Dr Heather Boetto

Profile

Heather is a lecturer in Social Work and Human Services at Charles Sturt University.  She began work in the field of disability in the 1990's and later practiced in areas of child welfare, school social work, women's health, and private practice.  Heather grew up in rural New South and has maintained an interest in rural social work practice, as well as other areas within a rural context, particularly ecological practice and gender.

Teaching

Heather began teaching in the Social Work and Human Services discipline at CSU in 2003, initially as a casual lecturer, and since 2008 as a permanent staff member.  Heather has taught in a broad range of subject areas, including social work theory and practice, social policy, child welfare, communications, introductory social welfare and fields of practice.  Heather has a particular interest in assisting students transition developed knowledge (e.g. values and ethics, theory) into articulated strategies and approaches for practice and provides social work students with supervision when undertaking practicum placements as part of their course work.  Heather is also involved in supporting social work students on international study abroad programs to develop knowledge and understanding about the global context of practice issues.

Research

Although Heather has an interest in various research areas, her main focus relates to ecological social work.  Heather commenced her PhD in 2013 to explore how ecological approaches can be incorporated into foundations of social work practice, and has published several articles relating to this topic.  Heather's other areas of interest include gender, internationalisation and rural social work.

Memberships

• Member of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)
• Committee member of Lila Kirilik Social Justice Committee
• Advisory Group Member for Relationships Australia, Riverina Branch

Publications

• Moorhead, B., Bell, K., Jones-Mutton, T., Boetto, H., & Bailey, R. (2019). Preparation for practice: Embedding the development of professional identity within social work curriculum. Social Work Education [Advance online publication], 1-13. doi:10.1080/02615479.2019.1595570
• Boetto, H. (In press). Advancing transformative eco-social change: Shifting from modernist to holistic foundations. Australian Social Work, Accepted 1^st May 2018. DOI: 10.1080/0312407X.2018.1484501
• Boetto, H. (In press). Transformative ecosocial work: Incorporating being, thinking and doing in practice. In Pawar, M., Bowles, W., & Bell, K. (Eds.), North Melbourne: Australian Scholarly Publishing.
• Bowles, W., Boetto, H., Jones, P., & McKinnon, J. (2018). Is social work really greening? Exploring the place of sustainability and environment in social work codes of ethics. International Social Work. 61(4), 503-517. SJR Q2
• Boetto, H., & McKinnon, J. (2018). Ecological social work. In M. Alston, S. McCurdy & J, McKinnon (Eds.). Fields of social work practice (3^rd Ed.). Oxford University Press.
• Boetto, H., Bell, K., & Kime, K. (2018). Holistic ecosocial work: A model for transformative change through being knowing and doing. In M, Rinkel & M. Powers (Eds.), Social Work Promoting Community and Environmental Sustainability: A Workbook for Social Work Practitioners and Educators (Vol.2). Switzerland: International Federation of Social Work (IFSW).
• Kime, K., Boetto, H., & Bell, K. (2018). ‘Wise practices’ with Indigenous Australians: Adapting to a changing planet. In M, Rinkel & M. Powers (Eds.), Social Work Promoting Community and Environmental Sustainability: A Workbook for Social Work Practitioners and Educators (Vol.2). Switzerland: International Federation of Social Work (IFSW).
• Boetto, H. (2017). A transformative eco-social model: Challenging modernist assumptions in social work. British Journal of Social Work, 47(1), 48-67. SJR Q1
• Appleby, K., Bell, K., & Boetto, H. (2017). Climate change adaptation: Community action, disadvantaged groups and practice implications for social work. Australian Social Work, 70(1), 78-91. DOI: 10.1080/0312407X.2015.1088558 SJR Q2
• Boetto, H., & Bowles, W. (2017). Ecosocial transitions: Exploring the wisdom of our elders (pp. 190-205). In A. Matthies & K. Narhi (Eds.), Ecosocial transition of societies: Contribution of social work and social policy. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.
• Boetto, H. (2016). Developing ecological social work for micro level practice. In J. McKinnon & M. Alston (Eds.), Ecological social work: Towards sustainability (pp. 59-77). Houndmills, ENG: Palgrave Macmillan.
• Boetto, H., Inch, J., Lloyd, S., & Barber, N. (2015). Exploring food security in social work field education:Analysis of a food relief program. Advances in social work and welfare education, 17(1), 52-67.
• Boetto, H., & Bell, K. (2015). Environmental sustainability in social work curricula: A pilot study of online course content. International Social Work,58(3), 448-462. SJR Q2
• Bell, K., Moorhead, B. & Boetto, H. (2015). Social work students’ reflections on gender, social justice and human rights during a short-term study program to India. International Social Work. Published online 16 February 2015. DOI: 10.1177/0020872814559559 SJR Q2
• Boetto, H., Moorhead, B., & Bell, K. (2014). Broadening the ‘environment’ in social work: Impacts of a study abroad program. Critical Social Work, 15 (1), Retrieved from http://www1.uwindsor.ca/criticalsocialwork/broadening_environment_SW GS 3
• Boetto, H., McKinnon, J. (2013). Rural women and climate change: A gender inclusive social policy perspective. Australian Social Work, 66 (2), 234-247. SJR Q2 GS 16
• Boetto, H., & McKinnon, J. (2013). Gender and climate change in Australia: A review of differences. Critical Social Work.14 (1), 15-18. Retrieved from http://www1.uwindsor.ca/criticalsocialwork/system/files/Boetto_McKinnon.pdf GS 5
• Moorhead, B., Boetto, H., & Bell, K. (2013). India and us: Student development of professional social work identity through a short-term study abroad program. Social Work Education, 33(2), pp. 175-189.  SJR Q2 GS 11
• Boetto, H. (2010). Kinship care: A review of issues. Family Matters: Newsletter for the Australian Institute of Family Studies, 85, 60-67. SJR Q3 for social psychology Q2 for sociology and political science GS 47
• Alston, M., Duncan, G., & Boetto, H., (2004). Empowering young rural women: The provision of a social work service for young women in a disadvantaged high school. Women in Welfare Education, 7, p. 1-63.