Rate My Professor Kylie Agllias

Dr Kylie Agllias serves as an Adjunct Lecturer in the School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences (Social Work) within the College of Human and Social Futures at the University of Newcastle. She earned her PhD in Social Work, Bachelor of Social Work (Honours), Associate Diploma in Social Welfare, and Graduate Certificate of Tertiary Teaching from the University of Newcastle. Kylie began her academic tenure at the university as a casual academic in 2004, progressed to a permanent appointment from 2007 to 2014, and has since continued in conjoint lecturer and casual capacities. Her professional practice experience spans support for homeless and vulnerable young people, women facing domestic violence, individuals involved with the criminal justice system, and those pursuing employment opportunities.

Kylie's research focuses on qualitative methodologies with vulnerable populations, including Indigenous communities, women from disadvantaged backgrounds, and residents in aged care facilities. She has led three studies on family estrangement, examining older parents estranged from adult children, adult children estranged from parents, and palliative social workers' experiences with estranged clients at the end of life. Her academic interests also encompass frontline workers in unemployment and emergency relief services, as well as undergraduate social work experiences, such as new graduate transitions, first-year student experiences, teaching about violence and trauma, LGBTI issues, and work-integrated learning. Key publications include the book Family Estrangement: A Matter of Perspective (2017); International Social Work and Social Welfare: Australia and Pacific Islands (2024, co-authored with M. Gray); Social Work Field Education in Australia (2022, co-authored with L. Schubert); Social work field education in Australia: Issues and trends (2022, co-authored with L. Schubert); and Secrets and Lies: The Ethical Implications of Family Estrangement (2017, co-authored with M. Gray). She has received the Norm Smith Publication in Social Work Research Award from the Australian Association of Social Workers in 2016 and the Helen Bartlett Prize for Innovation in Ageing Research in 2010. Kylie contributed as Associate Book Review Editor for the Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development (2009-2014), served on the Australian Social Work Editorial Advisory Committee (2016-2023), and has been a manuscript reviewer for Australian Social Work since 2011. She maintains membership in the Australian Association of Social Workers since 2003 and represented the University of Newcastle on the Combined Universities Field Education Group (2008-2010).