Adjunct staff
Associate Professor Abraham Francis
A/Prof, Social Work and Human Services
Abraham is a highly regarded leader in the field of Social Work. He is passionate about researching and working in strengths-based practice in mental health and has published extensively in social work literature. Abraham’s research interests include criminal justice, community development, COVID-19, gerontological social work and international collaboration.
A/Professor Susan Gair
Adjunct Associate Professor
Susan is a leader in the field of Social Work. Her research findings have been widely published and presented to international audiences. Susan is committed to practice and research that respects Indigenous ways of working, and improves the lives of children, youth and families.
Associate Professor Nonie Harris
Adjunct Associate Professor
Nonie is passionate about women’s services and was actively engaged in the NQCWS (the Women’s Centre) Management Committee and the Management Committee of the North Queensland Domestic Violence Resource Service. Her research has focused on feminist methodologies, feminist theory and practice, teaching research and childcare policy in cross national contexts.
Dr Desley Harvey
Adjunct Lecturer
Desley has over 20 years’ experience in public health and social work. She has worked as a practitioner, educator, and research fellow with a focus on women's health, rural and remote health, healthy aging and mental health and wellbeing.
Dr Peter Jones
Adjunct Senior Lecturer
Peter is a multi-award-winning educator, with two national citations for outstanding contributions to student learning. Peter’s passionate about the environment and is actively involved in raising awareness of the impacts of climate change. His interests include eco-social work, sustainable community development, and international social work education.
Dr Jo Mensinga
First Year Experience Coordinator (Cairns)
As a qualified yoga teacher, Jo is passionate about exploring the contribution yoga and embodiment can have on practitioner reflection and well-being. She takes a qualitative methodological approach to her work including narrative inquiry, organic inquiry, case study, thematic analysis, and the study of social positioning in stories.
Professor Debra Miles
Adjunct Professor
Deb has a long work history in social work academia and her special interests include working with women and children, human rights, and women’s studies. She remains engaged with JCU as the Academic lead of the JCU Respect program aimed at preventing sexual assault and sexual harassment on university campuses.
Dr Vinnitta Mosby
Lecturer
Vinnitta is a Torres Strait Islander woman with connection to the Murray Islands. Her research has focused on understanding the experiences of Torres Strait Islanders in relation to out-migration and resettlement, and spirituality outside of place. Vinnitta’s research interests include social-emotional health and wellbeing, climate change and spirituality.
Associate Professor Venkat Pulla
Adjunct Senior Lecturer
Venkat’s a Grounded Theory methodologist. His research includes multiculturalism, autoethnographic research in social work, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities and wellbeing. Venkat’s currently working on post-COVID resilience and social work futures. As the foundation professor at the Brisbane Institute of Strengths-Based Practice, he offers conferences and training in positive hope-building.
Professor Rosamund Thorpe
Adjunct Professor
Ros is an Emeritus Professor of Social Work and has gained international recognition for her research with children in out-of-home care, their parents, and their foster carers. Ros’ research includes the fields of domestic and family violence, service user involvement in human services and counter-oppressive approaches to social work.