Graduates of the programme will have knowledge, skills, attitudes and values to become competent social workers in social work settings in Aotearoa New Zealand.

A graduate will have met the academic requirements to apply for registration as a social worker with the Social Workers Registration Board.

Graduates will be able to
work effectively with individuals, families, whanau, groups, and communities;
take responsibility for their own professional development;
work collaboratively across organisational boundaries;
be critical and reflective practitioners;
practice responsibly, ethically and accountably within legislative frameworks;
promote wellbeing and positive development;
use critical reflection and analysis to promote problem solving;
work in partnership with Maori;
pomote cultural safety, social justice and social equity;
manage and organise practice;
apply knowledge for practice; and
take responsibility for professional development

Graduates are eligible to apply for admission to post-graduate programmes in social work.

Applicants must be a minimum of 17 years of age on the programme start date. They must also satisfy the following academic requirements: * NCEA Level 3, including three subjects at Level 3, made up of 14 credits each, in three approved subjects*, and * Literacy - 10 credits at Level 2 or above, made up of 5 credits in reading and 5 credits in writing, and * Numeracy - 10 credits at Level 1 or above, made up of achievement standards - specified achievement standards available through a range of subjects, or unit standards - 26623, 26626 and 26627 (all three required). Applicants who do not meet the above requirements may be considered for provisional admission. In such cases admission will be dependent on whether applicants demonstrate a reasonable likelihood of success in the programme. Continued enrolment is dependent on satisfactory performance. English Language Entry Requirements Applicants who do not have English, Maori or New Zealand sign language as their primary language will need to have passed an English language proficiency test with an IELTS Academic score of 6.5 and no band score lower than 6.5, or a TOEFL internet-based test (iBT) score of 85 or higher with a writing score of 22. These tests must have been completed and passed in one sitting within the previous two years. Access to the internet is required for this programme. Applicants who meet the academic requirements will be required to participate in an admission process. Candidates are required to: Submit an application package including a written statement Provide two confidential referees as per application package In some cases, a candidate may be asked to attend an interview Applicants are required to provide permission for the Polytechnic to obtain any records of criminal offences from the Ministry of Justice. Candidates should be aware that some types of criminal conviction may limit their ability to secure practicum placements, and thus to complete the programme requirements, and, or may prevent them from gaining registration as a social worker. These include issues of trust, professionalism and misconduct or issues which impact the student's ability to work with client's physical, emotional, psychological or medical well-being. When determining whether an applicant's criminal convictions impact on their ability to meet the Social Workers Registration Boards' Entitlement to Registration - Fit and Proper Person Policy will be taken into consideration".