I am the Professor of Social Work, within the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences. I am committed to social justice, improving rural and remote psychosocial and health outcomes, and developing curriculum and research projects that reflect my commitments to ethical practice.
I am an experienced academic, both an active researcher and lecturer in social work and public health, and have worked in Australia and the UK universities for approximately 17 years. My background includes teaching, research, publications, and postgraduate supervision. For my full research and publication profile please see my Google Scholar account.
University of Melbourne (then Melbourne State College): B.Ed
La Trobe University, Bendigo campus: BSW (Hons), Ph.D
La Trobe University ( Bendigo, Australia)
Bishop Grosseteste University (Lincoln, UK)
Keele University (Newcastle-under-Lyme, UK)
Central Queensland University (Rockhampton, Australia)
Postgraduate research methods, undergraduate research methods, statistics, epidemiology, individual and social determinants of health, communication and counselling skills, casework, social policy, integrating theory and social work practice, Field Education, and postgraduate supervision.
Generalist counsellor in health care settings; Drug and Alcohol counsellor in health care settings.
Across my career as I have been a member of the following professional associations:
AASW: Australian Association of Social Workers (eligible)
OSWA: Oncology Social Work Australia
RSWAG: Rural Social Work Action Group
HCPC: Registered social worker in the UK (now Social Work England: eligible)
BOSW: British Oncology Social Work
As Professor of Social Work, I am primarily responsible for ensuring that undergraduate and postgraduate students experience a high quality learning environment. Equally, I am responsible for the ethical and innovative conduct of research; developing research capacity and income generation; community partnerships; as well as supervision of Master's and Ph.D candidates.
Oncology social work; psychosocial health and wellbeing; cross-cultural practice; working with First Nations communities; rural and regional health care systems; social inequities; social work practice in multidisciplinary settings; health policy.
Completion of Ph.D whilst raising a family
Leadership of Social Work, and Health and Social Care programs, in the UK and Australia
International publications and collaborations
Mentoring Ph.D students and ECRs
Nomination for teaching awards
Attending graduation ceremonies for the next generation of social work and public health practitioners and researchers
I am currently accredited for supervision in the following:
Development studies - Poverty, inclusivity and wellbeing
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health promotion
Public Health and Health Services - Health and Community Services
Psycho social cancer care