Introductory courses

84 units

COU176 Group Processes and Practice
COU180 Therapeutic Communication Skills
SCS101 Foundations of Human Behaviour
SCS110 Australian Society: How does(n't) it work? - An Introduction to Sociology
SCS130 Introduction to Indigenous Australia
SWK100 Introduction to Social Work Practice Theories
SWK172 Introduction to Social Work and Human Services

Developing courses

96 units

SCS235 Social Justice, Welfare and the State
SWK200 Social Work Practice in Various Organisational Settings
SWK201 Human Services Placement 1(24 units)
SWK202 Mental and Physical Health and Wellbeing
SWK251 Working with First Nations Peoples and Multicultural Communities
SWK278 Ethics, Law and the Helping Professions
SWK286 Disability: Culture, Community and Change

Graduate courses

60 units

CRM302 Youth Justice & Restorative Justice
SWK302 Community Development and Social Action
SWK305 Human Services Placement 2(24 units)
SWK308 Community and Home Care for Healthy Ageing

Elective courses

48 units

Select a total of 48 units from the undergraduate elective course options.

Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all UniSC courses are available on every UniSC campus.

In order to graduate you must:

• Successfully complete 288 units as outlined in the Program Structure
• Complete no more than 10 introductory level (100 coded) courses
• SWK201(Field placement) takes places in Tri 3 and requires a mandatory intensive face-to-face skills training lasting from 5-10 days of on campus workshops. 

Program notes

• Throughout the human services program, students are expected to demonstrate professional behaviour consistent with the Inherent Academic Requirements and the values of the profession. This includes upholding ethical conduct, integrity, respect, and accountability in all interactions with peers, staff, clients, and the broader community.
• Professional behaviour is a core requirement throughout the program because effective knowledge, cognitive skills, and professional judgment are essential for identifying and responding to the complex needs of individuals, families, and communities. The work in human services occurs at the interface between people and their social, cultural, and physical environments and often involves addressing a wide range of interrelated personal and systemic issues. 
• Throughout the program, students are required to display self-awareness, emotional regulation, and reflective capacity; manage personal values and biases; and engage respectfully and sensitively with others. This includes maintaining professional boundaries, demonstrating effective communication, responding appropriately to feedback, and adhering to confidentiality and ethical standards at all times. 
• These expectations apply across all learning environments, including coursework, simulation, online engagement, and field education. Failure to demonstrate professional behaviour in coursework prior to placement or while on placement may result in a finding that the student is not fit to undertake, continue, or successfully complete placement, and may therefore impact progression through the program. Consistent professionalism is essential to readiness for ethical and competent practice.
• Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per trimester (normally 4 courses) and following the recommended study sequence
• The unit value of all courses is 12 units unless otherwise specified
• It is each students responsibility to enrol correctly according to your course requisites, program rules and requirements and be aware of the academic calendar dates
• Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods which may include essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations
• As part of your UniSC program, you may apply to Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider
• Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa
• Refer to the Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.

WIL notes

• Students complete two field placement courses within the Bachelor of Human Services: SWK201, Human Services Placement 1 and SWK305, Human Services Placement 2. The first placement course SWK201 is in trimester 3 and incorporates mandatory skills learning and development in connection with human services organisations. The final placement course, SWK305 will be offered in both trimester 1 and 2 each year and provides students with the final opportunity for field practice experience before graduation, emphasising the integration and application of knowledge, theory and skills through direct involvement in practice settings within human services organisations.
• It is no longer a mandatory pre-placement compliance requirement that students studying a Bachelor of Human Services at UniSC, are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. However please note that some placement host organisations have chosen to continue requiring COVID-19 vaccinations. If you are not fully vaccinated, it is important to know that placement opportunities in your program may be limited and may result in a delay to your placement, as UniSC is not able to waive the mandatory compliance requirements of individual organisations. UniSC still strongly recommends that all students undertaking placement are fully vaccinated and provide evidence of this vaccination status to the University.

In order to commence field education placement you must:

• • Hold a valid Blue Card, throughout the duration of your program, which is issued by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian (CCYPCG). You should allow 12 weeks for CCYPCG to issue the card. Note: students who do not possess a valid Blue Card or become ineligible will be unable to complete the field education component of their program and will be unable to meet graduation requirements.
  • Apply for a NDIS worker screening card. UniSC supports students to apply for a Blue Card and NDIS worker screening card (which is a combined application process.)

You may also be required to:

• • Have a National Criminal History check (by Queensland Police Service or other state/territory authority)
  • Travel to attend field education placements at your own expense.

It is a Queensland Government requirement that students undertaking a placement within some clinical settings are fit tested annually for an approved respirator.  This specifically includes all Qld Health facilities, some aged care facilities and some other individual health care settings.  If the Fit Testing requirement applies to placement activity within your Program, it will appear in your mandatory checks on Sonia Online.  In accordance with Australian Standards, you must be clean shaven for your fit test. Facial hair that lies along the sealing surface of a tight-fitting respirator prevents an effective seal. Therefore, it is a requirement that there is no hair growth between the skin and the facepiece sealing surface in order to achieve a fit. At this stage, there is no exemption in Queensland to this requirement for religious or other reasons and UniSC is unable to waive this requirement.

Please note, while all endeavours will be made to place students in a given trimester, this is not guaranteed, and students may need to enrol at a later time should a position in an agency be unavailable in the preferred trimester.

• For more information on mandatory requirements refer to Human Services - Placement.

Credit precedents

We recognise the existing arrangements with credit transferable from the following national VET Diplomas:
Diploma of Child, Youth and Family Intervention: Diploma of Community Services

Prospective students must consider the Inherent Academic Requirements before applying to study this program.

Refer to Bachelor of Human Services - Inherent academic requirements

UniSC strongly supports the rights of all people to pursue studies. The University embraces diversity and endeavours to accommodate all students.

What are Inherent Academic Requirements (IARs)?

The IARs of a program are those fundamental skills, capabilities and knowledge that students must be able to demonstrate in order to achieve the essential learning outcomes of the program, while maintaining the academic integrity of that program.

Students with a disability or chronic health condition may be able to have reasonable adjustments made to enable them to meet these requirements.

UniSC is committed to making reasonable adjustments to teaching and learning, assessment, placement and other activities to enable students to participate in their program.

Reasonable adjustments must not fundamentally change the nature of the IAR.

Consideration is given to a student's cultural and religious background/beliefs, which may impact on participation in their program or course. For further information contact Student Support.

Why are Inherent Academic Requirements (IARs) important?

IARs ensure the academic integrity of a program is maintained and preserves the University's learning, assessment and accreditation processes. They must be met by all students.

How does this affect you?

To successfully complete a program at UniSC, you need to be able to meet all the Inherent Academic Requirements.

If you are applying for a program, you should read the IAR statement carefully to ensure you are able to meet them.

If you have a disability or chronic health condition, contact a UniSC Disability Advisor to talk about the adjustments that may be put in place so you can meet the requirements.