The School's history can be traced back to 1955 when the University of Queensland first established an undergraduate program of social work education. The School's core values and commitments reflect the centrality of social work in its history and development. During the past half-century, the School has diversified to the point that it now teaches a wide range of applied multi-disciplinary programs at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and undertakes research into many social issues and problems from a multi-disciplinary perspective.
The current School was created in 2003 by bringing together the diverse teaching and research programs of the School of Social Work and Social Policy located at the St Lucia campus and the Behavioural Studies Program located at the Ipswich campus of UQ. This merger created a "multi-disciplinary, multi-campus, multi-program" which continues today. The School aims to be at the cutting edge in applying the knowledge, skills and values of the human sciences to the complex issues faced by individuals, families, social groups, organisations, communities and societies
