Professor Amanda Howard serves as Professor in Social Work and Policy Studies at the University of Sydney, within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, specifically in the Sydney School of Education and Social Work. Her academic career at the University of Sydney includes roles such as Program Director for the Bachelor of Social Work and involvement in undergraduate program direction. Howard's research specializations encompass community development, community-led action research, disasters and climate change, inclusion, social isolation in disaster contexts, post-disaster social work practice, and work with vulnerable groups in community settings. Her fields of research include social work, specialist studies in education, poverty, inclusivity and wellbeing, urban community development, and counselling and wellbeing. She emphasizes communities as complex systems and advocates for community-led strategies in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.

Howard has produced influential publications that advance social work and community practice. Key books include Working with Communities: Critical Perspectives (2011), Rural, Regional and Remote Social Work: Practice Research from Australia (2016), Community-led Research: Walking New Pathways Together (2021), and Social Work and Human Services Responsibilities in a Time of Climate Change: Country, Community and Complexity (2022). Notable journal articles feature “They’ll tell us when to evacuate”: The experiences and expectations of disaster-related communication in vulnerable groups (2017), Post-disaster social work research: A scoping review of the evidence for practice (2022), Older people as assets in disaster preparedness, response and recovery: lessons from regional Australia (2017), and How social isolation affects disaster preparedness and response in Australia: Implications for social work (2018). Her work has contributed to interdisciplinary initiatives, including projects with the Sydney Environment Institute on climate disaster and adaptation, the Halloran Urban Initiative on climate change, place, and mental health, and policy insights on strengthening community engagement in NSW disaster management. Howard participates in editorial teams for Social Work & Policy Studies and delivers seminars such as Why Should Social Workers Care about Climate Change. Her research informs practice in community resilience, disaster management, and social policy in Australia.

Professional Email: amanda.howard@sydney.edu.au