Australian social services is a high-growth sector. According to the government’s recent Jobs and Skills Australia report, the projected employment growth for social services jobs is an astounding 30% over the next 10 years!
Amongst this plethora of social services jobs is an ever-increasing demand for specialist social services workers. While there are numerous factors behind this, the growing complexity of social issues in Australia requires specialist knowledge to provide the support communities need.
If you’ve been thinking about how you could specialise as a social services worker, now is an ideal time. Here is your guide to key areas of social services specialisations, their benefits, and an outline of the training pathways that will help get you there.
Social Services Specialisations
The social services specialisation you pick is driven by numerous factors – your interests, strengths and work experience. In Australia, you can consider specialising in:
Child and family – child protection, family support, adoption and fostering
Adult – learning and physical disabilities, domestic violence, homelessness
Older adults and elderly care – dementia care, palliative, residential care management
Healthcare – hospital social work, palliative, rehabilitation, chronic illness management, mental health (child or adult), substance abuse
Criminal justice – probation services, youth offending, victim support
School – counselling, special education support, truancy and behavioural issues
Community development – housing support, community outreach
Policy, research and advocacy – social policy advocacy, social work education, policy development and analysis, academic research.
Why Specialise?
Specialised social services jobs offer a variety of advantages for your professional life. By developing a niche, you can:
Have excellent job security, as social services specialists are constantly in high demand for their unique skills and knowledge.
Contribute to improved client outcomes. By developing expertise in one area, you’re able to provide more targeted and effective interventions.
Accelerate your career. A solid social care foundation combined with a specialisation opens the doors to senior positions and management that much quicker. And with that comes better remuneration. You’ll also have professional recognition as an expert in the field, potentially creating opportunities for research, teaching or consulting.
Easily keep up your continuing professional development requirements to remain accredited. A key part of entering a specialisation is ongoing training and education to stay abreast of the latest industry developments. You’ll not only be able to access targeted training programs and advanced certifications to deepen your expertise but also have a chance to join new professional networks. Specialist social services workers often lead the charge in developing new interventions, so you’ll have opportunities to contribute to the evolution of social services practice.
Your Pathway to Social Services Specialisation
The specific training you require to specialise depends on your area of interest. There are, however, a few common requirements across all social services specialisations:
Degree
You first need a bachelor’s degree in social work. If you already have another tertiary qualification, you can pursue a Master of Social Work instead.
Register
Once you have your degree, you should register with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). It’s not a legal requirement, but it’s highly advisable as it not only gives you access to resources, professional development, and networking opportunities but is also something social services recruitment professionals look for on candidates' resumes.
Experience
You then need to gain sufficient experience (at least 1-2 years) in a social services role to build a solid foundation before specialising.
Training
It’s then time to pursue training in your chosen specialisation. As ongoing professional development is mandatory to maintain your accreditation as a social services worker, any additional specialised training you do can be counted towards these requirements.
The AASW has a credentialing program with structured training resources for a number of social services specialisations. These give you the chance to earn credentials in a specific area, ones that are widely recognised (and valued) across the social services sector.
One specialisation area currently in great demand is mental health. In 2023, there was a reported 32% shortfall in mental health workers in Australia, which is projected to grow to 42% by 2030.
The AASW has a specific pathway for social service workers interested in specialising in mental health. You can apply for Accredited Mental Health Social Worker status. Importantly, it allows you to access government-funded programs and provide services in private practice similar to psychologists.
Speak to a Social Services Recruitment Specialist
As a leading Australian social services recruitment agency, we’re at the forefront of a striking rise in demand for specialist social workers – especially across Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia.
Whether you’re ready to specialise or merely at the ‘pondering’ stage, Tradewind’s social services recruitment team can give you the right guidance. Tap into our social work recruitment expertise and our vast network of employers looking for social services workers, clinicians and case managers in both permanent and temporary positions. Feel free to get in touch today to find out more.