Louise Morley

Dr. Louise Morley is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at the University of New England, affiliated with the School of Health within the Faculty of Medicine and Health. Based in Armidale, Australia, she is actively involved in teaching, research, and course coordination for both the Bachelor of Social Work and the Master of Social Work (Qualifying) programs.

Her educational background includes a Doctor of Philosophy (2015) and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New England, as well as a First-Class Honours Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Western Australia (2001).

• PhD, University of New England, 2015
• Bachelor of Social Work (Hons1), University of Western Australia, 2001
• Bachelor of Arts, University of New England, 1998

Dr. Morley's research centers on the emotional and organizational challenges within child welfare and social work practice, particularly in rural and remote contexts. Her work explores relational dynamics, emotional labor, workforce sustainability, and systemic reform in child protection. She employs qualitative methodologies, including narrative inquiry, discourse analysis, and action research, to examine how practitioners navigate ethical and emotional complexities. Her teaching emphasizes humane, ethical, and critical practice, especially when working with vulnerable children and families.

Her recent publications reflect a strong focus on child welfare systems, domestic violence prevention in rural communities, adoption policy, and the rights of children in out-of-home care. The articles collectively demonstrate a sustained commitment to improving social work practice through critical analysis, policy engagement, and community-based research, with a consistent emphasis on equity, human rights, and systemic change.

Dr. Morley has no publicly listed scientific awards in the provided text.

She actively supervises honors, master’s, and PhD students in areas such as policy analysis, lived experience research, philosophical foundations of practice, and domestic violence prevention. She has also been instrumental in developing international study programs, including an initiative in Hanoi, Vietnam, to broaden students' global perspectives. Her community engagement includes membership in the Safe in Our Town Committee in Glen Innes, focused on domestic violence awareness and prevention, which also serves as a potential site for student placements and action research.

Dr. Morley contributes to several research projects and reports, often in collaboration with national institutes and government departments, particularly in the areas of child protection system redesign and rural sexual assault. Her work bridges academic research with practical application in community and policy settings.