Dr Elise Woodman
Senior Lecturer
Social Work
Areas of expertise: youth wellbeing; mental health; children's participation; social work theories; evidence-based practice; qualitative research; working with families
Phone: (02) 6209 1151
Email: Elise.woodman@acu.edu.au
Location: ACU Canberra Campus
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-5467-3484
Dr Elise Woodman is a lecturer in Social Work within the School of Allied Health on the Canberra Campus. Elise's areas of teaching and research include the theoretical and evidence base for social work and the skills for working with children, young people, families and groups. Elise was awarded her PhD in 2015 from the Australian Catholic University for her research into young people's experiences of family connectedness.
Her research interests include the importance of family connectedness for youth wellbeing, children's rights to participate in decisions that impact on them, and the knowledge base of social work, including theories and evidenced-based practice tools. Elise is currently developing and trialling the Family Connectedness Practice Tool designed to help social workers support family relationships and youth wellbeing.
Select publications
- Woodman, E., Roche, S., & McArthur, M. (2022). Children's participation in child protection - How do practitioners understand children's participation in practice. Child and Family Social Work, Accepted for publication May 2022.
- Woodman, E. (2021). Building family connectedness-A new practice tool for social workers. The British Journal of Social Work.
- Bennett, B. & Woodman, E. (2019). The Potential of Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy For Treating Trauma in Australian Aboriginal Peoples. British Journal of Social Work. 49 (4), 1014-1058.
- Woodman, E., Roche, S., McArthur, M., & Moore, T. (2018). Child Protection Practitioners: Including Children in Decision Making. Child and Family Social Work. 23 (3), 475-484.
- Woodman, E. & McArthur, M. (2018). Young People's Experiences of Family Connectedness: Supporting social work practice with families and young people. British Journal of Social Work. 48 (3), 693-713.
- Noble-Carr. D & Woodman, E. (2018). Considering identity and meaning constructions for vulnerable young people. Journal of Adolescent Research. 33(6), 672-698.
- Noble-Carr. D, Barker, J., McArthur, M., & Woodman, E. (2014). Improving practice: The importance of connections in establishing positive identity and meaning in the lives of vulnerable young people. Children and Youth Services Review, 47, 389-396.
- Woodman, E. (2012). Social workers' experiences of linking theory and practice. Advances in Social Work and Welfare Education, 14(1), 22-38.
Projects
- 2022 (ACTIVE) Research Awards for Women Academic Staff - Family Connectedness Practice Tool - Informing Youth Mental Health Practice, Australian Catholic University $12,500
- 2022 (ACTIVE) Teaching and Learning Grant - Teaching and Assessment of Critical Reflection in Allied Health, Australian Catholic University. $4490
- 2020 Teaching Development Grant - Culturally Responsive Child Protection Practice, Australian Catholic University. $14,753.00
- 2019 Research Awards for Women Academic Staff - Improving Practice: Understanding Young People's Needs to Sustain Family Connectedness Throughout Adolescence, Australian Catholic University. $12,500
- 2016-17 Research Secondment - Children's Participation in Decision Making in Child Protection, Australian Catholic University and the Institute of Child Protection Studies. $15,000.
International journal review panels
- British Journal of Social Work
- Child and Family Social Work
- Health and Social Care in the Community
- Social Policy and Administration
- European Journal of Social Work
- Journal of Adolescent Research.
Public engagement activities
Australian and New Zealand Social Work and Welfare Education and Research Symposium 2022 presentations:
- Turning the gaze inwards: A scoping review of the teaching and assessment of critical reflection in social work literature. Katherine Reid & Elise Woodman
- Developing social work evidence to support youth wellbeing. Elise Woodman
- Upholding children's rights to participate in decisions about their lives - What we can learn? Elise Woodman & Steven Roche
