BA, BSW (University of Melbourne), Postgraduate Diploma in Health Research Methodology (La Trobe University)

Over many years as a practitioner and (previously) Social Work Manager at the Mercy Hospital for Women, I have developed a strong interest in exploring the needs of women whose circumstances can mean that they encounter barriers in obtaining public maternity and post natal care. I was encouraged by my previous (La Trobe) supervisor and other colleagues to consider eventually undertaking a PhD

A qualitative study of international students who become pregnant and give birth while in Victoria (thesis title: Pregnant, Parenting, and a long way from home: International students in Victoria accessing maternity, paediatric and early parenting care).

Patients without Medicare entitlement (including international students) are considered financially risky by public health services and can struggle to obtain necessary health care during and after pregnancy. Many women holding international student visas are referred to the Mercy Hospital for Women Social Work Department, for advocacy and other assistance. Their challenges are not well understood in a nation and state with a ‘universal’ public health system, with a cohort of women who can be reluctant to complain (for fear of jeopardising their international student visas), while attempting to navigate an unfamiliar health care system at a crucially important time in their lives.

A major theoretical approach underpinning my study is feminist intersectionality. This concerns the interaction between gender, race and other differences in terms of power. I conceptualise pregnant international students as being at the intersection of three larger groups: female international students, women giving birth following migration, vulnerable clients who are ‘ineligible’ for some necessary services that permanent residents and Australian citizens take for granted.

Start as soon as personal circumstances permit and that participant recruitment is challenging!

Accept it will take longer than you expected and drink many coffees with fellow PhD students.

BA (Anthropology & English), UWA BSW, UWA Grad Dip (Anthropolgy Hons), UWA

I decided to undertake my PhD because I have been working at the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) since 2012 and I am interested in continuing to work as a researcher. Doing a PhD has provided me with an opportunity to develop my research skills and has given time to reflect and think deeply about an area I have been working within for a number of years.

I am exploring how participatory action research methodology is enacted within a study being led by NARI. The study I am examining is a collaboration between three Aboriginal controlled art centres, two aged care service providers, and two universities. Together we are exploring how art centres support their Elders; if they are collaborating with their local aged care providers; and re-imagining ways to enhance these collaborations.

Many years ago, I was lucky enough to be seconded to the Aged Care Assessment Team in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. The experience was transformative in many personal and professional ways. Following that period I worked on a major exhibition 'Yiwarra Kuju' in which the histories of the Canning Stock Route were re-told from the perspectives of the many communities whose countries it traversed. When I had the opportunity to lead and receive a Dementia and Aged Grant, from the Department of Health, for NARI in 2017, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to undertake my PhD in an area I have been compelled by.

This is a work a progress! By nature, participatory methodologies embrace critical reflexivity, and as they are heavily situated in local contexts they are highly subjective and driven by the priorities of non-researchers. In the case of my PhD, this critical reflexivity is revealing many of the invisible assumptions and power structures that are deeply embedded within mainstream research practices, and the discipline of gerontology itself. Learning from Indigenous ways of doing, knowing and being, is exposing these mainstream norms, so that we can start to understand the limits of their rationale, have an open dialogue within gerontology about how best to challenge these norms and work towards cultivating practices that embrace pluralistic world views.

I have loved the opportunity to undertake my PhD. While I have found it can be overwhelming and very daunting at times, the opportunity to unlearn and relearn is a priviledge and one I will hopefully never regret. I would encourage those considering whether to do a PhD to talk to lots of people about planning for the pragmatic aspects such as change in income, role at work, and balancing other committments with a PhD.

I have been so lucky with my supervisory team who all offer diverse expertise and have been so generous in helping me to develop my critical thinking muscles since I have started. Firstly, choose a great team, you are going to need them! Second, meeting other HDR candidates and joining in on any school events has been really helpful. I'm still trying to master how to switch off, but my osteopath often encourages me to 'go have some fun'!

B. Social Work (Honours)/B Social Science (Psychology)

I fell in love with research while doing my honours project, and had a desire to explore my topic in more depth and in an empircal way. Also, embarking on my social work career through the unique way of a PhD was very appealing.

The focus of my work is the intersection between social work and companion animals (pets), particularly focussing on the context of women experiencing, or at risk of homelessness due to a range of factors, including family violence). The choice of case study was based on my identification of it being an important exemplar of the problem of exclusion of animals from social work.

My animal advocacy is my social work practice. Research is the most effective way for me to do this, in order to shine a light for those social workers who instinctively know they need to be including companion animals in their work with their humans. I am advocating for the interests of the invisible family members, who reside in the liminal space between persons and property, in the space where law and policy don’t quite reach…yet

The theory I have incorporated into my research is related to critical social work and subversive practice as my research involves surveying social workers about their practice What advice would you give students looking to do their PhD in Social Work in the future? Do it! It’s a rarefied path, but if you have direct practice experience, or see yourself solely working on the macro level, it could be a way for you to make a meaningful contribution to the field by following your passion.

Start as soon as personal circumstances permit and that participant recruitment is challenging!

• Lots of sleep and healthy food (but also vegan chocolate cake when required
• Snuggling with my resident felines when I am feeling sad or overwhelmed
• Feeling comfortable asking for help when required, and allowing myself to be vulnerable
• Yoga and other exercise
• Practicing kindness to myself and others

BA (Hons) Social Work at RMIT

I really enjoyed my research project in my honours course and decided to continue exploring further research via a PhD.

Women’s safety in the family violence sector.

I work in this area and I have a passion for promoting issues of women’s safety and women’s equality in society within the family violence sector.

I refer to feminist frameworks and social work practice theories in my research and my own feminist standpoint when conducting research.

Pre-schedule in your own self-care or else you will never get around to it. Treat your self-care appointments with yourself as though they are urgent and set in stone so as not to cancel on yourself!