It is vital to have a good education in order to succeed in life. Your career and personal growth will both benefit from your international education. Having the opportunity to study and live in a globalized environment offers a wealth of experiences. One career that benefits greatly from exposure to a diverse environment is social work. There is no better place to get quality social work education than Australia.

Interested in a career that allows you to make a positive impact on the lives of others? Individuals who work in social work support people in making changes in their lives to improve both their psychological and social well-being. There are many different public and private settings where social workers work, such as community health centres and public and private hospitals, aged care facilities, education facilities, mental health facilities, alcohol and drug treatment centres, clinics and non-government organizations, refugee centres, correctional facilities, universities and research facilities, group homes, supported employment agencies, and government departments.

Students interested in following a permanent residency pathway can find attractive offers from various states, including Tasmania, South Australia, and the Northern Territory. Applicants are required to submit an expression of interest and demonstrate that they have satisfied the requirements of work and study.

A Social Worker qualification in Australia will provide you with a wealth of opportunities. In this article, we've emphasized on some of the vital points related to this field.

Significance of Social Work

It is a very rewarding career area that is deeply related to psychology. Social Work is also known as social service. A well-trained professional performs work for the benefit of those suffering from social deprivation with the intent of reducing pain and suffering. The field of social work examines the welfare and wellbeing of individuals and communities.

Who are Social Workers and what do they do?

The term "Social Workers" refers to trained professionals who use social theories to understand human challenges and help individuals improve their lives, thus improving society as a whole. Social Workers generally trains to help women, children and aiding to life- threatening problems. They advocate for their clients, help them learn new skills, get them linked to resources within the community, protect vulnerable clients and ensure that their best interests are respected, counsel clients who need assistance and research social problems to find solutions.

Where do Social Workers work?

As a social worker, you are most likely employed either in social assistance or healthcare, including in psychiatric clinics, non-profit organizations, hospitals, etc. Additionally, they work in government agencies at the state and local levels. In addition to child welfare assessments, their jobs would involve assisting individuals with public assistance and working with those involved with the criminal justice system.

Social Work Degree Courses in Australia

You must complete a Bachelor of Social Work in order to become a social worker in Australia. The curriculum includes both theoretical and practical components. A two-year Master of Social Work program can be completed by students with previous tertiary education. You can choose between two types of social work degrees: -

1. The undergraduate degree (Bachelor of Social Work)
Up to four years may be required to complete this study. With a four-year degree in social work and human services, you will be prepared for a range of careers. By the time you complete the course, you'll be recognized as a professional and qualify for membership in the Australian Association of Social Workers. Different universities have different eligibility criteria, but generally a successful completion of Year 12 or equivalent and a formal English language test are required. 2. The postgraduate degree [Master of Social work / Master of Social Work (qualifying)]
The program lasts for two years. Graduates with a specialization in psychology, law, or social science can also take these courses. In addition to building on your prior experience and knowledge, a master's degree in social work allows you to gain more knowledge through direct practice. Having a Master of Social Work increases your marketability, your pay potential, and your advancing opportunities. Graduates of other disciplines can also apply to this program to enter the field of social work without going back to undergraduate school. The general requirement is that you have a bachelor's degree with at least one year of full-time study in social sciences and you must meet the university's English language requirement.

Social Work as a career in Australia

An increasing number of social workers have been employed in the last five years. Social workers are a large profession that has grown a great deal over the last few years. Occupation Ceiling data indicates that Social Workers were allotted 1562 places, out of which only 72 are occupied. According to these statistics, only 4.6% of the available positions were filled this year, which indicates a significant shortage of skilled workers. Unfortunately, the trend will only continue until more students take up this course of study. Increasing awareness of this field of study is essential in order to reduce the skill shortage. It is not very popular among students. Western Australia and Darwin are the states with the highest need for Social Workers. The starting salary in this field is approx. $50,000 to $55,000 P/A while the more experienced level position earns approx. $75,000 to $98,000 P/A.

Careers

A social worker's career options are diverse once she or he becomes qualified. Among these are roles in casework, counselling, advocacy, and community engagement. Supporting people or assisting them with resources is the key to these roles.

The list below mentions some of the present areas of expertise that are available to you on graduation:

• Addictions
• Aged care
• Child Protection
• Disability Services
• Family and Relationship Counselling
• Income Support
• Justice
• Medical and Health Care
• Psychiatric and General Mental Health Care
• Youth

Australian PR Pathway

Throughout Australia and around the globe, social work is one of the most in-demand professions. Due to the occupation's inclusion on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), the occupation qualifies for any of the visas offered by the Skilled Migration Program. These include the Skilled Nominated 190 visa, the Skilled Independent 189 visa and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) 489 visa. If you have an offer of employment, you can also apply for a variety of employer-sponsored visas. There are several occupations that are consistently listed in the Skilled Occupations List (SOL), including Welfare Centre Manager, Welfare Worker, Social Worker, and Community Worker.