Rate My Professor Hilary Gallagher

Dr. Hilary Gallagher is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Allied Health, Sport and Social Work within Griffith Health at Griffith University. She currently serves as the Program Director for the Master of Social Work/Master of Mental Health Practice and the Graduate Certificate/Diploma of Social Care. Gallagher joined Griffith University in 2016 after serving as Associate Lecturer in Social Work and Social Welfare and Field Education Coordinator at Southern Cross University. Her academic background includes a Diploma in Social Work from the University of Edinburgh, completed between 1998 and 2000, and a PhD focused on Article 19 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). As a qualified social worker eligible for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), she integrates extensive professional practice experience into her teaching and research.

Gallagher's research specializations encompass disability, environment, interprofessional practice, and human rights, with emphases on social justice, natural environments in social work, and rights-based approaches. Her scholarship has garnered 197 citations on Google Scholar. Notable publications include 'International student experiences in Queensland during COVID-19' (International Social Work, 2020, cited by 85), 'Australian Social Work Academics Respond to International Student Needs Arising from COVID-19' (Frontiers in Education, 2021, cited by 40), 'Nature-based interventions in social work practice and education: a scoping review' (International Social Work, 2023, cited by 19), 'Digital stories of self-advocates with intellectual disabilities' (2022, cited by 15), and 'Psychosocial Interventions Situated Within the Natural Environment' (British Journal of Social Work, 2021, cited by 11). She received the 2014 Field Placement Recognition Award alongside colleagues for the Student Hubb project, recognizing innovative student support initiatives. Gallagher also holds an appointment on Griffith University's Human Research Ethics Committee for Health from 14 July 2021 to 31 December 2027, contributing to ethical oversight in research. Her work influences social work education and practice by addressing crises affecting vulnerable populations, promoting inclusive methodologies, and advancing interprofessional and environmentally informed interventions.