University of Tasmania, Australia

Professor Sandy Taylor

Program Director, Social Work
Professor of Social Work

Contact Details

Discipline : Social Work

UTAS Web Access Research Portal (WARP) - lists Sandy's funded projects, graduate research supervision and publication information.

Career Summary

Sandra is Professor and Head of Social Work in the School of Sociology and Social Work. She has long standing professional social work experience in the health area including genetic services, community health, mental health, disability, aged care and rehabilitation services and acute hospital services, primarily in New South Wales and Tasmania. Sandra has published widely in the health and genetics area and maintains strong research interests in health-related areas and health care practice as well as social, ethical and legal aspects of human genetic technologies. Recent Australia Research Council-funded projects include a collaborative investigation of genetic discrimination in Australia and a study relating to gender and genetic risk.

Since taking up her position in Social Work at the University of Tasmania, Sandra has successfully overseen a review of the Bachelor of Social Work program and the introduction of a new professional qualifying Master of Social Work program. These programs are now accessible to potential students across all regions of Tasmania. In 2010, Sandra also led a successful bid for significant funding from Health Workforce Australia to support sustainable growth in social work at the University of Tasmania.

Selected Recent Research Grants

• 2008: Community perceptions regarding accessibility and health care in Central Queensland: A preliminary study Population Research Grant, Centre for Social Science Research, Central Queensland University ($15,000)
• 2006: Community attitudes regarding genetic health and genetic risk Population Research Grant Centre for Social Science Research, Central Queensland University ($15,000)
• 2006: A pilot project regarding mentoring and support of fieldwork education in social work in Central Queensland, Faculty Research Grant, Central Queensland University ($5000)
• 2005: Gender and genetic risk: Exploring how men and women conceptualise and experience genetic risk in the Australian context Australian Research Council Discovery Grant, University of Queensland ($123,000)
• 2001: Genetic discrimination in Australia: an exploration of the nature and extent of the phenomenon within the legal and social context Australian Research Council Discovery Grant University of Queensland ($266,349)

Research Interests

• Health, illness, risk and genetic risk
• Social, legal, ethical and policy issues associated with predictive genetic testing
• Gender and health
• Health policy, professional practice and service provision
• Community, rural health, social inclusion
• Public health genetics
• The sociology of health and illness
• The sociology of science and technology

Units

• HGW702 - Context of Social Work Practice