Projects

I am a social work and applied social science researcher and methodologist. My work spans community participation and socially just, design-led practice. My research explores how diverse communities, including families, LGBTQIA+ people, and culturally diverse groups, experience and shape place-based responses to health and wellbeing.

I draw on interdisciplinary approaches from critical social work, sociology, and participatory design to investigate how creativity, collaboration, design thinking, power awareness and reflexivity can enhance ethical practice, community engagement, and social work education and professional development.

My work contributes to re-envisioning how human services and programs are designed, delivered, experienced, and evaluated, with a focus on equity, inclusion, and community-determined change. 

Selected projects

  • An image of a pile of zines titled 'Rupture/Repair: Reflections on Co-design'

    Rupture and Repair in Co-design

    Learning how to navigate challenges in co-design projects

  • A representation of a supportive community, created with craft materials

    It takes a village to raise a family

    Parents perspectives on what makes a supportive community: A place-based doctoral research study

  • A group of people playing basketball

    Community-based co-design: The Junior Rhinos Primary Prevention Program

    Co-designing a sports-based youth development program with the Afri-Aus Care community

Industry Funded Projects 

2025 - Health Promotion Practice Fellowship Program Evaluation. Victorian Health Promotion Fund (VicHealth) contracted project. 

Role: Co-Investigator, partner engagement, data analysis, report writing. 

2023 - Suitable housing responses for older women who have experienced housing instability and homelessness and Suitable housing responses for women (and their children) who have experienced family violence related homelessness. Industry funded research by Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand.  

Role: Co-Investigator, Lead in co-design method, lead in partner engagement. 

2022-2024 - Black Rhinos: A Primary Prevention Program. Victorian Health Promotion Fund (VicHealth) Impact Research Grant.  

Role: Co-Investigator, Lead of co-design methodology.  

  

RMIT Funded Projects 

2025 - Strategic Impact Fund. Pressure Points: Recovery from Ruptures When Designing with Marginalised Communities. 

Role: Project Lead 

2024 - Enabling Impact Platform – Social Change recipient. Building a community of practice and learning resource with designers practicing in social work contexts.  

Role: Project Lead.