Bachelor of Social Work, Master of Social Work (AP), Doctor of Philosophy Dr. Will Dobud is a social worker, researcher, and educator who has worked with adolescents and families in the United States, Australia, and Norway. Will is the co-author of Kids These Days: Understanding and Supporting Youth Mental Health (2025). He is also the co-editor of Outdoor Therapies: An Introduction to Practices, Possibilities, and Critical Perspectives (2020) and co-author of Solution-Focused Practice in Outdoor Therapy: Co-Adventuring for Change (2022). Will teaches across the four social work theory and practice subjects and focuses on experiential education and deliberate practice to help students push themselves towards their learning edge. In 2023, Dr. Dobud was awarded the highest rates of student engagement in the School of Social Work and Arts and the most productive early/mid-career researcher. In 2024, the school awarded Dr. Dobud the Excellence in Teaching Award and the Excellence in Research Award. Will’s research interests are centred on people’s experiences of social work services and improving client outcomes. He has also written extensively about the concerns regarding wilderness therapy and America's troubled teen industry. Will's research is currently focused on pragmatism, experiential learning, and social work education, along with a continued interest in outdoor therapies. Will has produced three books since 2020. He was the co-editor of Outdoor Therapies: An Introduction to Practices, Possibilities, and Critical Perspectives (2020), co-author of Solution-Focused Practice in Outdoor Therapy: Co-Adventuring for Change (2022), and the co-author of Kids These Days: Understanding and Supporting Youth Mental Health
Teaching and Research Staff
Dr Will Dobud
Will is an award-winning researcher and educator recognised for excellence in research, teaching, and crime prevention. Dr. Dobud is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at Charles Sturt University, Australia's largest social work school. Will is an invited international speaker who conducts workshops for therapists and families around the globe.
Will's research focuses on improving adolescent therapy outcomes and promoting safe, ethical practices. He has investigated and written about America's Troubled Teen Industry, especially wilderness therapy. He has worked alongside advocates, survivors, researchers, and clinicians to protect youth from institutionalisation and harm.