Rate My Professor Glenn Woods

Dr. Glenn Woods is a Lecturer in the School of Human Services and Social Work within Griffith Health at Griffith University’s Gold Coast campus. His academic career at Griffith University encompasses teaching, research, and supervision in human services and social work, with a particular emphasis on Indigenous perspectives and intercultural practices. Woods earned his PhD from Griffith University in 2024, under the principal supervision of Professor Naomi Sunderland and associate supervision of Professor Patrick O’Leary. His doctoral thesis explored the potential of Indigenous Australian teaching and learning practices within tertiary coursework to contribute to improved intercultural learning.

Woods’ research specializations include transformative anti-colonial learning, intercultural learning with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, digital storytelling for human service education, post-anthropocentric social work amid environmental crises, and Indigenous knowledge sharing. He has contributed to several key publications that reflect these interests. Notable works include "Making the Invisible Visible: Applying Digital Storytelling for Immersive, Transformative and Anti-Colonial Learning" published in the British Journal of Social Work in 2020 (co-authored with Naomi Sunderland and others), "Learning from Mistakes and Moving Forward in Intercultural Research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples" in Higher Education Research & Development in 2017 (with Vanette McLennan), "Return of the Posthuman: Developing Indigenist Perspectives for Social Work at a Time of Environmental Crisis" in 2021, "Turning Dreams into Nightmares and Nightmares into Dreams" in Borderlands journal in 2008 (with Judy Atkinson), and "Learning in Community: Reflections on Seventeen Years of Visiting Kuntri" in 2016. In his teaching role, Woods convenes specialized courses such as First Peoples and Social Justice (Advanced) (7047HSV), Working with First Peoples Communities (7053HSV), and Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community-Controlled Child Protection Practice Standards (7050HSV). He participates in impactful research projects, including Disrupting Violence and Stories of Change Towards Trauma Integrated Healing, contributing to advancements in cultural safety and innovative social work pedagogies.