Over the years, social workers have helped individuals, families, groups, and communities address challenges linked to poverty, unemployment, addiction, disability, inequality, and social exclusion. Human rights and social justice are central principles in the social work profession.
Australia has a long-standing social work profession and a national professional body, the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), which represents social workers and sets benchmarks for professional education and practice.
The AASW was formed as a national association in 1946. Today, it supports the profession through accreditation, ethical standards, professional development, and advocacy. To learn the core areas of social work, many institutions around the world offer degrees that prepare students for professional practice.
These academic institutions provide practical learning experiences and often include field education or community-focused learning. In this article, we will discuss leading institutions in Australia that offer social work courses.
Top Schools Offering Social Work Programs in Australia
Here are some of the top social work schools in Australia that offer degrees and pathways in the field.
1. University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne, founded in 1853, is one of Australia’s oldest universities and the first university in Victoria. It is ranked equal 22nd globally in the QS World University Rankings 2027. Melbourne Business School is EQUIS-accredited, but this accreditation applies to business and management education rather than to the university’s social work program.
Its varied educational pathways equip students for careers in many industries and professions. The university also reports strong employment prospects for graduates of its Master of Social Work. Being among the top Australian universities to study social work, the two-year full-time and four-year part-time Master of Social Work program is exceptional here. Teaching in this institution is research-led and based on up-to-date data, helping students apply relevant theory to social work practice.
The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) has accredited this graduate degree nationally, and the degree has been determined to meet Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards. A master’s degree in social work is a portable qualification that may support work nationally or internationally. Experts here teach specialist knowledge in areas such as mental health, child and family practice, health, disability, aging, criminal justice, substance abuse, domestic and family violence, trauma, and suicide prevention.
2. Deakin University
Next on our list of Australian universities with excellent social work programs is Deakin University, which has a reputation for modern research and innovative teaching practices. The institution stands out because of its focus on practical learning, industry links, and career-ready education.
Deakin remains in the top 300 universities globally in major ranking systems, including the QS World University Rankings 2027. These rankings reinforce its place as a prominent academic institution. Deakin offers courses in a wide variety of disciplines for students from Australia and overseas.
Among these are its social work courses, including the four-year Bachelor of Social Work. To complete the Bachelor of Social Work, students must pass 32 credit points, including 29 credit points of core units and 3 credit points of open elective units. The degree focuses on human rights, social justice, policy, socioeconomic factors, and social equity issues. During this course, students can develop practical skills through 1,000 hours of practice education placements.
Deakin also offers a Master of Social Work, but the current course page states that this program is only available for domestic students. The master’s program is fully accredited by the AASW and includes at least 1,000 hours of professional placement.
3. Griffith University
Next, we have the acclaimed Griffith University, which also offers strong social work programs in Australia. Griffith University was officially created in 1971 and began teaching in 1975. Since then, it has been committed to addressing global environmental and social problems through its teaching and research. Griffith University is consistently placed in the top 2% of universities globally.
It provides degrees that consider the demands of industry, anticipate future challenges, and emphasize contributions to society. Among its social work degrees, the current Master of Social Work is especially notable.
The completion of this master’s program provides a professional qualifying pathway for students who want to begin a career in social work. This program is designed for graduates who hold a recognized bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant discipline with at least one year of study in social and behavioral sciences.
The curriculum provides theoretical, practical, and ethical foundations for social work practice in contemporary social policy and human service contexts. This two-year degree is accredited by the AASW and helps students develop as ethical practitioners, communicators, problem-solvers, innovators, and leaders.
4. Queensland University of Technology
The industry-focused education system at the Queensland University of Technology has received notable recognition. From architecture and business to engineering, the university provides career-focused education across many study areas.
From a social work perspective, QUT offers a Bachelor of Social Work and a Master of Social Work – Qualifying. The Master of Social Work – Qualifying consists of 12 units and can be completed in two years of full-time study or four years of part-time study. Students are required to complete at least 1,000 hours of field placements supervised by professional social workers. These work placements are completed over two professional practice units.
Students will acquire skills in casework, assessment, intervention, political economy, policy making, ethical and legal contexts of practice, and practice frameworks. They learn to apply these concepts to real-world casework and case management scenarios. Students with degrees in other disciplines who want to pursue social work may benefit from this program.
5. University of New South Wales
Lastly, we recommend the University of New South Wales, which has garnered global attention for its contributions to education and research. UNSW is a founding member of the Group of Eight, an alliance of Australia’s leading research-intensive universities.
UNSW Sydney is widely recognized as one of Australia’s leading universities and is ranked 19th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2027. Its diverse student body includes students from more than 140 countries. For social work, UNSW offers a Bachelor of Social Work (Honours), a Master of Counselling Social Work for domestic students, and a Professional Doctorate in Social Work.
The Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) is a four-year degree with integrated honors. It combines theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience and is accredited by the AASW, making graduates eligible for professional membership upon graduation.
The Master of Counselling Social Work is currently listed as a domestic-only degree. It is a part-time, two-year program designed for practicing social workers who want to extend their counseling and therapeutic skills.
The Professional Doctorate in Social Work is a postgraduate research degree designed for practicing social workers. The program is a three-year full-time degree structured as one year of full-time coursework followed by two years of full-time research.
Students must complete the coursework component before undertaking thesis research. In the research component, candidates complete supervised research and produce a final thesis. Graduates will engage in advanced and critical reflection within the profession.
Social work has long been considered a humanitarian practice that aims to improve the lives of people and communities in crisis. Australian universities offer AASW-accredited pathways that can help students prepare for modern social work practice.
We hope that this article on the best social work schools in Australia helped you narrow down the best institutions for you. You can also visit the Study in Australia and Available Programs for International Students pages for more articles and opportunities about studying in Australia!
