Dr Kathryn Daley

Dr Kathryn Daley is a Senior Lecturer in Youth Work and Youth Studies and the co-theme lead of the Homelessness and Housing Insecurity research program in the Social Equity Research Centre (SERC).

Kathryn is an academic with a background as a practitioner, having worked in direct service provision and in research and policy in the non-for-profit sector. Her work is focused on improving the wellbeing of people living on the margins. She aims to do this through undertaking social research and using that to advocate for better funding, policies and practice for those who are unfairly impacted by social and structural inequity.

Kathryn enjoys teaching the next generation of youth workers and other welfare professionals, and teaches courses in alcohol and other drug interventions, advanced youth work practice, youth work ethics, and a course on critical understandings of youth ‘wellbeing’.

Kathryn has held various leadership roles in the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies,  including the manager of the Research Training Unit, Program Manager of the Bachelor of Social Science (Honours), Program Manager of the Bachelor of Youth Work and Youth Studies and member of both the Human Research Ethics Committee and the College Human Ethics Advisory Network.

She is a member of the Women’s Correctional Services Advisory Committee, a Board Member of the Professional Association of Lecturers of Youth and Community Work, and a theme leader in the Social Equity Research Centre.

Kathryn’s current work is focused on patterns of service use in homelessness services, the ethics of using social media for research purposes, and best practice for youth workers applying a trauma-informed approach. She has previously focused on gender, substance abuse and self-injury, among other areas.

In addition to her academic work, Kathryn has extensive background in applied work. She has developed resources for the Youth AOD Toolbox and the Youth Drugs and Alcohol Advisory service (YoDAA). Kathryn co-led the first Statewide Youth Needs Census with Dr Jozica Kutin.

Kathryn is very interested in universities working more collaboratively with frontline services and policy makers, and is always keen to be contacted about this.  

• Doctor of Philosophy (Social Science), RMIT
• Bachelor of Social Science (Hons 1st Class), RMIT
• Bachelor of Social Science (Psych), RMIT
• Diploma of Clinical Pilates
• Certificate IV in Pilates
• Advanced Diploma in Yoga Teacher Training (Due to complete 2024)