Top social work jobs

Mental health/addictions

Having a mental illness or managing substance misuse should not mean individuals can’t strive to live their best life. You could help people access the services they need. Or develop strategies to navigate things like working or finding housing, managing stress or even developing healthy relationships. Help people build their resilience so they can survive – and thrive.

Eco social worker

This field – also referred to as ‘green social work’ – is concerned with how environmental issues, such as extreme weather events and climate change, affect the wellbeing of people and communities. In Australia specifically, devastating bushfires have become more frequent in recent years. So there’s an increased need for social workers who have the knowledge to help in these particular circumstances.

Child, school and family

Social workers play an essential role in helping provide families with the support they need to ensure that everyone is safe and well. This can involve working with children who are at risk, and their families. In some situations it involves helping provide out of home care, such as foster care or kinship care for children who can’t continue to stay at home. Or work in a school to help kids get the most out of their learning.

Community social work

Community social workers manage support programs. That may be as part of a non-profit, a charity or a government agency. In community social work, you’ll also play a key role in advocacy.

Or you’ll devise and deliver outreach programs in the community. Whether that’s providing aid in the wake of a tragedy, tackling inequality, or making essential daily services more effective.

Top psychology jobs

Psychological wellbeing

Assess and support adults who are experiencing common mental health difficulties such as depression, anxiety and low mood.

You’ll also work closely with other healthcare professionals, such as therapists and employment advisers to devise holistic treatment plans for your clients.

Counselling

Use your psychological theory and practical skills to undertake therapeutic work. Help clients understand, address and manage a range of life issues or mental health conditions.

From helping children deal with bereavement or families cope with trauma, to assisting adults to manage anxiety, PTSD, an eating disorder or depression, you’ll be helping people every day.

Human resources

At the heart of every organisation is its people. And understanding how and why people behave as they do is a very valuable tool if you want to work in human resources.

Your psychological expertise will also help you devise and deliver programs to keep a company’s workforce happy, healthy and motivated. You’ll be involved in organisational practice and policy.

Psychologist

A Charles Sturt undergraduate degree is the perfect first step to becoming a registered psychologist. When you graduate from your bachelor’s, you’ll apply for provisional registration as a psychologist. Then you’ll need to undertake postgrad study and/or relevant work experience to gain full registration as a psychologist. You can then treat clients across a range of settings, and get involved in public policy or the justice system.