Biography
Lena Dominelli, Professor of Applied Social Sciences and Academician in the Academy of the Learned Societies for Social Sciences, is an experienced educator, practitioner and researcher and has published extensively in the fields of sociology, social policy and social work. She argues passionately for the realisation of human freedom from social inequalities and injustices in her writings, policymaking forums and communities seeking to change their social and physical environments. Her current research interests include: climate change and environmental social work; globalisation; social and community development; social change; women’s well being and welfare; motherhood; fatherhood; child well-being and children’s rights. Amongst her most recent books are: Introducing Social Work (2009); Broadening Horizons: International Exchanges in Social Work (edited with W Thomas Bernard, 2003); Social Work: Theory and Practice in a Changing Profession (2004); Social Work; Critical Practice in Social Work; and Practising Social Work in a complex worl; (edited with R Adams and M Payne, 2009); Anti-Racist Social Work (2008); Women and Community Action (2006). She has received accolades for her contributions to social welfare in the international arena, including a medal from the Social Affairs Committee of the French Senate. Lena has served in various influential offices, including being President of the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW), 1996 to 2004, leading the organisation into a closer collaboration with the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) that produced the joint international definition of social work, ethics document and global qualifying standards; and working with IFSW and the International Council of Social Welfare to increase the voice of social work internationally and in civil society. She is currently IASSW’s Liaison Officer for the United Nations and Past President.
Previous Funded Research
Lena Dominelli has recently completed projects on Connecting Communities, funded by SEEDA and the Hampton Trust; Sure Start Evaluation funded by KIDZ; Globalisation and Social Work Practice funded by H Newby; and Child Abuse, Protection and Welfare funded by the EU; Young Mothers' Project funded by SSHRC.
Celebrating Women's Achievements
The outreach activities being conducted by Professor Dominelli in the Gilesgate area of Durham involved the celebration of women's achievements during International Women's Day. Two women from the community, Margaret Laing and Rachel Barker, were awarded silver salvers for their contributions to the community on the Sherburn Road Estate over many years. In the photo, in order from left to right are The Hon Roberta Blackman-Wood (MP for Durham City), Margaret Laing (Awardee), Rachel Barker (Awardee), Jackie Graham (Community Worker and Manager of the Laurel Avenue Community Centre) and Professor Lena Dominelli (Durham University). Many thanks go to Krysia Johnson (IHRR) and Joanne Hare (SASS) who helped with the event.
Sichuan Earthquake Area
Lena Dominelli in front of a landslide in Wenchuan County with Yuchen Han who acted as interpreter during her visit to the Sichuan earthquake stricken area.
Lena gave the following papers during this trip at: the University of Beijing one entitled 'Capacity Building in Times of Disaster: Lessons from the Sri Lankan Tsunami of 2004' on 8 May 09; another entitled 'Community Development Initiatives Following the 12 May 2008 Earthquake: Reflections on the Social Work Stations in Sichuan Province' at Sichuan University on 12 May 2009; and one entitled 'Empowering Local Communities: The Gilesgate Project' at Southwest Petroleum University on 14 May 2009
Social Work in Times of Disaster Conference
On 24th April 2008, Lena Dominelli hosted the 'Social Work in Times of Disaster Conference' at St Aidan's Collge. It had presenters from Sri Lanka, Slovenia, Canada, India, China and the UK. Of major concern to those presenting was how to develop a curriculum on social work interventions during disaster situations for both immediate relief and long-term reconstruction in affected communities and how these could benefit from multi-disciplinary approaches. The School of Applied Social Sciences and the Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience Research was also present amongst the participants.
Young People from Laurel Avenue
Lena Dominelli organised a day's activities for young people from the Sherburn Road Estate to enjoy at the University on 22 May 2009. Her aim was to encourage young people to think of the University as a place where they can come to study, meet other people and explore wider opportunities in life. They began the day by meeting the Vice-Chancellor and concluded it with a visit to Van Mildert College to get a sense of the University in all its guises. In-between these events, the group visited University College (the Castle), Durham Cathedral (where graduation ceremonies are held), the School of Applied Social Sciences, the Oriental Museum, and the Institute for Hazard and Risk Research. Many thanks go to Maurice Tucker, Craig Bellamy, Nick Rosser, Becky Townson, James Reevell and Anne Marron for making their day a memorable one. Thanks also to Jackie Graham, Simon Hackett, Patrick O'Mara, Stuart Lane and Elizabeth Oswald for their contributions to the success of this community venture.
Citizenship, Diversity and Change: Promoting Inclusion in Social Work Interventions with Socially Excluded Groups
Globalisation, migratory movements and cultural diversity within nation-states are creating major challenges for social work practice amongst socially excluded groups. The exclusion of certain groups from enjoying the benefits of citizenship associated with a particular nation-state create ethical dilemmas for social workers if diversity within a particular geographical location has been poorly handled. Social work students, practitioners and faculty from the University of Durham (The UK), Copenhagen School of Social Work (Denamrk), University of Victoria (Canada)and Dalhousie University (Canada)will explore this phenomenon by examining research on the topic and providing opportunities for students to take assessed practice placements overseas that promote best practice amongst social excluded groups. Amongst these will be Indigenous peoples (First Nations, Inuit, Métis) of Canada and Greenland (Inuit), black and minority ethnic (BME)groups in the UK, Denmark and Canada. The Project is funded through the EU-Canada Cooperation in Higher Education Programme.
Publications
Books: authored
Dominelli, L. 2009. Introducing Social Work. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Dominelli, L. 2008. Anti-Racist Social Work. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Dominelli, L. 2007. Revitalising Communities in a Globalising World. Ashgate.
Dominelli, L. 2006. Women and Community. Action Policy Press.
Dominelli, L. 2005. Social Work Futures: Crossing Boundaries, Transforming Practice.
Dominelli, L. 2004. Social Work: Theory and Practice for a Changing Profession. Oxford: Polity Press.
Dominelli, L. 2002. Anti-Oppressive Social Work Theory and Practice. Palgrave.
Dominelli, L. 2002. Feminist Social Work Theory and Practice. Palgrave.
Books: edited
Dominelli, L. & Bernard, W. Thomas. 2003. Broadening Horizons: International Exchanges in Socal Work. Aldershot: Ashgate.
Dominelli, L., Adams, R. & Payne, M. 2002. Critical Practice in Social Work. London: Palgrave.
Dominelli, L., Adams, R. & Payne, M. 2002. Social Work: Critical Issues: Dilemmas and Debates,. Macmillan.
Books: sections
Dominelli, L. 2008. Group Work: A Critical Addition to the Social Work Repertoire. In Comprehensive Handbook of Social Work and Social Welfare. Rowe, W. & Rapp-Paglicci, L.A. Hobocken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons, Inc. 3, Social Work Practice: 473-487.
Dominelli, L. 2008. Racism, Scarcity and Social Cohesion. In Ethnicitė en Europe. Boucher, M. & Belqasmi, M. 461-481.
Dominelli, L. 2007. An Interview of Christine Labonte and Lena Dominelli by Jelka Zorn. In Ethnicity in Eastern Europe: A Challenge for Social Work Education. Zaviršek, D, Zorn, J., Rihter, L. & Žnidarec Demšar, S. Ljubljana: Faculty of Social Work, University of Ljubljana. 254 -267.
Dominelli, L. 2007. Challenges in Internationalising Social Work Curricula. In Revitalising Communities in a Globalising World. Dominelli, L. Aldershot: Ashgate. 375-382.
Dominelli, L. 2007. Conclusion. In Revitalising Communities in a Globalising World. Dominellie, L. Aldershot: Ashgate. 383-386.
Dominelli, L. 2007. Globalising Communities: Players and Non-Players. In Revitalising Communities in a Globalising World. Dominelli.L. Aldershot: Ashgate. 7-16.
Dominelli, L. 2007. Human Rights in Social Work Practice: An Invisible Part of the Social Work Curriculum? In Challenges in Human Rights: A Social Work Perspective. Reichert, E. New York: Columbia University Press. 16-43.
Dominelli, L. 2007. Multi-Ethnic Europe: Diversity and the Challenges of 'Race', Racism, Ethnicity and Nationalism. In Ethnicity in Eastern Europe: A Challenge For Social Work Education. Zaviršek, D, Zorn, J., Rihter, L. & Žnidarec Demšar, S. Ljubljana: Faculty of Social Work, University of Ljubljana. 19 -39.
Dominelli, L. 2007. Revitalising Communities: Introduction. In Revitalising Communities in a Globalising World. Dominelli, L. Aldershot: Ashgate. 3-6.
Dominelli, L. 2007. Social Services. In The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology. Ritzer, G. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. 4521 - 4525.
Dominelli, L. 2007. The Postmodern Turn in Social Work: The Challenges of Identity and Equality. In Reframing the Social: Social Work and Social Policy in Europe. Seibel, F.W., Hans-UWE, O. & Friesenhahn, G.J. Boskcovice, CR: Verlag Albert and ECSPRESS. 361 - 388.
Dominelli, L. 2006. Dangerous Constructions: Black Offenders in the Criminal Justice System. In Constructive Work with Offenders. Gorman, K., Gregory, M., Hayles, M & Parton, N. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers Ltd. 123-140.
Dominelli, L. 2006. Racialised Identities: New Challenges for Social Work Education. In Social Work in Europe. Lyons, K. & Lawrence, S. Birmingham: BASW/Venture Press. 145-165.
Conference proceedings
Dominelli, L. (2003). Analysing Gendered Relations in Social Work: Insights from Feminist Social Work Theory and Practice. Oslo, Hogskolen I Oslo., (Additional information)
Essays in edited volumes
Dominelli, L. 2004. Practising Social Work in a Globalising World. In Social Work Around the World III. Tan, Ngoh-Tiong & Rowlands, Allison Berne: International Federation of Social Workers. 151-173.
Journal papers: academic
Dominelli, L. & Holloway, M. 2008. Ethics and Governance in Social Work Research in the UK. British Journal of Social Work 38(5): 1009-1024.
Dominelli, L. 2008. Más allá análisis de la pobreza: narratives desatendidas en el pensamiento marxista (Beyond poverty analysis: Unheard narratives in Marxist though. Comments on José Paul Netto's Plenary Presentation on Challenges to the Contemporary Social Order. Revista Trabajo Social 74: 47-50.
Dominelli, L. 2008. Reconfiguranda a los padres: Análisis de estudio locales desde una perspective internacional (Reconfiguring Fathers: Interrogating local studies in international arena). Revista Trabajo Social 74: 107-116.
Dominelli, L. 2007. Contemporary Challenges to Social Work Education in the United Kingdom. Australian Social Work 60(1): 29-45.
Dominelli, L. 2005. Community Development Across Borders. International Social Work 48(6): 702-713.
Dominelli, L. 2005. Community Development Across Borders. International Social Work 48(6).
Dominelli, L. 2005. Crossing International Divides: Language and Communication within International Settings. Social Work Education 23(5): 515-525.
Dominelli, L., Callahan, M., Rutman, D. & Strega, S. 2005. Endangered Children: Experiencing and Surviving the State as Failed Parent and Grandparent. British Journal of Social Work 35(7): 1123-1144.
Dominelli, L., Strega, S., Callahan, M. & Rutman, D. 2005. Endangered Children: The State as Failed Parent and Grandparent. British Journal of Social Work 35(7): 1123-1144.
Dominelli, L., Callahan, M., Rutman, D. & Strega, S. 2005. Endangered Children: The State as Parent and Grandparent. British Journal of Social Work 35(7): 1123-1144.
Dominelli, L. 2005. Ovira Kot Spolno Specifič Izkuŝnja [Gendering Disability]. Socialno Delo 44(1-2): 17-28.
Dominelli, L. 2005. Social Inclusion in Research: Reflecting on a Research Project Involving Young Mothers in Care. International Journal of Social Welfare 14(1): 13-22.
Dominelli, L. 2005. Social Inclusion in Research: Reflecting on a Research Project Involving Young Mothers in Care. International Journal of Social Welfare
Dominelli, L. 2005. Social Inclusion in Research: Reflecting on a Research Project on Young Mothers in Care. International Journal of Social Welfare 14(1): 13-23.
Dominelli, L. 2005. The Challenges of Globalisation and Harmonisation on Europen Social Work. Revista Lusόfona de Ciências Sociais, Special Edition, Serviço Social em Contexto de Globalização 2: 39-50.
Dominelli, L. 2004. Cittadinanza e globalizzazione: le professioni sociali nel mondo globale [Citizenship and Globalisation: The Social Professions in a Globalising World]. Lavoro Sociale 4(1): 7-22.
Dominelli, L. 2004. Crossing International Divides: Language and Communications within International Settings. Social Work Education 23(5): 515-525.
Dominelli, L. 2004. Genderno neitralno? Zhenskii opyt invalidnosti. [Gender neutral? Women's experience of disability]. Zhurnal Issledovanii Sotsialnoi Politiki [Russian Journal of Social Policy Studies] 2(1): 29-52.
Dominelli, L., Callahan, M., Rutman, D. & Strega, S. 2002. Undeserving Mothers: Social Policy and Disadvantaged Mothers. Canadian Review of Social Policy/Revue Cannadienne De Politique Sociale 49-50: 175-197.
Dominelli, L., Rutman, D., Strega, S. & Callahan, M. 2002. Undeserving Mothers? Practitioners' Experience Working with Young Mothers in/from Care. Child and Family Social Work 7: 149-159.