Social Work Internships
A pathway to developing global social work practice
Program overview
Practical social work experience in a global context
This 14-week internship program enables you to complete your Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) mandated 500 hours of supervised placement, supporting your development from observation to confident practice in a cross-cultural setting.
In your first 20 days, you will undertake structured observation and shadowing alongside qualified staff. During this phase, you may engage directly with clients under guidance, but you will not be placed in challenging or confronting situations. As the program progresses, you will move into specialised, hands-on practice, undertaking direct and increasingly independent interactions with clients. Throughout the placement, you will receive professional supervision from a certified Social Worker to support your learning, reflection, and skill development.
You will also collaborate and learn alongside Indonesian social work students, building cultural competence and shared professional insight. Professional visits to industry organisations and Australian and Indonesian government departments will further strengthen your understanding of policy, systems, and practice in an international context.
This program offers you a structured, supportive pathway to develop practical skills, professional confidence, and global social work experience.
A limited number of $15,000 NCP grants are available for eligible students, apply early to maximise your opportunity to participate.
Program features
Build Your Career Through Purposeful Placement
This program offers a structured, practice-based internship experience delivered in partnership with Indonesia’s Social Welfare Education Institution (Poltekesos) and the Indonesian Social Work Association (IPSPI). Through these partnerships, you will be placed with government, non-government, and community-based social work organisations that align with your career goals and interests.
During your placement, you will work with host organisations addressing real-world social challenges such as child protection, poverty alleviation, disability inclusion, and disaster resilience. You will also collaborate with local Indonesian social work students, gaining valuable cross-cultural experience and insight into social work practice in a dynamic, evolving professional context.
More info on specific host organisations to come – check back soon.
Poltekesos
Politeknik Kesejahteraan Sosial Bandung (Poltekesos) is Indonesia’s leading higher education institution dedicated to social welfare and social work education. Based in Bandung, West Java, Poltekesos operates under the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs and plays a central role in preparing professional social workers and human service practitioners across the country.
The institution delivers diploma and applied degree programs focused on social work practice, community development, social rehabilitation, and social protection. Poltekesos combines academic learning with field-based training, ensuring graduates are equipped to respond to Indonesia’s complex social challenges, including poverty alleviation, child protection, disability inclusion, and disaster resilience.
As a key national institution in the formalisation and advancement of social work in Indonesia, Poltekesos is actively engaged in strengthening professional standards, applied research, and international collaboration — making it a strategic and respected partner for global social work education programs.
IPSPI
Ikatan Pekerja Sosial Profesional Indonesia (IPSPI) is the national professional association for social workers in Indonesia. Established in 2008, IPSPI is an independent, legally incorporated organisation that works to strengthen the competence, professional standards, and welfare of social workers across the country.
The association plays a central role in regulating and advancing social work practice in Indonesia, including developing the professional code of ethics, certifying and registering social workers, and supporting professional development and practice standards. IPSPI also provides guidance and legal support to its members and collaborates with national and international organisations to strengthen social work practice and social protection systems.
As Indonesia’s peak social work body, IPSPI contributes to the development of the profession nationally and supports partnerships that advance social welfare practice and education.
Meet Academic Requirements
Our structured social work internship meets AASW standards and provides the experience required to complete your practicum, including:
- 500hrs of a community-based, skills-focused internship
- Mentorship, observation and shadowing of a qualified staff member in the first 20 days
- 90mins a week of formal supervision from qualified Indonesian social workers
- Specialised, hands-on practice involving direct independent interactions with clients
- Extensive supplementary supervision from Poltekesos and visiting Australian academics (certified social workers with IPSPI or AASW membership)
- Lectures and learning from IPSPI and Poltekesos
- Professional visits with industry organisations and Australian and Indonesian government departments
This immersive approach helps you build the skills and perspectives needed to work effectively across diverse communities. You will strengthen your cultural competence, develop comparative policy knowledge, and enhance your understanding of social protection systems in the Indo-Pacific region, preparing you to contribute confidently to the social services sector and international partnerships between Australia and Indonesia.
Previous Program Visits
- The Australian Embassy, Jakarta
- The Center for Psychological Innovation at Universitas Padjadjaran
- Psychological Consultation Bureau
- The Widyatama Art Therapy Center: Aiming to develop the abilities of children with special needs including behavior and life skills based on art & design.
- Anahata Holistic Psychology Service: A centre providing counseling for Children, Teenagers, Adults, marriage and other services related to psychology areas.
Experience a New Language and Culture
You will be immersed in Indonesian language and culture, supporting you to develop relationships, transferrable intercultural working skills and fantastic memories. This includes:
- An intercultural session, designed to provide transferrable skills that employers seek
- 40hrs of direct Indonesian language instruction. This includes online pre-departure lessons and a one-week in-country intensive at Universitas Padjadjaran in Bandung
- Formal language assessments to help guide your learning
- Cultural and social events with Indonesian buddies
- Opportunities to explore the city of Bandung alongside the Indonesian students
- Fun activities, such as a class in 'batik', the traditional Indonesian art form
- Explore the surrounding areas with two organised weekend trips
Dates & fees
| Social Work Internships | |
|---|---|
| Duration | 14 weeks |
| Start | 25 July 2026 |
| End | 31 October 2026 |
| Applications Close | 13 April 2026 |
| You Receive - NCP Funding* (eligible students) | $15,000 |
| You Pay - The Program Fee (your NCP grant covers this) | $9,800 |
| You Keep - The Remainder (NCP fund minus the program fee) | $5,200 |
*A limited number of grants are available to eligible students. Learn more.
Inclusions & exclusions
Inclusions
- Accommodation in a mixture of private accommodation in shared apartment or co-living arrangement and twinshare (same gender) accommodation at a hotel
- Internship placement based on your interests and career ambitions
- Pre-departure support, including visa advice and sponsorship where required
- Administrative support, including academic credit approval (if applicable)
- Airport transfers on nominated arrival and departure dates
- Immersive orientation program
- Intercultural communication workshop
- Approximately 40 hours of Indonesian language classes
- Career development workshop
- Explore the surrounding areas through two organised weekend trips
- Cultural and social event with Indonesian buddies
- 24/7 in-country support
- Weekly check-ins
- International internships completion certificate
- Connection with Indonesian students from local universities
Exclusions
- Internet, phone and home working set-up
- Flight costs, airport taxes and associated fees
- Visa costs and passport fees
- Travel insurance
- Meals and drinks
- Enrolment fees for any subjects at your university
- Host-specific requirements (ie. uniform, safety equipment)
- Vaccinations (if required)
- Laundry, toiletries and amenities
- Extra activities and travel, or any other items of a personal nature
- Daily transportation costs
Why Indonesia?
Opportunities abound with this key partner and centre for regional strategy and development
Indonesia provides a uniquely rich learning environment for social work students because of its scale, diversity, and growing regional importance. As the world’s fourth most populous country, Indonesia faces complex social challenges shaped by rapid urbanisation, economic development, cultural diversity, and environmental vulnerability. For social work students, this creates meaningful opportunities to understand how social services respond to large-scale community needs, work across cultural and religious contexts, and develop adaptable, globally relevant practice skills.
With Social Work formally recognised as a profession in Indonesia in 2019, the sector is rapidly evolving - creating a unique opportunity for you to engage with a profession in transition while gaining valuable insight into emerging social policy and practice in the Indo-Pacific region.
Click here to learn more about the opportunities Indonesia has to offer you.
University Information
We support you to earn credit for your course
This program is available to students from selected partner universities, where participation may count towards your course credit. Click on your university below to learn more about eligibility and requirements.
Both domestic and international students can participate in the program. However, New Colombo Plan (NCP) grants are available to Australian citizens only. Please refer to the Grants & Funding section for further details.
Charles Sturt University
Please contact the CSU Global Opportunities Office for more detail regarding the application process and eligibility.
Central Queensland University
Eligibility: 4th Year undergraduate students
Units:
Contact: Please contact the CQUGlobal Team to register your interest: cquglobal-out@cqu.edu.au
Deakin University
Students interested in this opportunity, should email the Health WIL team at Deakin who will then be in contact with the application process for this placement opportunity.
Unit:
Contact: health-wil@deakin.edu.au
La Trobe University
Please contact the La Trobe Learning Abroad Coordinator: sherrin.collocott@latrobe.edu.
University of Newcastle
Eligibility: Final (4th Year) undergraduate students
Units:
Contact: Please contact Newcastle University Field Education Coordinators (Sarah McLean and Jacq Gissane) for further information – SW.FieldEC@newcastle.edu.au
University of Wollongong
Eligibility: 4th year undergraduate students or 2nd year Masters students
Unit:
Contact: All students from UOW who are interested in this opportunity, please email the Field Education Team on swplacement-woll@uow.edu.au. The Field Education team will then be in contact with the application process for this placement opportunity.
Grants & funding
$15,000 NCP grants are available for this program
New Colombo Plan (NCP)
You are likely to be eligible for an NCP grant if:
- You are an Australian citizen
- You are an undergraduate student at a partner university
- This experience will count toward your uni degree
- You have received no more than one NCP grant previously (no more than two in total)
Each $15,000 grant covers the full program fee of $9,800, with the remaining $5,200 available to help offset additional expenses such as flights and living costs.
Best of all, as this is a grant, not a loan and it does not need to be repaid.
Connect with your university or international office to confirm your eligibility or discuss it with our team during your initial consultation and we will point you in the right direction. Note that you will be advised whether or not you have been allocated a grant before you need to accept your spot on the program.
Grants are limited and are distributed on a first-come-first-served basis, so apply early for your best chance of receiving one!
OS-HELP repayable loan
OS-HELP is a loan available to eligible students enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place who plan to undertake some of their study overseas. If your experience with us will count towards the requirements for your Commonwealth supported course in Australia, you may be able to borrow up to $10,130. You may also be eligible to borrow an extra $1,345 if you study Indonesian language in preparation for your internship.
Learn more about OS-HELP here.
Other funding options
Learn about all other funding options that might be available to you, on our webpage here.
Past information session
Find out more about internships we offer, fees, grants and credit
Have Your Questions Answered
Finalise and prepare
What next?
Book in a chat with us to discuss your options
We make everything as easy as possible for you, and it all starts with a commitment-free consultation.
Click below to book your obligation-free consultation, or just email us with any questions:
info@internationalinternships.com.au
Hear from our students
Hear from some of our students who have undertaken the Psychology Program
"When I was in Indonesia, I did an internship with Edelman, a Communications and PR firm. I had the most amazing experience, and I have since landed an incredible job from it!"
"When I was in Indonesia, I did an internship with Edelman, a Communications and PR firm. I had the most amazing experience, and I have since landed an incredible job from it!"
"When I was in Indonesia, I did an internship with Edelman, a Communications and PR firm. I had the most amazing experience, and I have since landed an incredible job from it!"
"When I was in Indonesia, I did an internship with Edelman, a Communications and PR firm. I had the most amazing experience, and I have since landed an incredible job from it!"
"When I was in Indonesia, I did an internship with Edelman, a Communications and PR firm. I had the most amazing experience, and I have since landed an incredible job from it!"
