In order to achieve a highly qualified workforce we need to ensure social service workers have high quality skills and knowledge. We also need to ensure these skills are what the industry needs. Last year we worked with numerous social service agencies to determine what they needed. It was clear that a degree-level qualification was needed to meet registration and professional requirements. It was also evident that this degree needed to be based on learning in the workplace instead of in a classroom.

This year we have continued to work with many industry groups to start to develop these degrees and the professional development framework that surrounds them.

Here are some media releases that explain where we are in the process of developing the degrees.

Here is a story about some of the people who are helping us develop the degrees. And, here is a story about a youth work organisation we are working with to set the unit standards for the degree in youth work.