Rate My Professor Kate Toone

Dr Kate Toone serves as a Lecturer in research and teaching within the School of Social Work and Social Care, College of Education, Behavioural and Social Sciences at Adelaide University. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy from Flinders University in 2023, with a thesis titled 'Lesbian and queer sex workers; understanding the effect' on their experiences. Kate's career trajectory began in community services as a peer worker and coordinator of a support program for young mothers, informed by her personal participation in such a program. Her clinical social work experience extends across multiple domains, including the out-of-home care sector, youth services, suicide prevention, maternal mental health, chronic illness support, and grief and loss counseling. She continues in a part-time clinical role specializing in reproductive healthcare while fulfilling her academic responsibilities.

Kate Toone's academic interests center on gender and sexuality, activism, reproductive justice, sex work, and alternative relationship structures. Her scholarly contributions explore marginalized identities and community experiences, notably through peer-reviewed publications such as 'Using creative methods in understanding lesbian/queer women sex worker identities in South Australia' co-authored with Dunk-West and Seymour in Qualitative Research (2025), and 'Indigenous Sistergirls' Experiences of Family and Community' with Riggs in Australian Social Work (2017, volume 70, issue 2, pages 229-240). At Adelaide University, she delivers instruction in key courses including WELF 2012 Human Service Intervention, WELF 2019 Mental Health and Mental Wellbeing, WELF 3030 Advanced Social Work Theory and Practice, SOCI 3008 Case Management, SOWK 6000 Applied Social Research (Honours), and SOWK 4006 Social Work Honours Research Project 1. Eligible to co-supervise Masters and PhD students, she is also available for media commentary on her areas of expertise. Through her integrated approach, Kate bridges clinical practice and academic inquiry to advance social work theory and practice in contemporary challenges.