Dr Kathy Edwards

Research

Kathy's research interests and expertise lie primarily in the areas of gender (women and feminist theory) and youth (youth sociology and youth work). In respect to these areas, Kathy's research traverses theory, policy analysis and empirical research.  

Kathy's PhD research considered 'the body' in feminist theory, she has worked as a Research Associate on an ARC Linkage between the University of Sydney and the NSW Premier's Department investigating the contemporary state of gender equity in the NSW Public Sector and is active in promoting prostitution law reform, an area she has also published in. 

In respect to youth (and youth work) Kathy's crowning achievement is being a co-editor of the SAGE Handbook of Youth Work Practice, a volume in which (reviewers' comments) she also contributed a chapter on youth work and colonialism co-written with a graduate of the youth work program. 

Kathy has also published widely in respect to young people's electoral and political participation. In particular, she has questioned that young people can or should simply be 'educated' towards participatory virtues through Civics and Citizenship education. Instead, she has situated this participation in a broader policy context, considering the effects of neoliberal employment, welfare and housing policies on young people's capacity to participate. She has argued that whilst young people are chastised for a lack of participatory and civic virtue that the state effectively places barriers to their political engagement. In investigating social inclusion, she has argued that social inclusion needs to be rigorously interrogated because it runs the risk either being an empty policy vessel or one that supports neoliberal policies that detrimentally affect young people.

Kathy's emerging research interests intersect with youth and gender (women) as well as her teaching over the last ten years in youth work. These include the experiences of young people in care and workforce sustainability in the human services sector. In particular, she is interested in researching workplace health with respect to compassion fatigue, burnout and  and their impact on turnover. 

Teaching

Kathy has over ten years experience teaching and coordinating courses in youth work at the RMIT. Currently, she teaches in a range of courses in the Social Work and Human Services Cluster. In the Youth Work and Youth Studies program, she introduces students to youth studies in 'Youth Studies One: Theories, Trends and Development and guides students to produce a capstone project in 'Youth Futures and Wicked Problems'. Her passion for policy is reflected in her teaching in 'Policy, Praxis and Programs' and also 'Public Policy', a course taken by students across the Social Work and Human Services cluster. 

As a long-time social activist, Kathy brings a strong commitment to social justice for all to both her teaching and research. She also focuses on bridging the gap between theory and practice, exploring social issues using a theoretical lens and using theory to contextualise, illustrate and explain social issues. In her teaching, she is committed to active learning and on imparting broader-based skills such as critical thinking and the 'how-to' as well as the 'what' aspects of learning. 

Supervision

Kathy has supervised a range of honours theses including on topics as diverse as policy approaches to prostitution, workplace violence, youth participation and de-colonising youth work.

• PhD UNSW (Political Science),  2000

• BA (Hons) (Politics) University of Adelaide, 1989

• BA University of Adelaide, 1988

Professional interests

Kathy is a long-time member of the YACVic Policy Advisory Committee. Her expertise in youth policy has also been recognised by her selection to attend the UN-Backed First Global Forum on Youth Policies in 2015. She is a member of the International Editorial Committee for the Journal of Applied Youth Studies.