Carol Kaplanian

Carol Kaplanian is a Lecturer in the School of Health and Clinical Sciences, Department of Social Work and Social Policy at The University of Western Australia, with additional roles as Adjunct Research Fellow and Casual Teaching staff. Her work centers on social justice and human rights, focusing on violence against marginalized communities.

Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Social Work and Social Policy (2005), Master of Social Work and Social Policy (Research) (2008), and PhD on honour-based violence in Jordan, all from Curtin University.

Dr. Kaplanian's research investigates family and domestic violence, honour-based violence, and trauma within refugee and migrant communities using qualitative methods. Her Churchill Fellowship research across six countries informs Australia's first honour-based violence screening tool development, emphasizing culturally responsive frameworks beyond Western-centric models.

Her publications consistently address intersectional violence against women in culturally diverse contexts, with growing emphasis on refugee health outcomes and community-led interventions since 2014.

Major recognitions include:

• Grace Vaughn Award for Human Rights (for PhD work)
• WA Department of Communities Churchill Fellowship (2020)
• Australian Postgraduate Award Scholarship (2008)

She supervises higher degree research students and serves as Subject Matter Expert for the Australian Federal Police on forced marriage and human trafficking. Current projects include the SHAKTI Project examining domestic violence among culturally diverse women during COVID-19, with funding from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust.

Her international collaborations span refugee camps and policy development, translating research into practical tools for frontline services while maintaining active media engagement on emerging violence trends.