Ros Darracott

Associate Professor Ros Darracott is an academic at the University of Southern Queensland's School of Psychology and Wellbeing, affiliated with the Centre for Health Research. With over thirty years of experience in regional, rural and remote social work practice across government and non-profit sectors, she specializes in health, mental health, child protection, and eco-social justice frameworks.

Education

• BSocWk (JCU, 1992)
• MSocWk (JCU, 2002)
• PhD (QUT, 2015)
• GCertAcadPrac (QUT, 2019)

Research Focus

Her research integrates eco-social justice with climate adaptation, examining impacts on rural health systems and community wellbeing. Key areas include:

• Decolonizing social work through cultural safety frameworks
• Heat vulnerability interventions for healthcare systems
• Regional service delivery models in mental health
• Economic dimensions of rural healthcare access

Publication Themes

Recent works demonstrate strong foci on climate-responsive social work pedagogy, mental health policy analysis across international contexts, and structural determinants of rural practice. Publications consistently address intersections between environmental challenges, healthcare systems, and decolonial approaches.

Awards

• Fellow, Higher Education Academy

Student Supervision

Currently leads three graduate projects: Doctoral research on health promotion for pregnant women in regional settings; Master's studies on anti-oppressive social work frameworks and hope-based approaches in mental health practice. Previously supervised doctoral work on rural women's depression experiences.

Collaborations

Founding member of the Toowoomba Eco-Social Work Group, developing field education models integrating environmental justice. Leads cross-institutional initiatives on heat-impact research, including hospital discharge protocols during extreme weather and elderly lived experiences in heatwaves.