Heather is an Associate Professor at Charles Sturt University.

Heather holds specialist knowledge in Environmental Social Work, also known as EcoSocial Work and Green Social Work. This area of knowledge involves helping people to create and maintain a healthy and biodiverse ecosystem, recognises the interdependence between environmental wellbeing and human wellbeing, and is concerned with injustice caused by the unfair distribution of environmental risks.

Heather holds qualifications at the Doctoral level, attaining her PhD (with Higher Degree by Research Medal) in 2017 at Charles Sturt University. She completed her Master of Social Work (with Distinction) in 2010, and a double degree in Bachelor of Social Work/Bachelor of Arts in 2001, also at Charles Sturt University.

Prior to her role at Charles Sturt University, Heather worked in the human services sector as a practitioner for 10 years in various fields of practice, including adults and children with disabilities, child and family welfare and school social work.

Heather teaches in the School of Social Work and Arts at Charles Sturt University. She is passionate about supporting students through their studies and teaches at all levels, including undergraduate and post graduate levels, across online and face-to-face (on-campus) modes. Heather teaches in a range of areas relevant to social work and human services. She also supervises students as part of their practicums at the undergraduate level of social work, and at the Honours, Masters, and Doctorate levels of study. Heather has been particularly involved in an innovative team to develop social work curriculum pertaining to disaster practices and Environmental Social Work.

Heather has been internationally and nationally recognised for her research in disaster practices and Environmental Social Work. She is an integral member of various research teams and has experience leading innovative community-based research projects. She is committed to interdisciplinary research and the need to work together for creating and maintaining a healthy and biodiverse ecosystem, and addressing injustices caused by the unfair distribution of environmental risks. Heather specialises in qualitative research methodologies that promote participatory, emancipatory, and co-designed approaches. She has also led research groups, including the Environmental and Social Justice Research Group at Charles Sturt University.

Heather’s research interests relate to the following areas:

• Environmental social work
• Disaster practices
• Rural and regional communities
• Gender and equality
• Local, national, and international collaborations

Further information relating to Heather’s research publications can be viewed at Orcid and Google Scholar

Associate Editor for the International Journal of Social Welfare (IJSW)

Expert advisor for the National Advisory Panel on Climate Action (AASW)

Accredited member of the Australian Association of Social Work (AASW)

Member of the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW)