Social work
Our Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social work each incorporate more than 1000 hours of practical fieldwork experience. You’ll gain first-hand social work experience in a real-world social/community service agency or program.
Explore health and social development courses
Gain the practical skills to work across all levels of health – from community groups through to government and global health and social development organisations. Make your mark in Australia’s largest and fastest-growing sector.*
Learn practical skills on the job
All our undergraduate courses and many of our postgraduate degrees have embedded work placement units, allowing you to gain practical skills and collaborate with professionals in your chosen field. Our school has a strong partner network with local healthcare centres, enabling our team to connect you with an organisation to complete your placement hours.
Health
Undergraduate – Offering 120 hours of practical experience, our health practicum unit is available to undergraduate health sciences, and public health and health promotion students. Apply your knowledge in a practical setting and further your learning with realistic field experience.
Postgraduate – enjoy the option to complete a 100 to 140-hour practicum in our FreelancingHUB or with a host organisation. Depending on your area of study, you’ll gain experience in public health, health promotion, health economics, disability and inclusion and/or health management.
Occupational therapy
In addition to practical learning in our simulation hub, as an occupational therapy student you’ll gain 1000 hours of placement experience across your degree – well above the industry standard for this discipline.
Postgraduate child play therapy
As a postgraduate child play therapy student, you’ll gain extensive experience in clinical, virtual and supervised settings. You’ll develop your core skills and techniques in play therapy with real clients.
Go on a study tour
You’ll have the opportunity to complete overseas study tours in destinations across Oceania, Europe and Asia, depending on your focus of study and interests. You may also have the option to spend a full trimester abroad, depending on your course.
As well as studying and gaining practical experience, you'll explore a different culture through activities in the local community. You can choose to visit a well-established economy with highly aspirational and forward-thinking health policy and systems, or examine the challenges faced by the healthcare systems of an emerging economy.
The overseas study was the greatest part of studying at Deakin. Not only did I get to go overseas for the first time, I also got a scholarship to go, which funded most of my trip, and I was able to complete some of my study.
Sophie Heywood
Bachelor of Health Sciences
Explore research degrees
Reimagine your career, connect with industry and make your impact alongside world-leading researchers at the School of Health and Social Development.
Add a professional accreditation to your resume
Many of our degrees include accreditation, ensuring you graduate ready to work and can stand out to potential employers.
Social work
The Bachelor of Social Work, and Master of Social Work are both fully accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).^ You can also apply for AASW membership and practice professionally throughout Australia.
Occupational therapy
The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy is accredited by Occupational Therapy Australia and the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, allowing you to practice professionally as an occupational therapist in Australia and overseas.
Child play therapy
Graduates of the Master of Child Play Therapy may apply to become a Registered Child Play Therapist with the Australasia Pacific Play Therapy Association (APPTA).
Health promotion
Deakin’s health promotion courses are fully accredited by the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE). This accreditation enables graduates to register with IUHPE as a registered Health Promotion Practitioner, securing global recognition.
As a graduate, you may also be eligible to become a member of the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) and obtain professional accreditation as a Health Promotion Practitioner with the Australian Health Promotion Association (AHPA). These accreditations apply to the following courses:
- Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion
- Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion/Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Health Sciences – Health Promotion major
- Master of Health Promotion.
Advisory boards
Our courses are influenced by our advisory boards. Made up of representatives from organisations and professions that employ Deakin graduates, our advisory boards help shape what you learn by providing up-to-date and relevant guidance.
Footnotes
*Jobs and Skills Australia, Employment Projections 2023 - 2028
^All information regarding professional recognition is accurate at the date of publication. Enquiries regarding accreditation and professional membership should be directed to the School of Health and Social Development in order to ascertain the current status of accreditation at any future point in time beyond publication. Representations about accreditation apply only to the course, and the AASW retains discretion as to who they admit as members of their association. Deakin University cannot exercise any control over membership of an external body.
Contact us
Get in touch if you have any further questions regarding the School of Health and Social Development.
+61 3 9251 7777