Occupation Introduction
Social worker assesses the social needs of individuals, families and groups, assists and empowers people to develop and use the skills and resources needed to resolve social and other problems, and furthers human wellbeing and human rights, social justice and social development.
Registration or licensing may be required.
Job Duties
The duties of a social worker include:
•Assisting clients to understand and resolve problems by providing information, acting as a mediator and referring them to community and self-help agencies.
•Conducting individual and family case interviews to identify the nature and extent of clients' problems.
•Providing leadership and assistance for the implementation of pilot projects in community development and self-help, and planning and implementing research projects to address client needs, organisation goals and social policy.
•Assessing resources for health, welfare, recreation, housing, employment and other community services.
•Acting as a facilitator between clients in need and community services.
•Cooperating with community organisations, social agencies and voluntary groups to improve services and develop new services.
•Analysing, developing, promoting and implementing social policies through the use of practice experience, research, analytic frameworks, and negotiation skills to respond to social need through a fair, equitable and effective allocation of social resource.
•Compiling case records and reports.
•Monitoring the progress of clients by maintaining contact.
Employment Status
Social workers are employed in a variety of community and social welfare fields and may work in state, territory and federal government departments; hospitals; community health centres; local government authorities; or non-government organisations. Some social workers are self-employed, working as counsellors, therapists and consultants. With their broad academic and practical training, qualified social workers may also work in non-social work areas as project officers, policy makers, managers or administrators.
The Employment Facts of Social Worker in Australia:
Future Growth: Strong
Full-Time Share: 64%
Average full-time: 41
Weekly Pay: $1,829
Employment by state:
ACT: 1.8%
NSW: 28.5%
NT: 1.1%
QLD: 17.0%
SA: 10.5%
TAS: 2.9%
VIC: 29.4%
WA: 8.7%
Education requirements
To become a social worker, you usually have to complete a degree in social work at university.
Education level:
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate: 24%
Bachelor degree: 58.8%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma: 9.4%
Certificate III/IV: 3.6%
Year 12 and below: 4.2%
Related Courses:
Bachelor of Social Work, Diploma of Community Service, etc
