Dr Debra Manning
Lecturer, Community Welfare and Counselling
| Phone: | +61 3 990 26577 or +61 3 512 26577 | |
| Fax: | +61 3 990 26359 or +61 3 512 26359 | |
| Office: | 1E 119, Gippsland Campus | |
| Email: | debra.manning@monash.edu |
Biography
Debra is a lecturer in both Community Welfare and Counselling and the Master of Human Services Management. As a welfare professional she has worked in counselling, community development and managerial roles in fields such as probation and parole, child protection, youth justice, overseas aid and the defence force.
As a lecturer and researcher Debra has drawn extensively on her time living and working in a rural village in Botswana, southern Africa. This experience developed her understanding of the cultural contexts of knowledge and to different ways of knowing about the world, and has had a major impact on her approaches to social and community welfare practice, education and research.
Her research uses primarily qualitative methodologies including:
- participatory action research
- creative arts methods
- auto ethnography
- narrative approaches
Debra has published in the fields of:
- social and community connection
- social welfare theory and practice
- auto ethnographic and poetic research methods
- educational philosophy and practice
Qualifications:
- Doctor of Philosophy Master of Social Work
- Bachelor of Social Work (Hons)
- Bachelor of Behavioural Science
- Graduate Certificate of Higher Education
Research interests
- Regional social sustainability
- Youth justice and child protection
- Emancipatory and anti-oppressive welfare practice
- Dis/ability
- Arts based research methods
Current research projects
- 2010 - Images of Home: "Children’s Creative Response to the Changing Landscape of Officer”
Using state of the art sound capture technology, participants will be encouraged to ‘capture’ and then play with the sounds of their environment to explore their aural connection to their landscape. In this way they will map out their social connection through soundlines, and ‘recapture’ their own sense of home in a rapidly changing environment. Dr. Michelle Duffy and Mr. Dean Merlino are co-researchers. - 2009 - Everything Effects Everything Else: Power, perception and hidden forms of restrictive practice in shared supported accommodation
The aim of this research was to contribute to improving the quality of life and dignity of people living in shared supported accommodation who are subject to restrictive practices, defined in the Disability Services Act 2006. Dr. Karen Crinall. Is the co-researcher on this project. - 2009 - Innovative use of on-line role-plays for university teaching
This is a cross-disciplinary SAMSS project exploring teaching technologies
Other research projects
- 2009-2010 - Building Family and Community Resilience in Cardinia Growth Corridor: a case study of Officer
A collaborative multidisciplinary project engaging seven industry partners including government and non-government agencies, community organisations and residents to facilitate the development of an enriched and well-resourced community in the context of rapid urban development.
ARC Linkage Application (This application was unsuccessful and is currently being revised)
Recent publications
Refereed articles
- Duffy, M. Merlino, D. Manning, D. (2010) Images of Home: Sound methodologies for engaging youth in growth corridors. Cultural and Local Governance
- Edmondson, B. and Manning, D. (2009) The Primacy of Philosophy for Effective Learning. The International Journal of Learning Vol 16, No. 10 pp553-568
- Manning, D (2008) Poetic Possibilities. Creative Approaches to Research Vol 1, No. 2, pp.55-70
- Manning D. (2008) Auto ethnography: a journey of self indulgence. Refereed Proceedings of AARE International Education Research Conference 2007, Fremantle, Western Australia. Australian Association of Researchers in Education pp1-16
- Manning, D (2006) Constructing meaning and metaphor for cultural pedagogy. International Journal of Pedagogies and Learning. Vol 2, No. 1. University of Southern Queensland pp48-62
- Manning, D. (2006) Walk the Talk: the journey towards deconstructing the education environment as a model for anti-oppressive social and community welfare practice. Vol 1, No 1 Practice Reflexions pp27-38
Journal article
- Tracey, J. & Manning D (2007) The Student Unit Perspective. New Community Quarterly Vol 5, No 4. Summer pp 32-35
Teaching
- Insights into Practice
- Case Management Theory and Practice
- Field Education and Practice
- Human Services Management and Leadership
- Social and Community Welfare Honours
Expert media commentary
Postgraduate supervision
Debra is currently supervising a PhD student whose research focuses on sustainability and traditional medicine practices in Southern Africa.
Grants
- 2010 - Images of Home: "Children’s Creative Response to the Changing Landscape of Officer”
VicHealth TASC (Technology and Social Connection) $25,000 - 2009 - Innovative use of on-line role-plays for university teaching
Cross-disciplinary project. SAMSS Grant $12,000