Sipho Sibanda serves as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Social Work and Social Policy at the School of Allied Health, The University of Western Australia. He possesses a strong academic foundation, having obtained his Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work from the University of South Africa in 2022, with a thesis titled "A holistic family reunification services model for children in alternative care." His Master of Social Work in Social Development and Policy, also from the University of South Africa and awarded in 2014, focused on "Challenges faced by social workers working in child protection in implementing the Children’s Act 38 of 2005." Additionally, he holds a Bachelor of Social Work Honours from the University of Zimbabwe, conferred in 2007. Sibanda brings over ten years of experience in tertiary teaching and postgraduate supervision. Prior to his current position, he was a Social Work Practice Lecturer at the University of Pretoria from January 2015 to June 2023. His professional career includes roles such as Social Work Supervisor at Johannesburg Child Welfare, University of South Africa, and University of the Witwatersrand, as well as Social Worker at Germiston Child Welfare, complemented by internships in Zimbabwean organizations.

Sibanda's research specializations cover child protection, foster care, family reunification, out-of-home care, child legislation, social policy, social development, human rights, and social justice. Prominent publications include "Measures to Ensure That Social Workers Render Holistic Family Reunification Services: A South African Perspective" (Children and Society, 2026), "Addressing challenges faced by social workers in providing family reunification services to children in out of home care: a South African perspective" (Practice: Social Work in Action, 2025), "Multi-disciplinary initiatives to rendering services to women survivors of human trafficking in South Africa" (Journal of Social Service Research, 2026), and "A child protection issue: Exploring the causes of school-based violence in South Africa from a bio-ecological systems perspective" (Child Protection and Practice, 2025). He has undertaken consultancies for the South African National AIDS Council, International Labour Organization, and Department of Social Development, influencing child protection policies. Awards include the Academic Honorary Colours and Golden Key Certificate for Academic Excellence, both received in 2014. At UWA, he coordinates units such as Human Rights and Social Justice, supervises PhD students, and is accepting higher degree by research candidates. Sibanda serves on boards of non-profit organizations Future Families and Itsoseng Empowerment Village.

Professional Email: sipho.sibanda@uwa.edu.au