Dyann Ross

Dr Dyann Ross's biography

Qualifications:

• Foundations of University Teaching (University of the Sunshine Coast, UniSC) 2020
• Doctor of Philosophy – Interdisciplinary (Edith Cowan University, ECU) 2002 [Title: Enacting my theory and practice of an ethic of love in social work education]
• Master of Social Welfare Administration and Planning (University of Queensland) 1988 [Title of research component: Re-working social work: an empowering approach]
• Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (University of Tasmania) 1980
• Bachelor of Arts (University of Tasmania) 1975.

Professional experience:

• tertiary teaching, research and writing
• professional supervision of human service and social workers
• social work practice in community and mental health
• allied health and multi-disciplinary mental health workforce staff training, course design and development for government and non-government agencies
• program design for community-based services
• private counselling
• facilitation of community meetings and forums
• trouble shooting in mining industry/community relations, project management for community projects
• research linked support for agencies in periods of change/crisis.

Types of research undertaken:

• ethnographic, investigative and exploratory research
• nationally politically sensitive critical participatory action research - mining operations impacts on local communities and environments
• program evaluations
• feasibility studies
• strategic planning and vision searches
• organisational analyses
• needs analysis of communities undergoing change
• industry training design packages
• partnership model development
• community consultation model development
• market research

Most recent research:

Development of a multi-media app for people at risk of being secluded and restrained in a mental health facility. This UniSC funded research was undertaken with a cross-disciplinary team which included researchers with a lived experience of being secluded and restrained and First Nation experts. The resource provides guidance on the value of Advanced Health Directives and how they can reduce risk of being secluded and restrained, and how to complete them. The link to the resource is here:

https://wedge-octopus-z5d3.squarespace.com/

It is being offered to relevant mental health agencies and groups for inclusion on their websites.

Publications

Books:

1. Ross, D. (2023). Broken-heartedness: Toward love in professional practice. Brisbane: Revolutionaries.
2. Ross, D., Brueckner, M., Palmer. M. & Eaglehawk, W. (Eds.). (2020). Eco-activism and social work: New directions in leadership and group work. London: Routledge.
3. Ross, D. (2020). The revolutionary social worker: The love ethic model. Brisbane: Revolutionaries.
4. Ross, D. (2020). The revolutionary social worker: Love ethic companion. Brisbane: Revolutionaries.
5. Brueckner, M. & Ross, D. (2010). Under corporate skies: A struggle between people, place and profit. Fremantle: Fremantle Press.

Examples of articles:

1. Ross, D., Gates, T., Bennett, B., & Greene, K. (2024). Transformational learning and agency for professional identity development: First year social work student retention and wellbeing. Social Work Education. Impact factor = 1.5 (Q1 Social Sciences/Q2 Social Work - Impact factor 1.58).
2. Ross, D., Couche, M., Connolly, J., & Bennett, B. (2023). Emotional wellbeing as a matter of relationships and love: Insights for social work from mental health peer mentor trainees, carers and practitioners. Social Work in Mental Health. DOI: 10.1080/15332985.2023.2195521
3. Ross, D. (2022). bell hooks’s legacy and social work: A distillation of her key ideas about love and some implications for social work practice, The British Journal of Social Work. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcac127 Impact factor = 2.352 (Q1 Social Work).
4. Ross, D. (2020). ‘Towards coercion free, trauma-informed care in Australian adult mental health services: Strategies for social workers’. Social Work and Mental Health. 18: 5, pp. 536-553. DOI 10.1080/15332985.2020.1801552. (Q2 Social Sciences/Q3 Social Work - Impact factor 1.15)  

Examples of book chapters:

1. Bennett, B., Baines, D., Gates, T. G., Ortega, D. Ravulo, J., Ross, D., Zhaohui, S., & Evans, K. (2023). Acting with intentional dissent as minorities: Opportunities and challenges in the higher education. In: Majumdar, K., Baikady, R., D'Souza, A.A. (eds) Indigenization Discourse in Social Work. Springer  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37712-9_3
2. Lathouras, T. & Ross, D. (2022). 'Promoting Diversity and Inclusion Case Study 5 - Australia: Challenging Racism - the Case of Benarrawa Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Solidary Group', in International Community Development Practice, McConnell, C, Muia, D & Clarke, A (eds.), Routledge, New York, pp. 190-193.
3. Woodley, M. & Ross, D. (2021). First Nation leaders’ lessons on sustainability and the environment for social work. In B. Bennett (Ed.). Aboriginal fields of practice (pp. 216-228). London, UK: Red Globe Press.
4. Ross, D., Bennett, B. & Menyweather, N. (2021). Towards a critical posthumanist social work: Trans-species ethics of ecological justice, nonviolence and love. In B. Pease & V. Bozalek (Eds.). Post-anthropocentric social work: Critical posthumanism and new materialist perspectives (pp. 175-186). London: Routledge.

Examples of podcasts:

1. Ross, D. (Jan. 10, 2022). Love is the answer, violence is the problem. https://thelovetheorist.substack.com/p/9-love-is-the-answer-violence-is
2. Ross, D. (Jan. 11, 2023). Broken-heartedness: Towards love in professional practice.https://thelovetheorist.substack.com/p/broken-heartedness-towards-love-in
3. Ross, D. (Jan. 17, 2023). The art of loving by Erich Fromm.https://thelovetheorist.substack.com/p/10-the-art-of-loving-by-erich-fromm
4. Ross, D. (Feb. 5, 2023). Broken-heartedness and why it is a justice issue requiring loving actions. https://thelovetheorist.substack.com/p/broken-heartedness-and-why-it-is
5. Ross, D. (Feb. 10, 2023). When care turns to torture. https://thelovetheorist.substack.com/p/12-when-care-turns-to-torture

Areas for potential research projects for HDR and Honours students

1. Theory development and practice implications of ethics of love, nonviolence and eco-justice (social, species and environmental)
2. Issues of coercion, seclusion nd restraint in mental health systems
3. Organisational and workplace violence in the human services
4. Community voice in mining industry conflict where there are adverse socio-cultural and environmental impacts
5. Social work curriculum initiatives - immersive technologies, simulation, case studies and new areas of content - eco-social work; species and environmental justice and love theory.

Currently, Dyann's teaching areas are:

• Ethics & Law in the Helping Profession
• Context Responsive Practice in Social Work

Awards

• Author of four contributions in Year's Most Outstanding Business Reference Sources announced by RUSA's Business Reference and Services Section (BRASS);
• Ross, D. (2015). Award in recognition of participation in the Blended Learning Early Adopters 2015, USC, School of Social Sciences.
• Shortlisted, Blake Dawson (Ashurst) Business Literary Award 2010 for Brueckner, M. & Ross, D. (2010). Under corporate skies: A struggle between people, place and profit, Fremantle Press, Fremantle WA.
• Ross, D. (2010). Sunshine Coast Mental Health Service Executive Award
• Ross, D. (2004). Award of Excellence, Edith Cowan University Faculty of Regional Professional Studies Research Supervisor of the Year, 2004.

Expert media commentary

Dr Dyann Ross's areas of expertise include trauma-informed approaches to mental health care; harm caused by seclusion and restraint, domestic violence and all forms of interpersonal and workplace violence, including bullying and scapegoating, and how to address these issues.