Mr. Patrick O'Keeffe
Senior Lecturer, Youth Work
Details
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College: School of GUSS
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Department: School of GUSS
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Campus: City Campus Australia
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patrick.okeeffe@rmit.edu.au
Open to
- Media enquiries
- Masters Research or PhD student supervision
About
Patrick is a critical, creative and innovative educator and researcher, who is focused on working towards a more equitable society.
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 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.
Media
Supervisor projects
- Investigate innovations to practice implemented during the pandemic of 2020 and 2021 by RMIT social work industry partner agencies.
- 23 Feb 2022
Teaching interests
Supervisor interest areas
Social Policy
Social Services
Employment Activation
Neoliberalism
Sociology of Youth
Social Work
Research interests
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.
Research keywords
Neoliberalism, Social Policy, Social Services, Future of Work, Economic Inequality, Sociology of Youth, Human Centred Design
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.
Research keywords
Neoliberalism, Social Policy, Social Services, Future of Work, Economic Inequality, Sociology of Youth, Human Centred Design
