Sydney college masters social work


[PDF]Sydney college masters social work - Rackcdn.comhttps://e6c67dfea7107c66cf4b-5fe525cefecba56744297355853ea71e.ssl.cf6.rackcdn...

0 downloads 113 Views 217KB Size

Sydney college masters social work   

John Ross The Australian April 22, 2014 12:00AM

PRIVATE higher education has made a plunge in the postgraduate professional training market for welfare workers, with a Sydney college planning what could be Australia’s fastest master’s course in social work. In early June the Australian College of Applied Psychology will become the first nonuniversity offering the qualification. The course, for Australians with social work degrees and at least a year’s experience, can be completed in just two semesters or about six months. The college is also launching a two-year “qualifying” masters for both domestic and international students with related degrees or diplomas. While social workers in Australia don’t require postgraduate qualifications, ACAP’s Carolyn Noble said the master’s course provided additional expertise. “We are seeing social work growing and becoming more complex in a way that mirrors modern society,” said Professor Noble, who heads ACAP’s social work school. The discipline is a mainstay of public universities, with over 20 offering masters programs ranging from one to three years. Full fees range from about $14,000 to $19,000, although some universities offer commonwealth-supported master’s places for just $6040. ACAP’s programs cost about $14,500 a year. Social work is one of Australia’s fastest growing occupations and has below average unemployment. But the federal government’s Job Outlook website only expects “average” future job openings, suggesting workers are slow to leave what is considered a familyfriendly profession. Last year’s Australian Graduate Survey found that 70 per cent of social workers were working within four months of graduating, just below the all-field average of 71 per cent. Graduate newcomers with bachelor degrees could expect a starting salary of $50,000, compared to a workforce average of $52,500.