Study social work and gender-based violence

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Advancing social work and gender-based violence for a changing world

Preventing domestic and gender-based violence is one of the most complex health challenges.

1 in 3 Australian women have experienced physical violence since the age of 15.

Watch how Van Nguyen is using her postgraduate education in social work to advance policy frameworks to support and protect those most vulnerable.

*Impact story reference: Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021-2022) Personal Safety, Australia.

All our courses listed below are underpinned by a common agenda that places social justice and wellbeing at the centre of what we do. Whether you’re looking to deepen your skillset or change career focus, we have a course to suit your needs and schedule.

Professional entry course

Designed to equip graduates with the skills to work in various facets of social work practice, including casework, counselling, advocacy and community engagement. *accredited nationally by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). 2 years full-time / 4 years part-time. On campus (Parkville).

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Gain knowledge of adolescent health and development, prevention frameworks and skills to work more effectively with individuals and populations in schools and communities, and within health services. 2 years full-time / 4 years part-time.

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Delivered as a joint initiative with The Dulwich Centre, an international centre for narrative therapy training, established by internationally-renowned social worker and narrative therapist Michael White in 1984. 1 year full-time / 2 years part-time, online.

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The only course of its kind in the Australasian region, advance your skills to improve the delivery of human services and impact the well-being of individuals, families and communities.

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Gain knowledge of adolescent health and development, prevention frameworks and skills to work more effectively with individuals and populations in schools and communities, and within health services.  1 year full-time / 2 years part-time,  online.

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Gain knowledge of adolescent health and development, prevention frameworks and skills to work more effectively with individuals and populations in schools and communities, and within health services. 1 year part-time, online.

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  • #1 university in Australia and #20 in the world for clinical, pre-clinical and health (*Times Higher Education 2024 World University Rankings)
  • Benefit from industry links and research networks, including the Melbourne Research Alliance to End Violence Against Women and their Children (MAEVe) and the global kNOwVAWdata Community of Practice (a collaboration between The University of Melbourne and the United Nations Population Fund), and the Starlight Children’s Foundation.

Looking for personalised advice?

Find out more about our graduate degrees and get support with your application. Speak to our expert staff online, via phone or at an upcoming event. You can also register to learn more about your course options and opportunities via email.

Julie Green


“Inclusion and diversity are key values for me, so when choosing a course, I was also looking to see how this was catered for. To my great delight, one of the very first subjects I would study at Melbourne was Social Work Practice: Indigenous Peoples, and the staff for this subject are First Nation peoples. The University also has a very good student placement program the staff had great contacts with lots of different agencies and organisations across the sector.”