معرفی
Dr. Nafiseh Ghafournia is an Honorary Lecturer at the School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences at the University of Newcastle, Australia. She completed her PhD in Social Policy and Gender Studies at The University of Sydney in 2017, supported by the Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) Scholarship. Dr. Ghafournia has extensive experience as a researcher and sessional academic, with teaching appointments spanning from 2009 to 2020 across various courses in sociology, health sciences, and nursing.
Her educational background includes:
- Doctor of Philosophy (Social Work), University of Sydney
- Bachelor of Arts, Ferdowsi University of Meshed - Iran
- Master of Arts, University of Tehran - Iran
- Graduate Certificate in Policy Studies, University of Sydney
Dr. Ghafournia's research focuses on the complex intersections of domestic violence, gender, culture, religion, and immigration. Her pioneering 2019 book 'Faith in Freedom: Muslim Immigrant Women's Experiences of Domestic Violence' examines how Muslim immigrant women in Australia experience domestic violence through an intersectional lens. She has published extensively on Islamic feminism, domestic violence policy, immigration policy, and cultural considerations in service provision.
Analysis of her recent publications (2022-2024) reveals a continued focus on Muslim women's experiences, domestic violence, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Her work demonstrates how pandemic conditions exacerbated existing vulnerabilities for refugee and immigrant communities while also highlighting community resilience and innovative communication strategies.
Professional recognition includes:
- International Sociological Association (ISA) membership (2017)
- The Australian Association for the Study of Religion (AASR) membership (2019)
- The Australian Sociological Association (TASA) membership (2016)
- Australian Association of Islamic and Muslim Studies (AAIMS) membership (2019)
Dr. Ghafournia has received the Hunter New England Health Excellence award in the category of Integrated Health (2017) and held the Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) Scholarship for her PhD studies (2011). Prior to her academic career, she worked as a Multicultural Health Liaison Officer with Hunter New England Health since 2010, delivering lectures and trainings to health professionals on cultural aspects of health and cultural competency. Her research has been supported by grants totaling $10,000, including projects focused on building capacity of refugee and immigrant women to live free from violence.
