Graduate Certificate or Diploma of Social Work overview
Graduate certificate or diploma degrees for social work are 6 to 12 months in length and provide the student with a general understanding and introduction to the field. It equips you with the knowledge to determine whether this field is suited to your skillset, and also whether you want to progress or specialise further by undertaking masters or a doctorate in social work.
Employment options
There is a vast range of employment options in which you can diversify after studying social work, depending on the level of study you've attained. You can become a social worker, community welfare worker, youth worker or corrections officer in sectors such as health, education, child welfare, disability services and the justice system.
Scholarships and funding
While scholarships aren't generally available for a graduate certificate or diploma, there is government funding from Austudy for these courses. To find out whether you're eligible for Austudy you can contact Centrelink.
Prerequisites and selection process
To be able to enrol in a Graduate Certificate of Social Work or a Diploma of Social Work, you will generally need to have studied a bachelor or equivalent degree in social work, however, some courses and universities will relax this for students with significant experience in the sector, outstanding grades from a related discipline, or simply a compelling story.