Doctoral study in Social Practice
Why study with us?
- Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland demonstrates our commitment to academic excellence and research impact in our impressive global results.
- Ranked 65th the QS World University Rankings, making it New Zealand’s highest ranked university.
- Home to prestigious Social Practice-related centres:
- Postgraduate Research Student Support (PReSS) funding for research expenses.
- A vibrant research community with opportunities to present at domestic and international conferences and support to publish from your study on your journey.
Research opportunities
Our Social Practice research cluster is invested in impactful research that advances holistic wellbeing, equity, and social justice. We produce evidence of complex personal and societal challenges that help shape interventions at local, national, and global levels. Grounded in the unique multicultural landscape of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, we honour our country’s bicultural foundations and relationships with Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa in research partnerships across the globe.
Our research focuses on a range of social contexts and populations. We emphasise collaboration and shared decision-making, frequently partnering with whanau, community, non-government and government organisations. Our work uses diverse critical, pluralistic, structural and applied approaches, methodologies and theoretical foundations.
We are home to a Centre for Community Research and Evaluation (CCRE), dedicated to strengthening social services through collaborative, practice-based research. This Centre enhances our ability to contribute to the advancement of social practice, both locally and globally.
Together, our Social Practice research cluster supports impact in social practice disciplines and organisations, integrating expertise across transdisciplinary groupings to shape a more just and supportive society for all. We welcome collaboration across disciplines on topics of mutual interest related to counselling, social and community leadership, professional supervision, and social work, including migration and forced displacement, youth development, family violence, child protection, gender equity, and sexual and reproductive justice.
Our people
Pursue your topic with us and benefit from exceptional standards of support and supervision from nationally and internationally recognised researchers in the following broad research areas:
Counselling
Social and community leadership
Pat Bullen, Laura Ann Chubb, Christa Fouché, John Fenaughty
Professional supervision
Social work
Allen Bartley, Liz Beddoe, Laura Ann Chubb, Christa Fouché, John Fenaughty, Jay Marlowe, Matt Rankine, Barbara Staniforth, Nicki Weld
Past research topics
'A history of the professionalisation of social work in Aotearoa New Zealand leading to the development and initial implementation of the Social Workers Registration Act 2003' | Supervised by Dr Barbara Staniforth and Professor Liz Beddoe
'Culturally Responsive, Sustaining and Safe Youth Mentoring Practice in Aotearoa New Zealand - A Va Relational Approach' | Supervised by Professor Melinda Webber and Associate Professor Pat Bullen
'Diaspora of Disaffection: Gender role reproduction among trailing wives of Indian skilled professional migrants and its impact on their mental health and wellbeing' | Supervised by Professor Liz Beddoe and Professor Rachel Simon-Kumar
'E fofō e le alamea le alamea: An Indigenous Pasifika Counselling Model for engaging and healing Pacific survivors of sexual violence trauma' | Supervised by Professor Susan Kemp and Associate Professor Tamasailau Suaalii-Sauni
'Facing being on shaky ground: Exploring the concept of courage through older adults' experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes' | Supervised by Professor Christa Fouché and Professor Liz Beddoe
'In Sight and Mind: Virtual-Inclusion Initiatives for Home- or Hospital-Bound (HHB) Young People' | Supervised by Professor Christa Fouché and Laura Chubb
'"Making every individual count in terms of capital production": The strategic use of early prevention sciences in child protection social work policy and practice in Aotearoa' | Supervised by Professor Liz Beddoe and Professor Virginia Braun
'Motivation, Investment, Identity and Habitus: Language Practices and Social Trajectories of Refugee-Background Youth in New Zealand' | Supervised by Professor Gary Barkhuizen and Professor Jay Marlowe
'Negotiating the Capability Imperative: Enacting Disability Inclusion in Medical Education' | Supervised by Professor Janet Gaffney and Professor Jay Marlowe
'Spacetimegenderings: How Trans Secondary Students Matter in Aotearoa New Zealand' | Supervised by Professor Louisa Allen and Professor Marek Tesar
'Storying the past, navigating the present, imagining the future: Being and becoming young social activists in Aotearoa New Zealand' | Supervised by Professor Carol Mutch and Professor Jay Marlowe
'The Nīkau Practice Framework: A focused framework for social work practice with substance use in Aotearoa New Zealand' | Supervised by Dr Barbara Staniforth and Dr Carole Adamson
'Trauma-responsive practice: A qualitative exploration of how child and adolescent mental health services can better meet the needs of care-experienced young people in Aotearoa New Zealand' | Supervised by Dr Barbara Staniforth, Professor Susan Kemp and Dr Helene Connor
'Who Cares About Us? The Hidden Population of Current and Former Aotearoa/New Zealand Young Carers Reflect on Their Experiences' | Supervised by Professor Toni Bruce and Professor Janet Gaffney
'Youth Citizenship and Democracy in Conflict-Affected, Postcolonial States: Relating the Social and the Political in Myanmar' | Supervised by Dr Ritesh Shah and Associate Professor John Fenaughty
Meet a graduate
Dr Eileen Joy is graduate of the Master of Social Work Professional programme and completed her PhD in social work in 2022, "Making every individual count in terms of capital production": The strategic use of early prevention sciences in child protection social work policy and practice in Aotearoa.
Eileen was recently awarded a Royal Society, Te Apārangi, Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowship. Dr Joy is focussing on what sort of evidence counts in social wellbeing policymaking in Aotearoa New Zealand. Of particular concern is what sort of knowledge is privileged and therefore what is sidelined in these processes. Dr Joy is also concerned about the increasing influence of artificial intelligence on knowledge generation, and how Mātauranga Māori is considered by policymakers.
Scholarships and awards
There are several scholarships you may be eligible for when you decide to pursue your doctoral studies in Social Practice.
Contact us
Do you want to chat further about your studies? Contact us using the details below.
Professor Liz Beddoe
Phone: 373 7999 ext 48559 (within Auckland)
0800 61 62 65 (outside Auckland)
+64 9 3737999 ext 48559 (international)
Email: e.beddoe@auckland.ac.nz