxing in the leafy surrounds of the Bedford Park campus, immersed in the CBD at the Victoria Square campus or contemplating the future of Australia s economy at our brand new Tonsley building, Flinders prides itself on offering students a great on-campus experience. Pictured bottom left: Plaza Redevelopment and Student Hub Pictured below: Innovative working spaces at Tonsley. Flinders has close connections with industry, reflected in the relevance of our curriculum and the connections that a Flinders University experience offers students. Every year some Flinders students choose to do an internship at the US congress, study part of their degree in London or undertake work integrated learning opportunities with employers in Adelaide. Flinders courses are renowned for being rigorous and also work-oriented, providing graduates with a clear set of knowledge and skills that they will be able to use throughout their career. Flinders has a world-class reputation for research and innovation, informing the professions that shape our society and developing technologies that are transforming people s lives. Flinders is ranked among the top 2% of research universities in the world, and the discoveries of our researchers drive what you learn in the classroom.

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9 THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL AND POLICY STUDIES AT FLINDERS OFFERS COURSES AIMED AT PREPARING THE NEXT GENERATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE WORKERS WITH AN ENRICHED UNDERSTANDING OF HOW POWER, CULTURE AND INSTITUTIONS INTERACT AND SHAPE OUR SOCIETY. THE SCHOOL S COURSES AND RESEARCH SPECIALISATIONS ARE INFORMED BY ITS VALUES, WHICH FOCUS ON UNDERSTANDING AND RESPONDING TO SOCIAL ISSUES AND NEEDS. SOCIAL WORK AT FLINDERS Flinders University s courses in social work and community services enable you to make a positive difference working with individuals, groups, families, communities and social welfare organisations. The undergraduate courses available at Flinders include: Bachelor of Social Work Bachelor of Community Services Our courses are structured to develop your skills in critical and ethical thinking, and enhance your social awareness and capacity for social change. They engage you in the latest thinking, research and knowledge in the social sciences. Our mission is to educate students in the critical analysis, implementation and evaluation of social welfare policies and services. We aim to foster imagination and lateral, flexible thinking that takes into account wider socio-cultural, economic and environmental contexts. Using a mix of methods and media, we strive to engage a wide range of students (across age, ability, gender, class, sexuality, culture and ethnicity) in ongoing processes of critical reflexivity. So while we study how other individuals, groups and societies operate, we also study ourselves, our own assumptions, beliefs and practices. 5

10 BACHELOR OF COMMUNITY SERVICES PREREQUISITES None ASSUMED KNOWLEDGE None SATAC CODE ATAR GUARANTEED ENTRY ATAR TAFELINK Cert IV or above BONUS POINTS UEQ, LLM VET PATHWAY PREREQUISITES None ASSUMED KNOWLEDGE None SATAC CODE TAFELINK Diploma or above (in a related field) # May take years COMMUNITY SERVICES AT FLINDERS The Bachelor of Community Services, delivered in partnership with TAFE SA, aims to equip you for work in a range of government and nongovernment organisations in the community services sector. The degree combines the conceptual knowledge and research skills available in a university degree with the practical skills of a TAFE course. The Bachelor of Community Services is designed to help you develop both practical skills relevant to community services and the underpinning conceptual knowledge and research skills. You will develop your knowledge of people, policy and organisations along with analytical and research skills, which you can apply to your workplace or industry placements. You will enrol concurrently in the Diploma or Advanced Diploma of Community Services from TAFE SA and the Bachelor of Community Services from Flinders University. The university degree includes the TAFE SA course and you will graduate with both qualifications. If you already hold a relevant diploma and can apply for the VET pathway, you will receive credit for the TAFE SA component. Community services is one of the largest and fastest growing industries in Australia, providing support to individuals and families as well as adding to the development of inclusive communities. STUDY PROGRAM The study program is designed to introduce you gradually to university study, with the number of university topics increasing as you progress through the degree. You will begin by developing communication and critical thinking skills before learning about the way individuals, organisations and societies work, through subjects drawn from sociology, social work, public policy, management and women s studies. You will study these at the same time as gaining practical skills and demonstrating competencies in your chosen area of work. The course is flexible and offers a choice of subjects to reflect your interests and/or the needs of your workplace. In the third year you will follow up your training in research skills with an applied research project relevant to your workplace or placement organisation. ACCREDITATION Students who complete the Diploma of Community Services Work as part of the Bachelor of Community Services will be accredited by the Australian Community Workers Association. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES Some potential occupations for graduates include access worker, case manager, child and youth worker, job seeker support coordinator, Learning for Life program coordinator, and youth development officer. Potential employers include a number of government, community and nongovernment organisations like the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion, Families SA, Hutt Street Centre, Relationships Australia, and Anglicare SA. For more information on careers services and potential career opportunities go to: flinders.edu.au/careers FURTHER STUDY Further study options include Master of Public Administration and Master of Social Work (qualifying). FIND OUT MORE More course information can be found by navigating to the Bachelor of Community Services on our undergraduate courses page via: flinders.edu.au/courses/undergrad PREPARES YOU TO WORK AS A PRACTITIONER, POLICY MAKER, RESEARCHER OR MANAGER IN COMMUNITY SERVICES ENABLES YOU TO APPLY CONCEPTS, THEORIES AND RESEARCH SKILLS FROM THE SOCIAL SCIENCES TO YOUR PRACTICAL WORK IN THE COMMUNITY SERVICES SECTOR INCLUDES INDUSTRY PLACEMENTS WITHIN THE DIPLOMA OF COMMUNITY SERVICES COMPLETED AT TAFE SA 6

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12 BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK PREREQUISITES None ASSUMED KNOWLEDGE None SATAC CODE ATAR GUARANTEED ENTRY ATAR TAFELINK Diploma or above HONOURS AVAILABLE Yes BONUS POINTS UEQ, LLM SOCIAL WORK AT FLINDERS The Bachelor of Social Work at Flinders University is designed to equip you to work in a wide range of areas related to the provision of health and social welfare services in modern society. The course combines traditional social work skills with the broader issues of social policy, providing expertise not just in the delivery of social services but also in the planning, development and monitoring of programs appropriate to current social conditions. Building understanding of both hands-on skills and program development regarding social work enables graduates to understand the policy and funding decisions that will affect their daily activities. Those who move into policy areas will understand the impact that their decisions could make on people working in the field. This social work degree is recognised as academic preparation for admission to the Australian Association of Social Workers. Social work is an applied discipline that draws on many other fields. You will be exposed to ideas from sociology, politics, social work theory, human social development, social policy, organisational analysis, research methods and social planning. The fundamental aim of social work to improve the quality of people s lives remains unchanged. STUDY PROGRAM FIRST YEAR In the first year you will be introduced to social planning, social work, democracy and government, geography, sociology, citizenship and mental health. SECOND AND THIRD YEARS In the second and third years you are introduced to key social work practice topics, and will develop your skills and knowledge in these areas. FOURTH YEAR In fourth year the focus on social work practice continues with topics on social work and human rights, ethical issues and critical reflexivity, amongst others. PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE The course gives you the opportunity to apply your professional studies in the real world. You will take two field placements totalling 1,000 hours. Placements will give you time in an agency under professional supervision to integrate the skills, knowledge and values acquired in both the classroom and the field. Placement options include child protection, community health, hospital social work, counselling, research, social planning, aged care, social work with migrant groups, correctional services and many others. Field placements are taken in third and fourth years. To be eligible to undertake field placements, students are required to obtain a Department for Communities and Social Inclusions (DCSI) screening and background check, stating that they have successful clearance. ACCREDITATION The Bachelor of Social Work is a professional social work qualification accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). TAFE SA DUAL OFFERS Entry via a TAFE SA dual offer pathway is also available for the Bachelor of Social Work. Successful applicants will receive an offer to both TAFE SA and Flinders. Progression to Flinders requires successful completion of the TAFE SA qualification. For more information go to: flinders.edu.au/tafe CAREER OPPORTUNITIES Some potential occupations for graduates include social worker, child protection practitioner, reunification social worker, therapeutic case worker, drug and alcohol counsellor, and community development policy officer. Potential employers include a range of government, community and non-government organisations like ACCESS-OCAR Services, Department for Communities and Social Inclusion, Relationships Australia, Migrant Resource Centre of SA, Uniting Communities, and Novita Children s Services. For more information on careers services and potential career opportunities go to: flinders.edu.au/careers FURTHER STUDY Graduates of the Bachelor of Social Work receive one year of credit towards the Master of Social Work. Further study options include Graduate Certificate in Loss, Grief and Trauma Counselling; Graduate Certificate in Child Wellbeing and Protection; Master of Social Work; and research degrees such as Master Of Arts (Social Work) and PhD. FIND OUT MORE More course information can be found by navigating to the Bachelor of Social Work on our undergraduate courses page via: flinders.edu.au/courses/undergrad 8

13 EQUIPS YOU TO WORK AS A SOCIAL WORKER IN A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES INCLUDING LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS AND PRIVATE SERVICE PROVIDERS INCLUDES SIGNIFICANT WORK PLACEMENTS, WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR PLACEMENTS OVERSEAS INTRODUCES YOU TO IDEAS FROM A RANGE OF DISCIPLINES, INCLUDING HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT The variety of work placement at Flinders was appealing to Chelsea. It s excellent to have work experience while you re still at uni. It gives you handson skills and then you get to mix these with the theoretical. It s a good reflective practice. Chelsea was grateful to have Flinders organise her final year placement at Street Link, as it culminated in an offer of employment. Chelsea Hodge CASE MANAGER FOR HYPA HOUSING, SERVICE TO YOUTH COUNCIL (ADELAIDE) FLINDERS SOCIAL WORK GRADUATE 9

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15 THE BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK AT FLINDERS IS IDEAL FOR INDIGENOUS STUDENTS INTERESTED IN A CAREER IN SOCIAL WORK. The course includes a compulsory topic coordinated through Yunggorendi First Nations Centre, and there are opportunities for fieldwork and placements with relevant organisations, including Indigenous services. Social workers can affect change with significant positive outcomes to the wellbeing of Indigenous people. Studying social work teaches skills in communication and critical ways of thinking to enable you to support and facilitate effective working relationships with Indigenous and non-indigenous individuals, families and communities. The social work discipline works in partnership with Yunggorendi First Nations Centre at Flinders to build a culturally safe environment for Indigenous students and staff. This includes: facilitating pathways into social work courses through the Indigenous Admissions Scheme helping students access financial support and Flinders services such as scholarships and health and counselling providing individual advice and academic support, including helping facilitate access to the Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme linking first year students with senior students to act as tutors and mentors Social work graduates find employment working in government and communitysector organisations that provide services in welfare, family support, health, corrections, courts, education and other areas. Many Aboriginal community-controlled health and community-support organisations employ social workers. After you graduate with a Bachelor of Social Work you may be eligible for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers, which is a requirement for many professional social work positions in Australia. In addition, Indigenous graduates and students can join a network of Aboriginal social workers through Indigenous Allied Health Australia, which centres on Aboriginal professional practice. Postgraduate options include a Master of Social Work at Flinders, which is also designed to incorporate Indigenous knowledge and issues. 11

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18 ADMISSIONS/PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS OFFICE flinders.edu.au INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS SHOULD CONTACT T: F: flinders.edu.au/international Every effort has been made to ensure the information in this brochure is accurate at the time of publication: May Flinders University reserves the right to alter any course or topic contained herein without prior notice. Alterations are reflected in the course information available on the Universit y s website. CRICOS No A