Sarah Morton

Dr. Sarah Morton serves as Assistant Professor in Community Engagement at University College Dublin's School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice. She also holds the position of Director of the Community Partnership Drugs Programme, demonstrating her significant leadership in both academic and practical applications of social work principles.

Dr. Morton earned her BA from Curtin University of Technology in Perth, Australia, followed by an MSc from the University of Ulster, and completed her PhD at the Centre for Action Research in Professional Practice, University of Bath. She further enhanced her teaching credentials with a Professional Certificate in University Teaching & Learning from University College Dublin.

Her research program centers on the intersection of substance use and domestic violence, with particular emphasis on organizational and practitioner responses to complex social issues including domestic violence, sexual violence, and childhood trauma legacies. Dr. Morton is recognized for her expertise in participatory and action research methodologies, which she applies to develop trauma-informed interventions and organizational change processes. Her work frequently examines the development of practitioner resilience when working with trauma and the implementation of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) routine enquiry in service settings.

Analysis of Dr. Morton's publication record reveals a consistent focus on community-based interventions that address overlapping social problems, particularly the co-occurrence of substance use and domestic violence. Her research demonstrates a strong commitment to participatory methodologies that engage practitioners and service users in the research process, with significant contributions to understanding how co-operative inquiry groups can facilitate organizational change and improve service responses.

• European Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Social Sciences and Humanities (2020)
• Vice Principal for Teaching and Learning for the College of Social Science and Law (2021-2024)

Dr. Morton has successfully secured multiple research grants including the OBRSS Research Support Scheme (2016-2023), Recovery Capital and Policy Change project (2016), and Practice Responses to ACES project (2018-2019). Her policy contributions include serving on Ireland's National Oversight Committee for the National Drug Strategy (2022-2024) and chairing the Strategic Implementation Group on Evidence and Evaluation. She is also a joint author of the Council of Europe's Implementing a Gender Approach in Drug Policies handbook (2022).