Profiles
Catherine Robinson
Catherine Robinson
Associate Professor in Housing and Communities
Room 485 , Social Sciences, Level 4
+61 3 6226 1999 (phone)
Dr Catherine Robinson sees research as a powerful starting point for addressing social injustice.
“I undertake research and advocacy on issues where I think I can make a unique impact on suffering, disadvantage, and injustice, with a particular focus on the experiences of Tasmanians.
“I believe there is great value in the voices and experiences of those who are often ignored, stigmatised or less visible.”
Her research has an overarching focus on the dual needs for housing and support services experienced by those most vulnerable in the Tasmanian community.
“For many, the housing crisis can be solved through access to safe, secure housing. My concern is for those for whom affordable housing is only part of the complex community care response needed, albeit an absolutely crucial one.”
Before arriving at the University of Tasmania, Dr Robinson worked as a social researcher at the Social Action and Research Centre, Anglicare Tasmania. In this role she built a program of research to progress responses to the needs and experiences of Tasmanian children who experience homelessness alone, unaccompanied by a parent or guardian. This work examines the holistic range of assistance implemented to improve the safety and wellbeing of this group of children.
'I doubt I will ever meet more inspiring people than the children and young people who have been brave enough to participate in life story work with me. Their articulate analysis of personal and systemic disadvantage is breath-taking, and we would be a changed society if we really listened to them.”
She has made recommendations on how to meet these vulnerable children’s care and accommodation needs and on how to respond to their lack of access to education and mental health services. She has also advised on how public health responses to COVID-19 – including access to testing, isolation and vaccination – must be tailored to their unique needs.
“I am inspired by the people I research with and by the range of community leaders from whom I have learned a lot about ethical, compassionate but resolute advocacy.”
After six years of research and collaborative advocacy, the Tasmanian Government made a $10 million investment in additional supports for unaccompanied homeless children. New policy focused on addressing homelessness for children under 16 followed – a first for Tasmania.
“Successfully leading the push for these developments alongside others in the community sector has been a career highlight. However, these outcomes remain fragile and will require ongoing monitoring – this is work I will continue at UTAS.”
Catherine is Associate Professor in Housing and Communities, School of Social Sciences and a committed public intellectual and community leader in the areas of homelessness, mental ill-health and child and youth well-being. A sociologist and qualitative social researcher with a broad interest in the relationship between vulnerability, suffering, embodiment, injustice and place, Catherine conducts research and advocacy for impact on social policy and social service design and delivery. Her current work focuses on understanding the experiences and support needs of Tasmanian children and young people who experience complex risk and vulnerability, including unaccompanied homelessness. Catherine is a board member of Homelessness Australia and is also known for her work with Blackfella Films as Series Consultant and Co-Host of the multi-award winning factual documentary series Filthy Rich and Homeless.
Biography
Catherine brings a rich mix of academic and community sector experience to her role at UTAS. Whilst completing her PhD she worked for Oasis, Salvation Army’s youth crisis accommodation facilities in inner-city Sydney. She began her academic career as a Research Fellow with the Urban Frontiers Program, UWS in 2002 where she worked on a large Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute project on homelessness and mental ill-health. From 2003 she spent 13 years at UTS as Lecturer then Senior Lecturer in Social Inquiry, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences where she taught into the Bachelor of Arts (Communication), was Higher Degree Research Coordinator for Communication, and Co-Editor of Emotion, Space and Society.
After relocating home to Hobart, in 2016 Catherine took up a position as social researcher in the Social Action and Research Centre, Anglicare Tasmania. Over 6 years at Anglicare she built a high impact research program on unaccompanied child homelessness and led significant cross-sector collaboration for policy and practice change on under 16s homelessness in Tasmania. Committed to public education on homelessness in Australia, during 2017-2019 she also worked as a consultant with Blackfella Films on three seasons of SBS factual documentary Filthy Rich and Homeless (https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/program/filthy-rich-and-homeless).
Career summary
Qualifications
| Degree | Thesis Title | University | Country | Date awarded | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PhD | Being somewhere: Young homeless people in inner-city Sydney | UNSW | AUS | 2002 | |
Graduate Certification in Higher Education Teaching and Learning | UTS | AUS | 2005 | ||
BA Hons | Creating space, creating self: street-frequenting and subversion | UTAS | AUS | 1998 |
Memberships
Professional practice
- Board Director, Homelessness Australia
- Member, Tasmanian Council of Social Services
- Member, Shelter Tasmania
- Member, Greater Hobart Homelessness Alliance
- Member, Australian Alliance to End Homelessness (AAEH)
- Member, Australian Health, Housing and Homelessness Network (A3HN)
- Member, Editorial Board and Peer Review Panel, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI)
- Member, The Australian Sociological Association (TASA)
Committee associations
- Steering Committee Member, Just Moving On (post-incarceration literacy pilot for parents), Connect 42, Tasmania
Administrative expertise
- Lived expertise inclusion
- External stakeholder management
- Higher Degree Research student coordination
Teaching
Social and cultural theory, sociology of the body, social policy, qualitative research methods, research design, research ethics
Teaching expertise
- Wide breadth of teaching experience across all undergraduate year levels including Honours students, and also Masters coursework and Research Degrees students.
- Experience in unit design across social and cultural theory, qualitative research methodology, and professional placements.
- Experience supporting mature and international students, students experiencing adversity, students with special learning needs and students with caring responsibilities.
- Experience providing collaborative writing workshops for postgraduate students.
Teaching responsibility
- TBC
- Social Policy and Social Problems
- Gender, Culture and Identity
Research Appointments
- Steering Committee Member, Just Moving On (post-incarceration literacy pilot for parents), Connect 42, Tasmania (current)
- Expert Advisor, Review of Unaccompanied Children Under 16 Years Accessing SHS Policy and the Homeless Youth Accommodation Program (HYAP), New South Wales Department of Communities and Justice and Insight Consulting (2021)
- Expert Member, Homeless Children Under 16 Taskforce, Department of Communities, Tasmania (2019)
- Tasmanian Convener, Australian Research Alliance for Children and Young People (ARACY) (2017-2018)
- Expert Advisory Panel Member, Vulnerable Teenagers Review, New South Wales Department of Family and Community Services (2013)
- Steering Committee, Single Homeless Women’s Trauma-Informed Care Project, Vincentian House, St Vincent de Paul, Sydney (2012-2013)
- Panel of Experts and Service Delivery Working Group, New South Wales Department of Family and Community Services (FACS) Going Home, Staying Home Specialist Homelessness Services Reform Program (2012-2013)
- Expert Member, Inaugural New South Wales Premier’s Council on Homelessness (2010-2011).
Research Invitations
Catherine is regularly invited to share her research findings with local, state, national and international organisations at special events, conferences and seminars. Catherine prioritises invitations to speak where there is opportunity to impact community attitudes or contribute to social policy and social service innovation.
Recent invitations include:
- 2021 - ‘#StayHome? The impact of COVID-19 on unaccompanied homeless children in Tasmania’, Anglicare Australia National Conference, Canberra, online.
- 2021 - ‘Rethinking the use of ‘vulnerable’’, Policy conversation, Tasmanian Community of Social Services, Hobart, online.
- 2021 - ‘A public health approach to ending unaccompanied child homelessness in Tasmania’, Communities for Children Conference, Launceston, online.
- 2020 - ‘Without a home and without safe care – What are the solutions for children who experience homelessness alone?’, National Homelessness Conference, AHURI and Homelessness Australia, Melbourne, online.
- 2020 - ‘Dead inside’: Towards better mental health for children who experience homelessness alone, Keynote Address, Mental Health and Homelessness National Symposium, Mental Health Foundation Australia, Hobart.
- 2020 - COVID-19 and the role of public sociology in the community sector, Impacts of 2020 Plenary Panel, TASA Virtual Event, online.
View more on AssocProf Catherine Robinson in WARP
Expertise
Homelessness; child and youth homelessness; violence; complex trauma; child and youth wellbeing; mental ill-health; maternal health; social services; social policy; qualitative research; sensory ethnography; life story research; narrative research; hard-to-reach and vulnerable research populations; research-led advocacy; research impact and mobilization; research ethics and risk management
Collaboration
Catherine has a focus on cross-sector collaboration in her research and in the related impact activities she undertakes. The key starting points for Catherine’s research are often issues being encountered and reported through the frontline work of social services. For example, Catherine has worked with Parramatta Mission to address the issue of single women’s homelessness, with Homeless Person’s Legal Service (NSW) on violence and trauma experienced by rough sleepers, and with Anglicare Tasmania on unaccompanied child homelessness.
In conducting research on widely impacting social issues, Catherine’s research work is always facilitated through the supporting participation of many different organisations, the specific programs of support they deliver, and the clients they serve.
Catherine is acutely aware that research production is only the starting point for the longer-term work of social impact which involves the collaboration of many. Catherine works with a wide range of peak and community service organisations and government agencies to achieve impact from the research she conducts.
If you want to join or contribute to the social impact work Catherine is undertaking or you have a key issue of social injustice and disadvantage you wish to raise, please make contact!
Awards
- 2021 Anglicare Australia National Awards, Commendation for Excellence in Research
- 2018 The Australian Sociological Association (TASA), Sociology in Action Award
- 2017 TASA Sociology in Action Conference Scholarship
- 2012 Raewyn Connell Prize, TASA, for the best first book by an Australian Sociologist
- 2011 UTS Award for Research Excellence through Partnership
- 2009 Inaugural UTS Shopfront Excellence in Community Engagement Award
- 2004 UTS Vice-Chancellor’s Social Justice/Human Rights Award for Staff
Current projects
Catherine is currently drawing across the research evidence base she has created on unaccompanied child homelessness in Tasmania to work closely with Anglicare Tasmania and a range of other organisations to progress policy and practice changes which improve the lives of unaccompanied homeless children in Tasmania. The impacts sought from this suite of research projects include cross-agency policy development, the adoption of a public health approach to ending unaccompanied child homelessness, and improved access to residential care services, education and complex mental health care for unaccompanied homeless children.
https://www.anglicare-tas.org.au/unaccompanied-homeless-children-in-tasmania/
Led by Alan Morris (UTS) Catherine is working on an ARC Linkage project (LP190100074) with a team from UNSW (Hal Pawson, Andrew Clarke) and UQ (Lynda Cheshire, Cameron Parsell) and partner organisations, including Anglicare Tasmania, Shelter NSW, Homelessness NSW, Shelter QLD, Micah Projects, St George Community Housing and Housing Plus Community Housing. The impacts sought from this research project include the more nuanced provision of housing supports to those waiting for social housing, in particular those with priority housing need and needing access to additional or concurrent support services.
https://waitingforsocialhousing.com/
https://www.anglicare-tas.org.au/waiting-for-social-housing/
Fields of Research
- Urban sociology and community studies (441016)
- Social policy (440712)
- Health and community services (420305)
- Social geography (440610)
- Sociological methodology and research methods (441006)
- Applied sociology, program evaluation and social impact assessment (441001)
- Sociology of inequalities (441012)
- Inclusive education (390407)
- Sociology (441099)
- Sociology of family and relationships (441009)
- Counselling, wellbeing and community services (440902)
- Housing policy (440707)
- Social change (441004)
- Urban policy (440714)
- Secondary education (390306)
- Education assessment and evaluation (390402)
- Housing markets, development and management (330403)
- Sociological studies of crime (440214)
- Police administration, procedures and practice (440211)
- Social program evaluation (440903)
Research Objectives
- Homelessness and housing services (230109)
- Expanding knowledge in human society (280123)
- Women's and maternal health (200509)
- Public services policy advice and analysis (230204)
- Disease distribution and transmission (incl. surveillance and response) (200404)
- Provision of health and support services (200399)
- Equity and access to education (160201)
- Youth services (230115)
- Other culture and society (139999)
- Children's services and childcare (230104)
- Crime prevention (230402)
- Families and family services (230107)
- Public health (excl. specific population health) (200499)
- Urban planning (120406)
- Violence and abuse services (230114)
- Social class and inequalities (230112)
- Social structure and health (200207)
- Adolescent health (200501)
- Community health care (200302)
- Expanding knowledge in built environment and design (280104)
Publications
Catherine has a democratized publication strategy, mixing high-quality research publications with high-impact communication about her research. Catherine is past editor of international journal Emotion, Space and Society and also a long-standing and regular contributor to Parity, a professional journal for the homelessness sector in Australia. Her book, Beside One’s Self: Homelessness Felt and Lived (Syracuse University Press) won the Raewyn Connell Prize for the best first book by an Australian Sociologist and she also co-edited (with Chris Chamberlain and Guy Johnson) an introductory text Homelessness in Australia (New South) for a broad audience including policy-makers and practitioners. The high impact of her research monograph series on unaccompanied child homelessness for Anglicare Tasmania has been recognized through several awards, including the Australian Sociological Association’s Sociology in Action Award.
Total publications
52
Journal Article
(26 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Robinson C, 'In defense of vulnerability', Subjectivity ISSN 1755-6341 (2023) [Refereed Article] | |
| 2022 | Connolly T, Moore S, Robinson C, 'Making youth homelessness a priority: calling for a Standalone National Child and Youth Housing and Homelessness Strategy', Parity, 35, (8) pp. 41-42. ISSN 0278-0224 (2022) [Professional, Non Refereed Article] | |
| 2022 | Morris A, Clarke A, Robinson C, Idle J, Parsell C, 'Applying for social housing in Australia - The centrality of cultural, social and emotional capital', Housing, Theory and Society, 40, (1) ISSN 1403-6096 (2022) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1080/14036096.2022.2085169 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 1Web of Science - 1 Co-authors: Morris A; Clarke A | |
| 2022 | Morris A, Robinson C, Idle J, Lilley D, 'Ideal bureaucracy? The application and assessment process for social housing in three Australian states', International Journal of Housing Policy pp. 1-22. ISSN 1949-1247 (2022) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1080/19491247.2022.2132460 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Web of Science - 4 | |
| 2020 | Robinson C, 'Stayhome?: The impact of Covid-19 on unaccompanied homeless children in Tasmania', Parity, 33, (10) pp. 87-89. ISSN 1032-6170 (2020) [Professional, Non Refereed Article] | |
| 2020 | Robinson C, 'Home: a new normal', Parity, 33, (4) pp. 86-87. ISSN 1032-6170 (2020) [Letter or Note in Journal] | |
| 2019 | Robinson C, 'Responding to homelessness in Tasmania', 32, (9) pp. 8-11. ISSN 1032-6170 (2019) [Edited Journal] | |
| 2019 | Robinson C, ''The kids are coming': just access to care for unaccompanied homeless children in Tasmania', Parity, 32, (9) pp. 55-57. ISSN 1032-6170 (2019) [Professional, Non Refereed Article] | |
| 2019 | Robinson C, 'Introduction: end of innocence - Tasmania's search for home', Parity, 32, (9) pp. 8-11. ISSN 1032-6170 (2019) [Professional, Non Refereed Article] | |
| 2018 | Robinson C, 'Misshapen motherhood: placing breastfeeding distress', Emotion, Space and Society, 26 pp. 41-48. ISSN 1755-4586 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.emospa.2016.09.008 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 10Web of Science - 4 | |
| 2018 | Robinson C, 'Unaccompanied teens, trauma and homelessness: who cares?', Parity, 31, (2) pp. 50-52. ISSN 1032-6170 (2018) [Professional, Non Refereed Article] | |
| 2018 | Robinson C, 'Maternal Geographies', Emotion, Space and Society, 26 pp. 31-32. ISSN 1755-4586 (2018) [Contribution to Refereed Journal] | |
| 2017 | Robinson C, 'Highly vulnerable teens: a social justice imperative', Journal of Applied Youth Studies, 2, (2) pp. 61-74. ISSN 2204-9193 (2017) [Refereed Article] | |
| 2017 | Robinson C, 'Maternal geographies', 26 pp. 31-2. ISSN 1755-4586 (2017) [Edited Journal] DOI: 10.1016/j.emospa.2017.09.003 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 2Web of Science - 1 | |
| 2015 | Robinson C, ''Pillar to Post' - Listening to Violence and Homelessness', Parity, 28, (4) pp. 11-13. ISSN 1032-6170 (2015) [Professional, Non Refereed Article] | |
| 2012 | Robinson C, 'Long-term homelessness, long-term trauma', Parity, 25, (5) pp. 21-22. ISSN 1032-6170 (2012) [Professional, Non Refereed Article] | |
| 2009 | Robinson C, 'Homelessness felt', Cultural Studies Review, 15, (1) pp. 167-172. ISSN 1446-8123 (2009) [Refereed Article] | |
| 2006 | Robinson C, Rose S, 'Single homeless women in Western Sydney: a double invisibility', Parity, 19, (5) pp. 6-7. ISSN 1032-6170 (2006) [Professional, Refereed Article] | |
| 2005 | Robinson C, 'Grieving home', Social and Cultural Geography, 6, (1) pp. 47-60. ISSN 1464-9365 (2005) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1080/1464936052000335964 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 45Web of Science - 35 | |
| 2005 | Robinson C, 'Persistent homelessness - persistent trauma', Parity, 18, (7) pp. 4-5. ISSN 1032-6170 (2005) [Professional, Refereed Article] | |
| 2004 | Robinson C, 'Giving voice, or taking it away?: the therapeutic limits of research', Parity, 17, (9) pp. 10-11. ISSN 1032-6170 (2004) [Professional, Refereed Article] | |
| 2003 | Robinson C, 'I've got 33 years of my life to work through!' - understanding iterative homelessness: the case of people with mental disorders', Parity, 16, (3) pp. 14-15. ISSN 1032-6170 (2003) [Professional, Refereed Article] | |
| 2002 | Robinson C, 'Sensing the other: the catch of the surrendering self', Qualitative Research Journal, 2, (2) pp. 3-15. ISSN 1443-9883 (2002) [Refereed Article] | |
| 2002 | Robinson C, ''I Think home is more than a building': young home(less) people on the cusp of home, self and something else', Urban Policy and Research: An Australian and New Zealand Guide to Urban Affairs, 20, (1) pp. 27-38. ISSN 0811-1146 (2002) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1080/08111140220131582 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 37 | |
| 2001 | Robinson C, 'Being somewhere', Space and Culture: The Journal ISSN 1206-3312 (2001) [Refereed Article] | |
| 2000 | Robinson C, 'Creating space, creating self: street-frequenting youth in the city and suburbs', Journal of Youth Studies, 3, (4) pp. 429 - 443. ISSN 1367-6261 (2000) [Refereed Article] |
Book
(2 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Chamberlain C, Johnson G, Robinson C, 'Homelessness in Australia: an Introduction', Council to Homeless Persons, Sydney, Australia, pp. 297. ISBN 9781742234069 (2014) [Edited Book] | |
| 2011 | Robinson C, 'Beside One's Self: Homelessness Felt and Lived', Syracuse University Press, New York, pp. 163. ISBN 9780815632528 (2011) [Authored Research Book] |
Chapter in Book
(4 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Robinson C, 'Reforming the Engagement of Schools with Unaccompanied Homeless Children', Oxford Research Encyclopedias: Education, Oxford University Press, GW Nobli (ed), Oxford, UK, pp. 1-21. ISBN 9780190670238 (2021) [Research Book Chapter] DOI: 10.1093/acrefore/9780190264093.013.1689 [eCite] [Details] | |
| 2015 | Robinson C, 'Breastfeeding Shame and the Birth of the Mother', The Mother - Blame Game, Demeter Press, V Reimer and S Sahagian (ed), Ontario, Canada, pp. 36-51. ISBN 9781926452142 (2015) [Research Book Chapter] | |
| 2014 | Robinson C, 'Trauma: a Cause and Consequence of Homelessness', Homelessness in Australia: an Introduction, Council to Homeless Persons, C Chamberlain, G Johnson and C Robinson (ed), Sydney, Australia ISBN 9781742234069 (2014) [Research Book Chapter] | |
| 2008 | Robinson C, ''Felt homelessness': the Contribution of Qualitative Approaches to Homelessness Research', Qualitative Housing Analysis: An International Perspective, Emerald Publishing Limited, PJ Maginn, S Thompson, and M Tonts (ed), United Kingdom, pp. 91-111. ISBN 9781846639906 (2008) [Research Book Chapter] DOI: 10.1016/S1042-3192(08)10004-0 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 3 |
Other Public Output
(20 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Robinson C, 'Yes, we see you. Why a national plan for homelessness must make thousands of children on their own a priority', The Conversation, Conversation Media Group, Carlton, Victoria, 23 March 2023, pp. 1-8. (2023) [Newspaper Article] | |
| 2022 | Morris A, Clarke A, Parsell C, Robinson C, Idle J, 'Getting onto the wait list is a battle in itself: insiders on what it takes to get social housing', News Article, The Conversation Paperpress Ltd, United Kingdom, 21 June 2022, pp. 1-7. (2022) [Newspaper Article] Co-authors: Morris A; Clarke A | |
| 2022 | Morris A, Robinson C, Idle J, ''I left with the kids and ended up homeless with them': the nightmare of housing wait lists for people fleeing domestic violence', The Conversation, The Conversation Paperpress Ltd, United Kingdom, 05 August 2022, pp. 1-7. (2022) [Magazine Article] | |
| 2022 | Robinson C, 'Better, Bigger, Stronger: Responding to the Mental Health Care Needs of Unaccompanied Homeless Children in Tasmania', Final Report, Anglicare Tasmania, Hobart Tasmania, pp. 1-92. (2022) [Government or Industry Research] | |
| 2020 | Robinson C, '#Stayhome? The impact of COVID-19 on unaccompanied homeless children in Tasmania', Final Report, Anglicare Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, pp. 1-44. (2020) [Government or Industry Research] | |
| 2020 | Robinson C, '#Stayhome? The impact of COVID-19 on unaccompanied homeless children in Tasmania', Interim Report, Anglicare Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, pp. 1-13. (2020) [Government or Industry Research] | |
| 2020 | Robinson C, ''Filthy Rich and Homeless', Series Consultant and On-Screen Co-Host', Factual Documentary Series, Blackfella Films: Season Three 2020, SBS Television, Australia (2020) [Media Interview] | |
| 2018 | Robinson C, 'Outside in: how the youth sector supports the school re-engagement of vulnerable children in Tasmania', Anglicare Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, pp. 1-91. (2018) [Government or Industry Research] | |
| 2018 | Robinson C, 'Talking Point: unsettling truth of Tasmanian child homelessness', Newspaper, The Mercury, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, pp. 1-5. (2018) [Newspaper Article] | |
| 2018 | Robinson C, ''Filthy Rich and Homeless', Series Consultant and On-Screen Co-Host', Factual Documentary Series, Blackfella Films: Season Two 2018, SBS Television, Australia, 1 (2018) [Media Interview] | |
| 2017 | Robinson C, 'Too hard? Highly vulnerable teens in Tasmania', Anglicare Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, pp. 1-143. (2017) [Government or Industry Research] | |
| 2017 | Robinson C, 'SARC's Social Action Series #1: a public health approach to ending unaccompanied child homelessness in Tasmania', Anglicare Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, pp. 1-9. (2017) [Government or Industry Research] | |
| 2017 | Robinson C, 'Who cares? Supported accommodation for unaccompanied children', Anglicare Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, pp. 1-35. (2017) [Government or Industry Research] | |
| 2017 | Robinson C, 'Talking Point: highly vulnerable teens in Tasmania are an issue beyond politics', Too many young people are slipping through the net, The Mercury, Hobart, Tasmania, pp. 1-4. (2017) [Newspaper Article] | |
| 2017 | Robinson C, 'Homelessness: the real housing crisis gripping Australia', Newspaper, SBS News, Sydney, Australia, pp. 1-5. (2017) [Newspaper Article] | |
| 2017 | Robinson C, 'Comment: why 'Filthy Rich & Homeless' enables the homeless to tell their own stories', Newspaper, SBS News, Sydney, Australia, pp. 1-3. (2017) [Newspaper Article] | |
| 2017 | Robinson C, ''Filthy Rich and Homeless', Series Consultant and On-Screen Co-Host', Factual Documentary Series, Blackfella Films: Season One 2017, SBS Television, Australia (2017) [Media Interview] | |
| 2010 | Robinson C, 'Rough Living Surviving Violence & Homelessness', A Partnership Project of Public Interest Advocacy Cenre (PIAC) and UTS Shopfront, UTSePress, Sydney, Australia, 6, pp. 1-64. (2010) [Government or Industry Research] | |
| 2006 | Robinson C, Searby R, 'Accommodation in Crisis: Forgotten Women in Western Sydney', UTS Shopfront, Sydney, Australia, pp. 1-37. (2006) [Government or Industry Research] | |
| 2003 | Robinson C, 'Understanding iterative homelessness: the case of people with mental disorders', Final report, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, Australia, pp. 1-46. (2003) [Government or Industry Research] |
Grants & Funding
For much of her career Catherine has undertaken smaller-scale or commissioned research (Category 2 funding) in order to deliver responsive, timely research and to manage part-time work, multiple career breaks and caring responsibilities. As these responsibilities have evolved and she has returned to the university sector, Catherine now has scope to undertake larger scale Category 1 funded projects. She is currently CI (with Alan Morris, Hal Pawson, Andrew Clarke, Lynda Cheshire, Cameron Parsell) on an ARC Linkage ($277K) exploring the lived experience of waiting for social housing.
If you have ideas for either commissioned research or large grant funding that you would like to explore with Catherine, please get in touch.
Funding Summary
Number of grants
7
Total funding
Projects
- Description
- Through an investigation of need, service gaps and strengths, and a review of national and international evidence of effective service design, this project identifies whats needed and what works for a strategic continuum of supported accommodation provision for unaccompanied children and young people aged 12-24 who experience homelessness in Australia.
- Funding
- Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute ($153,142)
- Scheme
- National Housing Research Program
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Robinson C; Hobbs C; Thoars C; Stone W; Batterham D; McGregor J
- Period
- 2024 - 2025
- Description
- This project will evaluate the appropriateness and effectiveness of a pilot care model for unaccompanied homeless children in southern Tasmania.
- Funding
- Department for Education, Children and Young People ($49,500)
- Scheme
- Tender
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Robinson C; Glennie MA; Hobbs C; Kelleher VA
- Period
- 2024 - 2025
- Description
- The project will provide a review of the public health responses to homelessness and the collaboration between public health agencies and homelessness services during the COVID-19 pandemic. It will recommend how engagement between public health and homelessness services can be strengthened into the future.
- Funding
- Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute ($145,783)
- Scheme
- National Housing Research Program
- Administered By
- University of New South Wales
- Research Team
- Hartley C; Robinson C; Batterham D; Mason C; Valentine K; Barnes E; Green C
- Year
- 2023
- Description
- This is project is a qualitative exploration of womens experiences of homelessness during pregnancy in Tasmania, including experiences seeking housing, health and social services. Informed by social work practice experience of the researcher in child protection and homelessness services, this project will draw on emerging evidence of service innovation, and produce new place-based empirical evidence to explore the housing, health and social service innovation that can best meet the needs of this group in Tasmania.
- Funding
- Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute ($21,000)
- Scheme
- Scholarship-Top-Up
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Robinson C; Kostecki KC; Flanagan KM
- Period
- 2023 - 2025
- Description
- This doctoral thesis will explore policing approaches to reducing homelessness and crime. Focusing on housing instability and homelessness as crucial issues in desistance from crime, key areas to explore include cross-agency collaboration and increasing police awareness of housing support. The thesis will also consider the implementation of desistance and housing strategies in policy.
- Funding
- Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute ($21,000)
- Scheme
- Scholarship-Top-Up
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Robinson C
- Period
- 2022 - 2024
- Description
- This doctoral thesis investigates the intersection of homelessness and educational detachment, and examines how multi-agency responses could best be coordinated to both reduce children and young people's risk of homelessness and support re-engagement in education.
- Funding
- Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute ($21,000)
- Scheme
- Scholarship-Top-Up
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Robinson C
- Period
- 2022 - 2024
- Description
- The primary aim is to understand the lived experience and impacts of waithood on waitees, including trajectories into and out of this situation. The five additional aims are to: 1. Conduct a national review of social housing waiting-list assessment, decision-making and waitee interaction procedures. 2. Use administrative data to profile the waitee population with a focus on their housing, health, employment, financial situation, household characteristics and wait-times. 3. Examine the process by which social housing offers are made and taken up by waitees. 4. Investigate the impacts on waitees of moving from a situation of waithood into a social housing property. 5. Through investigating and analysing the impacts of waithood, provide an evidence base to inform social housing policy and practice.
- Funding
- Australian Research Council ($277,600)
- Scheme
- Grant-Linkage Projects
- Administered By
- University of Technology Sydney
- Research Team
- Morris A; Pawson H; Clarke A; Parsell C; Cheshire L; Idle J; Robinson C
- Period
- 2020 - 2022
- Grant Reference
- LP190100074
Research Supervision
Catherine has experience in collaborative and cross-disciplinary HDR supervision and will be building opportunities for higher degree research students interested in theoretically and methodologically innovative projects which contribute to social impact, in particular in the areas of homelessness, childhood adversity, maternal adversity, violence and complex trauma.
Catherine has particular strengths in qualitative research, including ethnography and conducting research with hard-to-reach and vulnerable populations. She wants to work with higher degree research students on a mission to address social injustice and suffering and who focus on the value of lived experience or who bring lived experience to their scholarship.
Current
3
Current
| Degree | Title | Commenced |
|---|---|---|
| PhD | Exploring the system-level and service delivery needs of students impacted by developmental trauma | 2022 |
| PhD | Evidence-based policing: The role of police in promoting desistance and diverting vulnerable people from the criminal justice system | 2022 |
| PhD | Mothering in Homelessness: The health and housing needs of pregnant and new mothers experiencing homelessness | 2023 |