Dr Ann Carrington is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work and teaches in a range of social work theory, research and practice subjects. As a critical feminist social work academic, her work in Learning and Teaching, Research and Scholarship and Service and Engagement are all informed by a gendered analysis, principles of inclusion, social justice and human rights with a focus on creating social change.

Ann is student focused in her teaching and curriculum design. Guided by principles of inclusion and empowerment through education, Ann has a strong focus on online and blended learning methods, authentic skills development and assessment, and enhanced capstone experiences connected to employability.   

In collaboration with JCU Dentistry and Cairns Regional Domestic Violence Service, Ann has co-designed the scaffolded Domestic Violence – Recognise, Respond, Refer curriculum which equips dental students with the knowledge and skills to make a significant contribution to communities by addressing this priority issue in our region and nationally.

Through her research Ann aims to make a difference to individuals and society, to create brighter futures for the vulnerable and marginalised in the tropics. She hopes to create social change and make a difference through research in the areas of domestic violence (DV) and sexual assault, inclusive pedagogy, work to understand and reduce the impacts of trauma, and promote the inclusion of spirituality in social work.

In the field Ann worked as a practitioner, resulting in the development of the ‘Vortex of Violence’ (2014). Ann has continued to research and write in this area, looking at the influence of neo-liberalism on feminist practice, the impact of discourse and construction of DV on integrated responses, explored issues of men’s accountability and training dentists to recognise and respond to patients that have experienced DV. She is currently working with Queensland Police, Cairns, to evaluate an initiative to address and prevent youth sexual violence in the region.    

Ann’s social justice principles led to an interest in inclusive pedagogy through blended learning methods that has proved successful with students. Further, Ann’s focus has now shifted to working with students to develop online professional interpersonal skills with guidance from AASW ethical guidelines in this area.

Ann’s work with those who have experienced DV and sexual assault resulted in the development of proficiency in working with trauma from a range of theoretical and therapeutic perspectives. She led an evaluation project for Mission Australia, evaluating an emerging program utilising her expertise in qualitative methodologies, trauma informed practice and other therapeutic practice approaches.

Spirituality has been a staple in Ann’s research agenda. Recently there has been a shift in this area from the theoretical to the practical. In future, Ann is keen to explore how spirituality can inform work in relation to understanding and responding to trauma, DV and sexual assault.

Teaching

• WS2513: Community Work (Level 2; CNS & TSV)
• WS3513: Developing Research Proposals (Level 3; TSV)
• WS4511: Professional Identity and Social Work Practice (Level 4; CNS)

Experience

• 2015 to present - Lecturer – Social Work, James Cook University (Cairns, Qld.)
• 2012 to 2015 - Lecturer – Social Work, Deakin University (Geelong, Vic.)
• 2010 to 2012 - Domestic Violence Worker – Court Support, Cairns Regional Domestic Violence Service (Cairns, Qld.)
• 2005 to 2011 - Adjunct Lecturer – Social Work, James Cook University (Cairns, Qld.)
• 2004 to 2006 - Sexual assault counsellor, Cairns Sexual Assault Service (Cairns, Qld.)

Research Disciplines

• Social work (4409)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• education and training (1699)

Awards

• 2019 - Australian Award for University Teaching (AAUT). Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning.
• 2018 - JCU Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning - DTES Citation
• 2018 - JCU Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning - JCU Overall Winner
• 2016 - JCU Award for Excellence in recognition of outstanding achievement - Cross Unit Collaboration - integration of domestic violence content into curriculum

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

• Carrington A, Croker F, Lee-Ross A, Keogh S and Dewar S (2023) Critical reflections on an interprofessional collaboration to develop domestic violence curriculum in an undergraduate dentistry program. Reflective Practice, 24 (2). pp. 183-196
• Carrington A (2023) Making sense of the social work field education liaison role and impacts of neoliberalism: an invitation to reflect and reimagine! Social Work Education, 42 (1). pp. 80-93
• Carrington A (2022) Conscious spiritual theory: a spiritual alternative to critical social work practice. Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work, 41 (4). pp. 404-424
• Carrington A, Dewar S, Kinchin I, Cadet-James Y and Tsey K (2019) A police-led community response to child abuse and youth sexual violence and abuse in Indigenous communities in Far North Queensland: "Speak Up. Be strong. Be Heard.". Child Abuse and Neglect, 98.
• Goldingay S, Hitch D, Carrington A, Nipperess S and Rosario V (2016) Transforming roles to support student development of academic literacies: a reflection on one team's experience. Reflective Practice, 17 (3). pp. 334-346
• Carrington A (2014) Expanding the debate: a comparative exploration of physical and spiritual ways of knowing, methods and measures. Qualitative Research Journal, 14 (2). pp. 179-196
• Carrington A (2014) The vortex of violence: moving beyond the cycle and engaging clients in change. British Journal of Social Work, 44 (2). pp. 451-468
• Carrington A (2013) An integrated spiritual practice framework for use within social work. Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work, 32 (4). pp. 287-312
• Carrington A (2010) Spiritual paradigms: a response to concerns within social work in relation to the inclusion of spirituality. Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work, 29 (4). pp. 300-320

Book Chapters

• Carrington A (2017) A spiritual approach to social work practice. In: Routledge Handbook of Religion, Spirituality and Social Work. Routledge, London, UK, pp. 291-299
• Carrington A (2016) Feminism under siege: critical reflections on the impact of neoliberalism and managerialism on feminist practice. In: Doing Critical Social Work: transformative practices for social justice. Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest, NSW, Australia, pp. 226-240

Other research outputs

• Croker F, Carrington A and Lee-Ross A (2019) New Frontiers: collaboratively educating dentists to competently recognise domestic violence, respond and refer. [Presented at the STOP Domestic Violence Conference 2019]. 9-11 December 2019, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 33+ research outputs authored by Dr Ann Carrington from 2010 onwards.

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

• The Information and Support needs of Adolescents and Young Adults (AYAs) Living with Cancer in Regional Areas (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Women working in White Collar Professions and their Experiences of Domestic Violence in North Queensland; Help-Seeking Behaviors and Outcomes. (Masters , Secondary Advisor)
• Embodied Practice for clinicians working with trauma. An exploration of embodied movement and trauma sensitive yoga to support managing burn out and compassion fatigue. (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Crafting wellbeing: Exploring Human Service workers? and organisational managers? views of using creative activities to prevent and address work related stress. (PhD , Secondary Advisor)