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Dissertation
Constructing Disaster and Social Work Perspective in Nepal
Doctor of Philosophy, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
2026
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25907/01100
Abstract
The research sought to broadly examine how the notion of disaster can be incorporated into Nepali social work education, praxis, and research. It also sought to explore disaster-related social works' standpoint, identify existing gaps, and simultaneously develop a model to shape the disaster knowledge as a foundation for informing these domains. Grounded in a social constructivist research paradigm and using a multiple case study design, data were collected through in-depth interviews with 19 social work graduates working across academia (7), practice (7), and research (5) spheres. Participants meeting predefined inclusion criteria were recruited via snowball sampling to ensure rich, relevant insights into lived and professional experiences. The findings indicate that entrenched systemic, structural, and institutional shortcomings severely constrain the foundation, scope and depth of scholarly inquiry into social work and disaster in Nepal. Consequently, these limitations restrict not only the production of comprehensive, innovative, and empirically based disaster knowledge but also the discipline’s capacity to prepare graduates with necessary skills and competencies to address disaster-related demands. Moreover, informed by the research, this gap further exacerbates inequalities, deepens social divisions, and increases disaster vulnerability among marginalised groups who are already disadvantaged by prevailing societal norms, economic hardship, and policy deficiencies. The resultant ‘Social Work and Disaster in Nepal: A Model’ acts as an integrated and transformative force for the development of a disaster-informed social work discipline in Nepal. Furthermore, beyond facilitating a paradigm shift in Nepali social work discipline, the model significantly contributes to enhancing professional competencies within these contexts. In addition, it offers a constructive and comprehensive perspectives of social work in disaster ii landscapes, bridging critical education, practice, and research gaps and thereby strengthening and elevating the visibility of the profession and professionals within both national and international disaster management frameworks.
Details
- Title
- Constructing Disaster and Social Work Perspective in Nepal
- Authors
- Dilip Karki - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Law and Society
- Contributors
- Peter Innes (Principal Supervisor) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Engage Research LabMarcus Bussey (Co-Supervisor) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Sustainability Research Cluster
- Awarding institution
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Degree awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy
- DOI
- 10.25907/01100
- Organisation Unit
- School of Law and Society
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991252796502621
- Output Type
- Dissertation
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