3870 - Bachelor of Health Science/Bachelor of Social Work

This course equips students for careers in social work with specialised knowledge of the health and social care system.

All students undertake a foundation year in applied, social and health sciences. Study covers areas of research, communication, health systems, health promotion, and the determinants of health. Later-year core units include studies in epidemiology and public health, indigenous health and wellbeing, and health promotion, plus social work subjects.

Although the course is principally intended to prepare graduates for a career in social work, the health science major sequence completed by all students also provides a grounding in health promotion and community development and partnerships, and expands career options.

This course requires students to undertake off-campus placements.

Special requirements

Police Checks and Working with Children Checks

Organisations that host clinical and community placements require students to have current Police and Working with Children checks regarding their suitability to undertake such placements. All enrolled and prospective students are advised that they will be required to obtain Police and Working with Children checks prior to undertaking their course. Working with Children checks are valid for five years and are available free. Police checks must be applied and paid for annually. However, in some community partnered programs there may be a requirement to have a police check renewed every six months.

Health requirements

In order to meet health requirements for working in the healthcare facilities and for the protection of other students, and themselves, students may need to comply with certain precautionary procedures. These may consist of confidential tests for immune status (including blood tests and skin tests), receiving vaccines and having x-rays where the evidence indicates that these are appropriate.

Vaccinations

The faculty recommends that all students accept responsibility for having up-to-date immunisations before commencing this course. Recommended immunisations include diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, tuberculosis and hepatitis B.

Course objectives for the Bachelor of Health Science and the Bachelor of Social Work are listed under 'Single degrees' in this section of the Handbook.

The normal pattern of study is 24 points per semester. Depending on the point value of units, this may equate to three or four units per semester, or in semesters where a field placement is undertaken, this is reduced to two units plus the placement.

The course is undertaken in the following sequence:

• the first year is comprised of health science units only
• the second year is comprised of five health science units and three social work units
• the third year includes three health science units (these complete the health science major sequence); the remainder are social work units (including the first field placement)
• the final year is comprised of social work units only, including the second field placement.

All units are compulsory.

First year

Semester 1

• HSC1031 Foundations of health
• HSC1041 Health sociology
• HSC1051 Working with people
• HSC1061 Introduction to research in health science

Semester 2

• HSC1052 Health and social care systems
• HSC1072 Health promotion 1
• HSC1082 Population health
• HSC1092 Human body in health and illness

Second year

Semester 1

• HSC2031 Epidemiology and public health
• HSC2061 Legal and ethical frameworks
• SWK3220 Social work in society
• SWK3230 Social work research

Semester 2

• HSC2042 Population health and diversity
• HSC2062 Communicating health
• SRH2002 Indigenous health and well-being
• SWK3260 Social policy and social justice 1

Third Year

Semester 1

• HSC2051 Health promotion 2
• HSC3011 Contemporary health challenges
• SWK3240 Working with individuals: theory and practice
• SWK3250 Social work perspectives on human development

Semester 2

• HSC2092 Community partnerships and capacity building
• SWK3120 Working with families and groups: theory and practice
• SWK3180 Fieldwork skills and practicum 1

Fourth year

Semester 1

• SWK4410 Community work: theory and practice
• SWK4420 The individual, health and society
• SWK4430 Cross-cultural social work: theory and practice
• SWK4440 Social work management: theory and practice

Semester 2

• SWK4450 Social policy and social justice II
• SWK4460 Critical and creative social work theory and practice
• SWK4560 Fieldwork skills and practicum II

Bachelor of Social Work

Bachelor of Health Sciences

* Where more than one award is listed, or in the case of double degrees, where more than one award is listed for one or both components of the double degree, the actual award/s conferred may depend on units/majors/streams/specialisations studied, the level of academic merit achieved (eg in the case of 'with honours' programs), or other factors relevant to the individual student's program of study.