COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Youth Work is structured over three years of full-time study and is designed to develop both foundational and advanced knowledge in youth work, sociology, community engagement and professional practice. In the first year, students begin by exploring the core foundations of the discipline through units such as Knowing Young People, Introduction to the Youth Sector, Introduction to Sociology, and Indigenous Health and Culture. These subjects help students understand the social, cultural and developmental factors that shape young people’s lives. During the second semester, learning deepens through units focused on the developing young person and ethical principles in youth work, supported by a core curriculum requirement and the opportunity to select an elective that aligns with students’ emerging interests. In the second year, the course builds further practical and interpersonal skills, beginning with Building Relationships and Supporting Young People, Youth Work Counselling, Difference and Diversity, and another elective. The second semester of Year 2 introduces students to their first major professional placement through Field Placement 1, along with Trauma Informed Practice and two sociology units that examine qualitative research and global youth cultures, ensuring students gain a broader sociological understanding of issues affecting young people. In the final year, students undertake Field Placement 2, enabling them to apply their learning in a more advanced professional context, complemented by a unit on working with vulnerable young people and a second core curriculum unit. The final semester consolidates all prior learning with specialised units such as Youth Policy and Community Development, along with a sociology elective and a final elective that allows students to tailor their degree further. Overall, this course structure ensures that graduates leave with comprehensive theoretical knowledge, strong practical experience, and a well-rounded understanding of the diverse contexts in which young people live and require support.