Te Ata Māhina Bachelor of Social Work

This qualification prepares students for the following careers and/ or employment opportunities:

• Aotearoa New Zealand Registered Social Worker (Subject to SWRB approval)
• Social and community development worker/ advisor
• Whānau and Family support roles
• Community engagement and development roles
• Needs assessment and service coordination roles
• Social Services and community-based roles across government, iwi, health and non-government organisations

To be admitted to this programme, applicants must be at least 17 years of age on the date the programme commences, and meet one of the following general admission requirements:
i. University Entrance as per New Zealand Qualification Authority Specifications
Or
ii. Meet Special Admission requirements
Or
Meet Discretionary Admission requirements

Special admission
Applicants who have attained the age of 20 years on or before the first day of the semester in which study for the programme is to commence and who do not meet the general admission requirements stated above and who believe that they have the level of preparedness for study at this level may apply for special admission.
In assessing whether to grant special admission the primary focus will be on the applicant’s ability to demonstrate a likelihood to succeed in the programme.
All decisions will be at the discretion of the Delegated Authority (normally Programme Manager).

Discretionary admission
Any applicants who are not yet 20 years of age and who do not meet the general admission requirements stated above and who believe that they have the level of preparedness for study at this level may apply for discretionary admission.
In assessing whether to grant discretionary admission the primary focus will be on the applicant’s ability to demonstrate a likelihood to succeed in the programme.
All decisions will be at the discretion of the Delegated Authority (normally Programme Manager).
 

Programme specific admission
In addition, applicants must also meet the following programme specific requirements:
In order to ensure an applicant is able to fully participate in the programme, including the field education placements, the following programme specific requirements must be met in addition to the general admission requirements above.

Prior to enrolment (at the time of application)
1. Safety Check: The Children’s Act 2014 requires people who work with tamariki and/or children in Aotearoa to undergo regular safety checks. The safety checking requirements are set out in the Children’s (Requirements for Safety Checks of the Children’s Workforce) Regulations 2015 (Children’s Regulations 2015). NB: You will not be accepted if your police check is not processed. All applications with any convictions will be required to attend an individual interview with an SIT department staff member.
2. Risk Assessment: The Children’s Regulations 2015 also require an interview (face to face or via telephone or other distance technology) for the purpose of carrying out a risk assessment to determine if the person poses or would pose a risk to children.
3. In addition, the interview process is used to carry out identity confirmation, to gather further information about previous convictions, previous work history, and any other information considered relevant to the safety of children.
Note: Upon consent, the information gathered as part of the above ‘Safety Check’ will be shared with a host organisation for the purposes of a field education placement.
 4. It is also advised to provide a character reference as part of your application; this should include people from positions of trust such as an employer, teacher, pastor, kaumātua or kuia. References from family, friends or work colleagues will not be accepted.

English requirements
English language competency where English is not a first language:
• International applicants for whom English is not their first language will be required to show evidence of language competency, issued within the last two years. The minimum level of competency required is:
 an IELTS Academic score of 6.5 with no band score lower than 6.5; or
 an equivalent relevant English Proficiency Outcome as outlined in NZQF-related rules (Rule 21).
For domestic applicants for whom English is not their first language, evidence of language competency may be required.