Social work

Our research focuses on issues and intervention strategies relevant to current social work practice that enhance the practice of social workers and other helping professionals.

The mission of the Social Work research at La Trobe University is the creation, testing and dissemination of practice knowledge and intervention strategies related to contemporary social work practice and social policy issues. Our research aims to inform social policy, program design and its implementation in the human services, and enhance the practice of social workers and other helping professionals.

Most of our research is applied and evaluative, seeking to understand the nature of effective social work practice and human service programs. It is also translational, applying theoretical concepts to human service practice. Our research is aligned with the aims of the profession, concerned with the most socially excluded and disadvantaged groups in society, to promote social change and uphold human rights. The School has exceptionally strong research links with both government and non government organizations in the field of health and human service delivery. For example, the Department is the linchpin of the Take Two partnership in the area of child and family welfare and has ARC Linkage projects with organizations in the disability and family relationship/mediation sectors.

The core themes of the Department’s research are: child, youth and family welfare; disability and aging; and health and mental health. Attention to indigenous issues crosses these core themes. The Department has a strong track record of attracting both competitive research grants as well as significant contracted research or consultancy funding. The Department has strong collaborative ties with staff in other Schools at La Trobe, and other universities both in Australia and internationally. Two of the key Australian human service journals are edited by staff in the school, Australian Social Work by Christine Bigby and Children Australia by Jennifer Lehmann.

Social Work Research Strengths

Intellectual Disability

People with intellectual disability are one of the most socially excluded and disadvantaged groups in Australian society, ‘The fact is inescapable that physical or intellectual disability today equates almost ineluctably with lesser opportunities, services, social inclusion and quality of life that the rest of the community takes for granted’ (Commonwealth of Australia, 2007, p. 99).

Researchers in the Department of Social Work are pursuing a strong and focused research agenda on the policy and practices of achieving social inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities. Led by Professor Christine Bigby the Intellectual Disability Research group has gained significant competitive research funding through competitive ARC grants as well as from Trusts and Government. We have strong partnerships with non government disability service providers and international researchers. We have led the way in Australia in collaborative research with people with intellectual disability.  The group has several PhD students in receipt of scholarships from Industry partners and convenes an annual Roundtable on Intellectual Disability Policy.

Child and Family Welfare

Led by Associate Professor Margarita Frederico the Child and Family Welfare group conducts research program evaluation and intervention with vulnerable children and their families. The group is part of a consortium that is responsible for Take Two which is a developmental therapeutic service in Victoria for children who have suffered abuse and neglect. It is a partnership of child and family services, mental health, academic and Indigenous services as follows: Berry Street, Austin Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), La Trobe University Department of Social Work and Social Policy, Mindful and the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency(VACCA). Associate Professor Margarita Frederico leads the research and evaluation component of this innovative project in child protection which has changed practice in the area of intervention in relation to children traumatised by abuse. 

Other areas of child and family research include collaboration with key agencies examining the effectiveness of respite care, evaluations of programs with vulnerable populations in Indonesia and the Philippines and involvement in Child Death Enquiries undertaken for the Department of Human Services. An important strand of work is examination of the juvenile justice system, led by Professor Alan Borowski who has recently completed an evaluation of the Koori Courts and is completing an ARC grant comparing the children courts across Australian jurisdictions. Importantly the School leads a consortium organisations that deliver a Graduate Certificate in Child and Family Practice and Graduate Diploma in Child and Family Practice Leadership funded by the Department of Human Services

Potential PhD topics

The Department will consider any research topic that interests potential PhD students; however, students will benefit from researching in areas that align with the Faculty’s research strengths.  Please find a relevant supervisor to discuss your PhD topic.

Alternatively you may contact one of our academics below to discuss your area of interest.