Social Work Internships

Overview

Social work internships abroad are perfect for people with backgrounds in International Relations, Psychology and Sociology, but are a great opportunity for anyone eager to connect with and positively impact a new community. Whilst completing an internship in social work, you will acquire the ability to work with people of different ages, ethnicities, education levels, and socioeconomic statuses.

We work with leading social work organizations, ranging from those that focus on access to healthcare and education, to those that help victims of war and domestic abuse. Previous interns have been placed in organizations focused on Community Development, Education, Healthcare & Sustainability, Social Services, Environmental Activism, International Relations, and Political & Economic Development.

This career field is available online & in our hubs of Dublin, London, & Melbourne.

Responsibilities

Community outreach, campaigning, surveying, and collecting demographic data

In your role as a social work intern, you may be actively engaged in community outreach and campaigning efforts. This could involve conducting surveys to gather demographic data, which is valuable for designing targeted interventions and better understanding community needs.

Marketing tasks such as blog writing, managing social media, and creating promotional materials

You might also be responsible for various marketing tasks, such as writing blogs, managing social media accounts, and creating promotional materials to raise awareness about social issues and community programs. Your work will help in educating and engaging the community.

Liaising between different parties to assist in event planning

Your responsibilities may include acting as a liaison between various parties involved in event planning. This could involve coordinating logistics, ensuring effective communication, and supporting the seamless execution of events related to social work and community development.

Finding resources for community development programs

As an intern, you may be tasked with identifying and securing resources for community development programs. This could involve researching funding opportunities, networking with potential partners, and helping to ensure that these programs have the resources needed to make a positive impact.

Working on projects related to homelessness, education, substance abuse, and mental healthcare

Your role may involve actively working on projects related to important social issues such as homelessness, education, substance abuse, and mental healthcare. This could include program development, client support, and research aimed at addressing and improving the conditions in these areas.

Programs

In-person International Social Work Internship
Experience meaningful, hands-on professional development alongside cultural immersion through a social work internship abroad in one of our 9 global destinations. Each year, 2,000+ participants develop their careers in diverse international settings, working across community support, youth services, healthcare-related social programmes, and nonprofit organisations focused on social impact.

Remote Social Work Internship
Develop your CV and expand your understanding of global social systems with a remote social work internship. This flexible format allows you to gain real-world experience in case support, research, advocacy, community outreach planning, and programme development, all from wherever you are based.

Digital Nomad Social Work Internship
Work remotely while experiencing life in an international destination through our digital nomad social work internship programme. Combine professional development with cultural immersion as you contribute to social impact projects, support organisations remotely, and build experience across different community-focused contexts.

What You Can Expect

Our social work internship program is built to offer more than observational learning. It places you in real-world environments where you can develop practical skills, deepen your understanding of social systems, and contribute meaningfully to community-focused initiatives.

From the outset, our team takes time to understand your background, motivations, and career goals. Based on this, we match you with a placement aligned to your experience level and area of interest, whether that involves youth work, community outreach, mental health support services, or non-profit programme delivery. Full details of the programme journey, from application through to alumni support, are available here.

Curious about the experience in practice? Hear directly from past participants who completed our social work internship programme and learn how they applied their training in real-world settings:

 See all alumni stories > 

Career Advancement Training

Participants in our social work internships receive structured career development support before, during, and after their placement. These resources are designed to help you prepare effectively, engage confidently during your internship, and articulate your experience clearly in future applications and interviews.

Training is delivered through a mix of videos, podcasts, articles, quizzes, and projects, culminating in a certificate upon completion. Core topics include communication, critical thinking, professionalism, teamwork, ethical practice, cultural awareness, and career development. All of these are essential skills for a career in social work and related fields.

You’ll also have access to CV development tools and tailored workshops, including interview preparation, CV and cover letter reviews, networking support, and LinkedIn optimisation sessions designed for early-career professionals in the social impact sector.

After completing your international social work internship, you can receive one-to-one guidance from experienced career coaches. These professionals support you in areas such as presenting your international experience, preparing for interviews, navigating early career pathways, and building confidence in applying for roles in social care and non-profit organisations.

Example Host Organizations

We collaborate with over 3,000 host organisations worldwide, connecting participants to social work internships across a broad range of community-focused and non-profit environments. Our growing network includes charities, NGOs, community organisations, healthcare-related social programmes, youth services, and international development initiatives.

While we cannot guarantee placement with a specific organisation, we do guarantee an internship offer within your primary or secondary field. This ensures you gain relevant, hands-on experience that strengthens your CV and supports your long-term career development in social work and related sectors.

Looking to make a real difference in people’s lives? Explore our example host organizations, where participants contribute to community outreach programmes, assist with case support and documentation, help deliver social services, support vulnerable groups, and participate in projects designed to improve wellbeing and social outcomes.