Rate My Professor Kate Davies

Dr Kate Davies is a sociologist and Conjoint Senior Lecturer in Human Services within the School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences at the University of Newcastle, Australia, part of the College of Human and Social Futures. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Newcastle. Her research specializations encompass sociology of inequalities, social policy, poverty, inclusivity and wellbeing, with emphasis on social justice issues affecting health and wellbeing. These include human services practice in Housing First programs, ethical approaches to trauma-informed lived experience research, placemaking and community housing, family inclusion in child protection, disability and lived experience research, young people’s experiences of debt, participation of people with mental health issues in policymaking and service delivery, and evaluation of organisational learning for integrating peer workers into mental health teams. She describes her work as aiming to break cycles of social disadvantage by empowering marginalised voices.

Davies's career includes prior positions as Senior Lecturer in the School of Humanities and Social Science, Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Research Associate at the Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health, where she led evaluations of rural and remote mental health and suicide prevention programs. She has worked and volunteered in urban, rural, and remote Australian communities and internationally in disaster management, public health, and community development, including as International Advisor for Australian Red Cross Tonga. Currently, she serves as Policy and Research Manager at Homelessness NSW, board member for Community Disability Alliance Hunter and Nova for Women and Children, and foster carer. She has developed and taught courses in youth justice, human rights, social policy, and child protection. Key publications include 'Embodying debt: youth, consumer credit and its impacts for wellbeing' (Journal of Youth Studies, 2024), 'Family inclusion for children in care: How foster and kinship carers make it work' (Children and Youth Services Review, 2025), 'How lived experiences of disaster displacement reshape place attachment' (Journal of Environmental Psychology, 2026), and the chapter 'Authentic co-design in social work research: principles and practices' (2025). Her collaborative research translates findings into policy and practice, enhancing human services outcomes through peer support and citizen involvement.