I am a proud alumni and social work academic committed to rural and regional higher education. As the Head of College, Social Work, and Community Services and Head of Course for the Bachelor of Social Work, I have had the privelege of leading and supporting a team of dedicated and experienced academics and worked in partnership with students to foster innovative and creative approaches to the delivery of social work education. I am committed to global engagement and opportunities for CQUniversity students to explore, strengthen and create in their learning and practice. I have led social work outbound exchange programs to Nepal and Cambodia over four years. Our team has supported innovative student placements to Mongolia in 2018 and again in 2023. My involvement in several taskforce and national social work action groups as part of the Australian Council of Heads of Social Work has allowed me to represent regional university student and community priorities. I have over 25 years of experience in social and family assessment consultancy, adoptions assessments, senior policy expertise and human services coordination, along with thirteen years in social work education, my career has been centered on principles of social justice, and the pursuit of educational innovation. My research is particularly focused on disrupting traditional paradigms within the field and social work education to address and mitigate epistemic injustice. My learning and teaching work is dedicated to exploring and refining curriculum design, ensuring that the scholarship of learning and teaching is both reflective of and responsive to the dynamic nature of social work practice. 

Conference Papers
 (Abstract-Reviewed)

Ledger, S. Pascal, J. (2023, November 02). Embracing Disruption: Field education as a catalyst for empowerment and innovation in social work education [Symposium presentation]. ANZSWWER 2023 Being Global, Regional and Local in Social Work and Human Services: Opportunities and Challenges for Innovation Symposium, Australia.

Ledger, S. Pascal, J., Hillman, W. (2022, November 10).  The Interlopers as Disruptors: A constructivist grounded theory of Australian Social Work Education [Symposium presentation]. ANZSWWER 2022 Emergence and Transformation in Social Work and Human Services Symposium, Australia.

Ledger, S. Pascal, J., Hillman, W. (2021, December 2).  The Interlopers as Disruptors: A constructivist grounded theory of Australian Social Work Education [Symposium presentation]. ANZSWWER 2021 New Voices in Social Work and Welfare Education and Research Symposium, Australia.

Ledger, S. Pascal, J., Hillman, W. (2021, November 21-22).  The Interlopers as Disruptors: A constructivist grounded theory of Australian Social Work Education [Research symposium presentation]. School of Nursing, Midwifery & Social Sciences CQUniversity, Australia.

De Warren. D, Ledger, S. (2019, September 26-28). The Queer Agenda: How Drag Queens changed hierarchies in a small Australian city [Conference Presentation]. Fifth European Geographies of Sexualities Conference, Charles University, Prague, C Czechia.

CQUniversity Australia

CQUniversity Australila

5-minute Thesis SNMSS CQUniversity 1st place 2021

CQUniversity Changemaker Award Social Innovation Scholarship Recipient  2019

Awarded the scholarship to attend Ashoka U Changemakers Conference in Boston, United States, for demonstrating innovative ideas and initiatives in social work and community services. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvdxAjY9cng]

CQUniversity Finalist - Opal Awards for Engagement  2019

Collaborated on the project "Deadly Engagement: A Model for Teaching Social Innovation and Enterprise to Social Work Students," which was recognised as a finalist for the Opal Awards for Engagement, showcasing excellence in community engagement.

Student Voice Award for Distance Educator of the Year  2017

Student Voice Awards for various units, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018

Podcasts and Interviews

Guest Appearance: Disruptive Social Work

The Social Work Café, hosted by Dr. Bernadette Moorhead
Episode Title: "Disruptive Social Work"
Date: April 24, 2024

Guest Appearance: Social Work Insights

-       Podcast with Vittorio Cintio, hosted by Vittorio Cintio

-       Date: February 8, 2024

Professional Background

# Child and Family Social Work Consultancy

# Social Policy and Community Capacity Building

# Family Court and Children's Court - Separate Representative and Independent Children's Lawyers Social Assessment Reports

# Intercountry and Local Adoptions social work assessments and post placement support work

# Foster and Kinship Carer Assessment Reports

# Employee Assistance Program Counselling

# Young Women's Service coordination

# Regional Domestic and Family Violence Service management

# Youth Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Promotion project work

Member of the Australian Council of Heads of Schools of Social Work (ACHSSW), actively contributing to the development of social work education across Australia.

Member of the Australian and New Zealand Social Work and Welfare Education Research (ANZSWWER) engaged in advancing social work research and education.

Serving on the Taskforce for ACHSWW to develop national Field Education Capability Framework, aimed at enhancing the quality and consistency of field education for social work students.

I am the Head of College, Social Work and Community Services and also the Head of Course, Bachelor of Social Work.

My professional interests span social work education, workforce development, and field education, focusing on advancing equitable practices in social work placements. I am particularly focused on social justice, domestic and family violence interventions and youth work. Additionally my research explores social work pedagogy and higher education teaching, emphasising the integration of social justice and human rights principles into curricula. I am dedicated to shaping the future of social work by addressing workforce challenges and fostering international partnerships in education.

• Through collaborative capacity building initiatives, I have had an integral role in the development of a field education capability framework as part of the ACHSSW Taskforce, aiming to improve the quality of social work placements across Australia. 
• Played a pivotal role in advocating for changes to unpaid work placements, improving student experiences and outcomes in social work education.
• Published research on innovative social work pedagogy and disruptive practice models, contributing to the future of social work education and training.
• Engaged in international partnerships, fostering collaborations to enhance global social work education and field education practices.
• Developed a 'Living Lab' model of community-engaged pedagogy focused on co-designed learning and teaching practices.

Peer Reviewer

Advances in Social Work and Welfare Education

Reviewed and provided critical feedback on submitted manuscripts, focusing on relevance, methodology, and contribution to the field of social work and welfare education. Participated in the peer-review process, ensuring the publication of high-quality, rigorous academic work.

Peer-Reviewed Social Work Textbooks for:

Cleak, H., Wilson, J., (2019). Making the most of field placement. South Melbourne, Cengage.

Shirley Ledger provides consultancy services regarding workforce development initiatives, organisational training by request and provides consultancy to Independent Children's Lawyers for Children's Court and Family Court in relation to the preparation of Social Assessment Reports, Family Reports and Adoptions Assessments.