Case Management Theory and Practice

Field Education and Practice

Human Services Management and Leadership

Social and Community Welfare Honours

Postgraduate supervision

Debra is currently supervising a PhD student whose research focuses on sustainability and traditional medicine practices in Southern Africa

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

Expert media commentary

Child Protection

Family Welfare

Rural Social Welfare Practice issues

Discrimination and harassment

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)

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

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

Qualifications:

Doctor of Philosophy Master of Social Work
Bachelor of Social Work (Hons)
Bachelor of Behavioural Science
Graduate Certificate of Higher Education