Dr Patricia McNamara

Senior Lecturer

Faculty of Health Sciences

School of Allied Health
Department of Social Work and Social Policy

Melbourne (Bundoora)

 

Qualifications

BA, Dip Ed, Monash University; BSW, University of Melbourne; GradDip Family Therapy, La Trobe University; PhD, University of Melbourne

Membership of professional Associations

International Association for Outcome Based Evaluation and Research in Family and Children’s Services – Foundation Board Member (continuing since 2003), Australian Association of Social Workers (f

Area of study

Social Work

Research interests

Social work

- mental health child and family welfare rural and remote practice

Teaching Units

Reflective Communication and Social Work SWP2REF

Social Work Applications B SWP4APB

Introduction to Social Diversity SWP3IDV

Consulting

Child and family mental health and welfare

Recent Publications

 Book Chapters

Doxey G and McNamara P (in press) Psychosocial support needs of farmers experiencing financial stress Accepted for National Centre for Farmer Health Conference Collection September, 2012  

McNamara P (in press) Supporting step and blended families: an ecological perspective Accepted for forthcoming Malaysian publication co-edited by Ariffin J and Frederico M  

Cash S, Bridge J and McNamara P (2012) Suicide. Chapter 87 pp 2920-2927 in Roger A Levesque (Ed) Encyclopedia of Adolescence New York: Springer Science and Media pp. 2012, DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4419-1695-2_87 Accessed May 14th 2012

McNamara P. (2011), Assessing Practice in a Child and Family Centre in Australia, in Maluccio A.N., Canali C. Vecchiato T., Lightburn A., Aldgate J., Rose W., eds, Improving Outcomes for Children and Families. Finding and Using International Evidence, London: Jessica Kingsley Publisher, pp. 192-203  

Berry M, Brandon M, Fernandez E, Grietens H, Lightburn A, McNamara P, Warren Adamson C and Zeira A (2007) in Berry M (ed) Identifying essential elements of change: Lessons from international research in community based family centres Leuven, Belgium: Acco pp.9-19  

McNamara P (2007) Family, family centre and community: Synergy that supports change in Melbourne, Australia. in Berry M ed. Identifying essential elements of change: Lessons from international research in community based family centres Leuven, Belgium:Acco pp.51-62  

McNamara P(2005) Residential Treatment. in Maluccio A, Canali C and Vecchiato T Outcome based research to improve the wellbeing of children and families. Padua, Italy: Fondazione Zancan pp. 61-72  

Refereed Journal Articles

Doxey G and McNamara P(in press) A new role for social work:exploring the psycho-social needs of remote farming families identified through financial counselling. Accepted for International Social Work  

Borenstein J and McNamara P (2012) Strengthening kinship families: The role of respite care Child and Family Social Work Online publication26 DEC 2012 | DOI: 10.1111/cfs.12055  

McNamara P (2012) Adolescent suicide in Australia: Rates, risk and resilience. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry ccp.sagepub.com/content/early/2012/.../1359104512455812  

McNamara P (2012) Evaluation of staff support in youth justice: an Australian case study. Published in Italian Studi Zancan: Politiche e servizi all persone Padova, Italia:Fondazione E Zancan 7 Marzo  

McNamara P (2011) Rights based narrative research with children and young people conducted over time Qualitative Social Work qsw.sagepub.com/content/early/2011/.../1473325011428538.abstract  

McNamara P (2010) Staff support and supervision in residential youth justice: An Australian model Residential Treatment for Children & Youth, 27 (3): 214 – 240

Brandon, M, McNamara P and Zeira A (2010) Guest Editorial for Special Issue International Journal of Child and Family Welfare 13 (1-2):1-3  

McNamara P (2010) Experience of outcome based research over the past ten years. Published in Italian Esperienze di ricerca di esito negli ultimi dieci anni in Studi Zancan: Politiche e servizi all persone):Padova, Italia:Fondazione E Zancan 5 Settembre/Ottobre:172-179  

McNamara P and Neve E(2009)Engaging Italian and Australian social workers in evaluation. International Social Work 52(1): 9-22  

McNamara P (2009) Feminist ethnography: Storytelling that makes a difference. Qualitative Social Work 8(2):161-177

McNamara P(2008)Changed forever: A victim’s friends reflect on intimate partnerhomicide. Journal of Family Studies 14 (2-3):198-217  

Neve E and McNamara P (2007) Servizio sociale: Australia e Italia a confronto (Social service systems: Italy and Australia compared) in Studi Zancan: Politiche e servizi all persone Novembre/Dicembre 6:26-60  

Berry M, Brandon M, Fernandez E, Grietens H, Lightburn A, McNamara P, Warren Adamson C and Zeira A (2006) Introduction to Special Issue International Journal of Child and Family Welfare June 9, 1-2 1-11 International research on community centres for children and families: The importance of sensitive outcomes in evaluation  

McNamara P (2006) Mapping change in a child and family centre in Melbourne, Australia International Journal of Child and Family Welfare 9 (1-2): 41-52    

McNamara P with Dr John McCormack (2005) Australian Social Work graduate and postgraduate employment outcomes 2004. Advances in Social Work and Welfare Education: 7 (1):93-98  

Reports  

Frederico M, Long M, McNamara P and McPherson L (2012) Evaluation of The Circle therapeutic foster care program Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare, Melbourne, Victoria  

Borenstein J, Minge A, Campion M and McNamara P (May, 2012) Supporting Kinship Families: The role of respite care Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: The Respite Care Project Consortium (Campus Graphics, La Trobe University)  

McNamara, P (Chief investigator), Doxey G, Renouf, N and Forbes C (2011) Reasons why farmers leave the land (Sunraysia) Report to Rural Financial Counselling Service – Murrray-Mallee and Mallee Track Heath Community Service  

Ochiltree G, McNamara P and Halfpenny N (2010) Respite Care: Grassroots of preventative care. Report to the Respite Care Project Consortium (April)  

Dodd K, Brophy L, Smith R, Cleak H, Miller G, McNamara P and Ross D (2010) Inter-Professional Clinical Education (IPCE) Program in Mental Health Canberra, Australia: Commonwealth Government of Australia, Department of Health and Ageing  

McNamara P (2007)Evaluation of clinical group supervision program at Parkville Youth Residential Centre.Melbourne, Victoria Australia: Victorian Department of Human Services  

Older Publications

 

Comment  

McNamara P (2008) Comment: Sorrowing in the sisterhood. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy 29 (1): 48-50  

McNamara P (2007) Keeping families safe from violence. in Eureka Street (E journal) Vol 7 Number 20 (Online Journal)  

McNamara P (2005b) Ethical guidance. in Directions in Education 14 (7): 2-3    

Refereed Conference Abstracts  

McNamara P with the Respite Care Project Consortium and the Post Placement Support Service (2010). Respite Care and Mirror Families: Promoting child and carer wellbeing in Victoria, Australia.in E Knorth, M Kalverboer and Knot-Dickscheit J(eds)Inside out: How interventions in child and family care work : An international sourcebook EuropeanScientific Association for Research in Residential and Foster Care Groningen, Netherlands, September 22-25, ISBN 978-90-441-2697-6 : 295-297    

McNamara P and Neve E (2008) Italian and Australian evaluation experience: Building evidence through effective collaboration in Assessing the evidence base of intervention for vulnerable children and their families English (ISBN: 22-22243-24-8 and Italian version (ISBN: 88-88843-25-8) Padova, Italy, (March) pp.399-401  

McNamara P (2008) Negotiating welfare and mental health systems: The experience of former adolescent milieu residents over fifteen years. in Assessing the evidence base of intervention for vulnerable children and their families English (ISBN: 22-22243-24-8) and Italian version (ISBN: 88-88843-25-6) Padova, Italy, (March) pp.273-276  

McNamara, P (2006) 'Fifteen years on: conversations with former adolescent inpatients', B. McDermott, B.Nurcombe, S. Dean, C. Paul (ed(s)), IACAPAP C 2006 Book of Abstracts -child and adolescent mental health: nurturing diversity, Convention Centre, Melbourne, Australia, 10/09/2006,International Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the Allied Professions Conference, Melbourne, Australia, pp.114-114.  

McNamara, P (2005) 'Troubled adolescents in residential psychiatric treatment', in Cinzia Canali, Anthony N.Maluccio, Tiziano Vecchiato (ed(s)), La Valuazione di Outcome nei Servizi per L'Eta Evolutiva e la Famiglia,Instituto degli Innocenti, Florence, Itay, Zancan Foundation, Padua, Italy, pp.61-72.  

Conference Presentations  

Borenstein and McNamara (2012) Messages from the frontline: Supporting kinship carers with respite National Kinship and Fostercare Conference Melbourne, October 20-21  

McNamara P and Doxey G (2012) Psychosocial needs of farmers experiencing financial stress National Centre for Farmer Health Conference, Hamilton Victoria September, 17-19  

McNamara P (2012) Residential services in Australia: A new era in program development European Scientific Association for Residential and Foster Care ResearchConference Glasgow, Scotland September 4-7  

McNamara P, Frederico M, Long M, McPherson L and Gilbert K (2012) Therapeutic foster care in Australia: Evaluation of The Circle Program European Scientific Association for Residential and Foster Care ResearchConference Glasgow, Scotland September 4-7  

McNamara P, Frederico M, Long M, McPherson L and Gilbert K (2012) Evaluation of The Circle Program: The pivotal role of training in therapeutic foster care (2012) Australian Child Welfare Associations Conference Darling Harbour Sydney, August 20-23  

Borenstein J and McNamara P (2012) Strengthening kinship families: The role of respite care European Scientific Association for Residential and Foster Care Research Glasgow, Scotland September 4-7  

Doxey G and McNamara P (2011) Exploring the role of rural financial counsellors Rural Health Conference, Swan Hill, Victoria, March 4  

McNamara P (2011) Implementation of research evidence: An Australian case study Annual Seminar of the International Association for Outcome Based Evaluation and Research, Malosco Italy June 28- July 1  

McNamara P (2010) Respite Care: Findings of the Scoping Exercise Australian Institute of Family Studies Conference Melbourne July 9th  

McNamara P and Neve E (2010) Seminar on Applying instruments in evaluation -Association of Social Workers – Veneto Region, Padua, Italy, October 25th  

McNamara P (2010) Adolescent suicide in Australia: Risk and resilience Proceedings of Conference of Therapeutische Gemeinschaften, Vienna, Austria, 15th October (invited and funded)  

McNamara P (2010) Rights based narrative research with children and young people. International Association for Outcome Based Evaluation and Research/Region of Tuscany Conference Insituto degli Innocenti, Florence, Italy 29th September (Invited and funded)  

McNamara P, Lewis P, Carroll R, Halfpenny N, Elefsiniotis J, Webster M, Antonucci K and Wilks S (2010) Respite Care in Victoria: findings of a Scoping Exercise. Australian Child Welfare Associations Conference Sydney, August 5th -8th  

Doxey G and McNamara P (2010) A holistic approach to farmers’ health National Centre forFarmers Health Conference Hamilton, Victoria, October 13th -15th  

Lewis P, Carroll R, McNamara P, Halfpenny N, Elefsiniotis J, Webster M, Antonucci K and Wilks S (2010) Respite care: Grassroots of primary prevention Australian Institute of Family Studies Conference, Melbourne, July 7th -9th   Cash S,

Lewis P, McNamara P, Bock J, Halfpenny N and Wise S (2009) Respite care: Its role in family preservation Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth Conference, Melbourne August 10-12th  

Doxey G and McNamara P (2009) More than a dollar: The role of rural financial counsellors Rural Social Work Conference Geelong, Victoria August 8th -10th  

McNamara P (on behalf of the Post Placement Support Service) (2009) Mirror Families International Foster Care Organisations Conference Dublin Eire, July 21th -24th  

McNamara P (2008) In search of synergy: Linking welfare and mental health services for children and families in Australia World Psychotherapy Congress, Beijing, China October 8-10th

McNamara P (2007) Using qualitative methods to identify outcomes. New Zealand Families Commission Conference. September 21st (invited and funded)  

McNamara P and Zeira A (2006) Getting our act together: Linking child welfare and mental health Fordham University-iaOBERfcs Conference, Lincoln Centre New York City, NY (invited and funded) September 20th  

McNamara P (2005) Sensitive outcomes project Australian Child Welfare Associations Conference Sydney, August 

Recent workshops (invited and funded)

School of Social Work, Chinese University of Hong Kong, SAR China (January 2012) Two Day Workshop on Family Foster Care in Australia  

School of Social Work, University of Calabria, Italy (June 2011) Using structured instruments to evaluate practice  

School of Social Work, University of Padua, Italy (June 2011) Rights based narrative research conducted over time   Stepfamilies and blended families: An ecological-developmental perspective.

Asia Pacific Forum on Families Conference Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (1-3November, 2010)  

Associazione Assistente Sociale di Veneto, Padova, Italia (October 27, 2010) Engaging social workers in evaluation  

 Book Reviews  

McNamara P (2009) Review of Collins, D Jordan C and Coleman H (2007) An introduction to family social work. Belmont CA: Thomson Brooks Cole in Australian Social Work 62(4):546-548  

McNamara, Patricia M. (2009) Review of Harris, Perlita In Search of Belonging: Reflections by Transracially Adopted People', Australian Social Work, 62 (1): 121-123  

McNamara P (2008) Review of Crago Hugh (2006) Couple family and group work: First steps in interpersonal intervention Maidenhead, UK: Open University Press in Australian Social Work 61(4): 429-431  

McNamara P (2008) Review of Doel, Mark (2006) Using groupwork London and New York: Routledge Taylor and Francis Group in Australian Social Work 61(3): 289-291  

McNamara P (2007) Review of Higgs Joy, Sefton Ann, Street Annette, McAllister Lindy and Hay Iain (2005) Communicating in the health and social sciences. Melbourne: Oxford University Press in Australian Social Work 60(2):265-266  

McNamara P (2004) Book review for Children Australia : Ann Deveson (2003) Resilience. Sydney: Allen and Unwin  

Media

October 2nd, 2012 Role of the Respite Care Consortium Berry Street Northern Office Forum  

November 2011(La Trobe University – Research UTube clips) Strengthening families: The Respite Care Project www.latrobe.edu.au  

November 3rd , 2010 Channel Three, National Television, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Hello Malaysia Program in relation to the APFAM Conference on ‘Stepfamilies and Blended Famiies’ – with A/Prof Margarita Frederico & Gianfranco Urlini  

April 9th, 2009 Life Matters interview (30 minutes) (ABC Radio National – Interviewer, Richard Adey) with Janet Elefsiniotis (Good Shepherd Youth and Family Services) in relation to the Respite Care Research Project  

April 2008 Telechiara Veneto (Italian Television) Interview at Eusarf- iaOBERfcs Conference (March, 2008) in relation to linking mental health and welfare services for children and adolescents  

June, 2007 Telechiara Veneto (Italian Television) Interview at University of Padua in relation to longitudinal study of former adolescent milieu residents  

September, 2007 Radio New Zealand 20 minute interview on Good Morning New Zealand  in relation to intimate partner homicide research          

Research projects

 

Respite foster care

Resilience in hidden children of the Holocaust

Reducing length of stay in adult psychiatric facilities

School engagement