Dr Patrick O'Keeffe
Lecturer
Lecturer
DSC | School of Global, Urban and Social Studies
Social and Global Studies Centre
Email: patrick.okeeffe@rmit.edu.au
Campus: Melbourne City
DSC | School of Global, Urban and Social Studies
Social and Global Studies Centre
Email: patrick.okeeffe@rmit.edu.au
Campus: Melbourne City
Patrick is a lecturer in the Social Work and Human Services Cluster at RMIT University. Patrick works in multidisciplinary fields including political sociology, critical human geography and political economy. Patrick is a very active researcher, as an associate member of the Social and Global Studies Centre. Patrick mentors emerging academics, provides PhD supervision and supervises undergraduate social work students completing internal placements at RMIT. In addition, Patrick has previously worked closely with key student support services at RMIT, including the Compass Drop-In Centre and RUSU.
Patrick’s work also explores the potential for critical approaches to human centred design to be developed and practiced in fields such as social work and youth work. In addition to his research in this area, Patrick has worked with colleagues at RMIT to develop an innovative social work course which is focused on teaching social work students to apply human centred design in program management.
Patrick's research analyses processes of marketisation, privatisation and financialisation and the impacts of these processes on young people who experience social, spatial and economic marginalisation. This research has centred on policy and discourse, in diverse areas such as social services, work and employment activation, identity and citizenship, rurality and agriculture. Patrick also explores young peoples’ resistances to marginalisation, particularly the ways in which young people develop and express agency through place making.
Patrick’s recent research has studied young peoples’ experiences of the Covid-19 pandemic, in connection to key policy decisions implemented by state and federal governments throughout this period. This work analyses restructuring in key sectors and services, including employment, welfare and education, while contributing to the development of alternate approaches which better support young people. This research has been published in numerous high ranking journals, and has been featured by The Conversation, ABC radio and The Australian.
Neoliberalism, Social Policy, Social Services, Future of Work, Economic Inequality, Sociology of Youth, Human Centred Design
Publications
Projects
Citations
Economic and Labour Relations Review, 32(3): 453-471
O’Keeffe, P., and Papadopoulos, A. (2021).
Australian Journal of Social Issues, 0(0): 1-18
O’Keeffe, P., Johnson, B., and Daley, K. (2021).
Ethics and Social Welfare, 15(1): 100-115
O’Keeffe, P., and Nipperess, S. (2021)
Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.
Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.