How to become a social worker
UNSW provides a clear path to a meaningful career as a social worker. Here's how to make it happen.
How to become a social worker in Australia
If you're passionate about helping others, supporting social change and building stronger communities, a career in social work could be the right path for you. Whether you're drawn to advocacy, mental health, community work or policy development, it’s a meaningful profession with the potential to create real impact.
At UNSW, you’ll study within the School of Social Sciences – ranked #1 in Australia and #23 globally (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2025). Our social work degree is accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and designed to equip you with both the knowledge and practical experience to support people at all levels of society.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to become a social worker in Australia – including the qualifications you’ll need, the steps to get started, and where your career could take you.
What does a social worker do?
Social workers support individuals, families and communities to overcome challenges and improve their wellbeing. They work across a range of settings, from hospitals and schools to government agencies and non-profits. Social workers often specialise in areas like mental health, child protection, aged care, public health, or substance use.
“Social work is different from other support or mental health professions because it looks at the whole person and the systems around them, not just their diagnosis or immediate needs,” says UNSW alumna and social worker Keely-Che Cain. “While some professions focus mainly on treatment, social work involves advocacy, cultural safety, community connection, and supporting people to navigate housing, education, Centrelink, legal or child protection systems.”
Depending on their role and area of focus, their day-to-day responsibilities might include:
- Assess people’s needs and create tailored support plans
- Deliver case management and coordinate access to services
- Provide counselling or crisis intervention during difficult life events
- Advocate for individuals and communities
- Contribute to policy reforms that promote social justice
Whether working directly with clients or influencing systems and policy, social workers rely on empathy, resilience, cultural awareness and strong communication skills to make a lasting impact.
“In my role, the core focus is supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, and families to feel safe, heard, and empowered in their interactions with systems like the DCJ, education, mental health, and legal services,” says Keely-Che Cain.
“Ultimately, I see my role as helping families access what they need to thrive, while recognising and honouring the strengths, knowledge, and resilience they already carry.”
What skills does a social worker need?
Social workers need a combination of emotional intelligence and practical problem-solving skills. Whether you're working directly with individuals or supporting systemic change, your ability to empathise with clients will be critical. These skills will be developed through your studies, placements and on-the-job experience, and will continue to grow as your career progresses.
Here are some of the most important social worker skills:
| Human skills | Professional competencies |
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Success in social work relies on a mix of professional skills and personal qualities.
Strong emotional resilience, self-awareness, and cultural humility are essential, especially when working with families navigating complex systems. It’s important to listen without judgment, practise trauma-informed care, and always recognise the strengths that people already carry.
Where do social workers work?
Social workers are found wherever people face complex challenges – from hospitals and schools to aged care, mental health services, child protection and community organisations. They support individuals and families, advocate for social justice and help communities thrive.
At UNSW, you’ll graduate with the skills and experience to work across a wide range of sectors, including government, non-profits and private agencies. Our strong industry partnerships and placement opportunities will boost your employability and prepare you to make a real impact from day one.
| Setting | Job title | Responsibilities |
| Hospitals and healthcare | Medical social worker | Support patients and families with emotional, social and practical challenges related to illness, treatment and recovery. Coordinate care and connect people with support services. |
| Schools and education | School social worker | Help students overcome barriers to learning, support wellbeing, and work with families, teachers and external services to promote positive outcomes. |
| Mental health services | Mental health social worker | Provide counselling, crisis support and ongoing care for people experiencing mental health issues, often in partnership with clinical teams. |
| Child protection agencies | Child protection officer | Work to keep children safe from harm. Assess risk, coordinate care, and support families with intervention, case planning and advocacy. |
| Justice and correctional services | Case manager or justice support worker | Support rehabilitation and reintegration of people in the justice system. Provide advocacy, planning and practical support in correctional or community settings. |
| Community organisations | Community social worker | Strengthen communities by supporting vulnerable groups, developing programs, and advocating for social inclusion and access to services. |
| Government policy and planning | Policy adviser or social planner | Shape social programs and legislation by researching issues, analysing data and advising on effective social policy and service delivery. |
| Aged care services | Aged care social worker | Support older adults and their families with life transitions, care planning, and navigating aged care systems. Promote wellbeing and independence. |
Steps to become a social worker
Here’s how to get started on your journey to a career in social work.
- Study an accredited qualification
Complete an AASW-accredited social work qualification, such as the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) at UNSW. - Gain practical placement experience
Get real-world experience through two supervised field placements, which are built into UNSW’s social work program. - Apply for AASW membership
To practise as a social worker in Australia, you’ll need to become a member of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). - Apply for jobs in social work or postgraduate study
Apply for social work roles, or explore postgraduate study options like the Master of Counselling Social Work to deepen your expertise.
Professional accreditation and requirements to become a social worker
To practise as a social worker in Australia, you must be accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). This ensures your qualifications meet national professional and ethical standards.
UNSW’s Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) is an AASW-accredited program designed to prepare you for a successful and meaningful career. You’ll complete 1,000 hours of supervised field education in real-world settings, developing the critical skills to support individuals and communities across diverse social and cultural contexts.
While AASW membership is required nationwide, some states and sectors, such as child protection or mental health, may have additional registration or licensing requirements.
About the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) at UNSW
When you study for a Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) at UNSW, you’ll explore a wide range of topics including mental health, social work counselling, community work, sociology, psychology, and working with First Nations communities. The degree is designed to help you understand social work methods and develop trauma-informed, ethical, and practical skills through two industry placements.
The program is delivered on-campus over four years full-time, giving you the opportunity to learn from experienced social workers and industry professionals. Core subjects include:
- Social work practice and counselling
- Community development and social policy
- Mental health and wellbeing
- Indigenous social work
- Research methods in social work
The Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) also allows you to explore areas of specialisation that interest you, preparing you for a range of social work career paths. If you study social work as a double degree, you can unlock more career opportunities with a specialisation in social sciences, law, the arts or criminology and criminal justice.
Learn more about the UNSW School of Social Sciences, which houses the social work programs and offers interdisciplinary opportunities across related fields.
FAQs about becoming a social worker
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To get the qualifications needed to be a social worker in Australia, you can expect to study full-time for 4-6 years. At a minimum, an undergraduate bachelor’s degree will take four years of full-time study. If you choose to specialise in a particular area through a postgraduate master’s degree, you can expect to understand 1-2 years of further study.
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Yes, international students can apply for UNSW’s Bachelor of Social Work (Honours). UNSW is a globally recognised university, so your degree will be recognised worldwide.
To study in Australia, you’ll need to make sure you meet the visa conditions to study and work in Australia, and meet the English language requirements.
To practice social work in Australia, you will require AASW recognition and may need to meet additional visa requirements. If you plan to practice social work overseas, you may need additional qualifications.
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It is possible to study social work courses or subjects associated with social work in related degrees (such as social welfare or community services).
However, to become a registered social worker with AASW, you will need to complete a bachelor's or master's degree in social work.
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Social workers are in high demand across Australia. Demand for social workers is expected to grow by 23.2% 5-years (Seek, 2025), making it not only a meaningful but also a stable and future-focused career choice.
Salaries vary depending on your role, experience and location. On average, social workers in Australia earn between $90,000 - $105,000 per year. Related roles also offer competitive salaries - caseworkers earn between $85,000 - $105,000, child safety officers around $100,000 - $105,000, health coordinators $100,000 - $120,000, and youth justice workers between $80,000 - $95,000.
With a qualification from UNSW, you’ll be well-positioned to succeed. UNSW graduates earn the highest median salaries among Go8 universities (QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2023) and are consistently ranked among the most employable in Australia – #1 for career outcomes (AFR Best Universities Ranking, 2024) and #1 for employability (QS World University Rankings, 2025).
Salary data from Seek, 2025
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Not sure if social work is right for you? If you're passionate about supporting others and creating positive change in your community, it could be the perfect fit. Social work is a deeply rewarding career that allows you to make a lasting impact on people’s lives while promoting wellbeing, human rights and social justice.
It’s also a flexible and diverse profession, with opportunities to work across a range of areas, such as mental health, child protection, hospitals, schools and aged care. Wherever your interests lie, social work provides fulfilling work and opportunities to develop.
Social work is about cultural humility, reflective practice, and knowing that you will never have all the answers, and that’s okay.
Never forget that you are not there to ‘fix’ people. You are there to support, advocate, listen, and help highlight the strengths that already exist. Community and clients are the experts of their own lives, and your role is to honour that.
How will UNSW prepare you for a career as a social worker?
At UNSW, you’ll build the knowledge and experience needed to work across a wide range of social work settings. In your Bachelor of Social Work (Honours), you’ll gain critical skills in counselling, mental health, social policy, community development and working with First Nations communities.
Expand your career options with a double degree, and combine your Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) with areas like law, the arts, social sciences or criminology.
You’ll have the opportunity to learn from experienced social workers, researchers and industry professionals. UNSW’s interdisciplinary teaching reflects the realities of modern practice, drawing on psychology, sociology, public health and law. With strong industry partnerships and career support, you’ll graduate ready to make a meaningful impact from day one.
Start your career as a social worker at UNSW
Discover a range of career options across many sectors, including private and government agencies, social welfare support organisations and community groups. UNSW’s strong industry partnerships and placement opportunities will elevate your professional recognition and employability upon graduation.
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If you have any questions about studying at UNSW or how you can make your studies work for you, contact us below. We’re here to help.