Staff Profile
Career Summary
Biography
My research and scholarship activity has focused on providing research evidence that is useful and relevant for social work theorists, researchers and practitioners. I have made contributions, both nationally and internationally, to key debates in social work on inter alia social work ethics, evidence based practice and international and Indigenous social work. I have contributed to the body of practice evidence used by social workers through:
Publications in edited collections on social work theory, Indigenous social work and mindfulness.
Publications in highly regarded international and national journals on the topics of ethics, evidence-based practice, spirituality, Indigenous social work, international social work, social policy, and social work education and practice. The majority of my publications are in international journals or publications that have an international audience of readers.
Successful internal and external research grant applications including two ARC Discovery Projects awarded in 2009 entitled 'Implementing Evidence-Based Practice: Factors that Influence the Use of Research Evidence by Human Service Professionals' and 'Changing modes: A study of the knowledge economy of human service research in Australia'.
Engagement with national community service organisations in collaborative research projects: The NSW Office of the Childrens Guardian (OCG), the Department of Community Services (DoCS) and the NSW Departments of Education and Housing.
Membership of the Board of the International Association of Schools of Social Work as well as the boards of several key social work journals: Sage Journal of Social Work (UK), the International Journal of Social Welfare (USA/Sweden), Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Services (USA), Journal of Immigration and Refugee Studies (USA), Social Development Issues (USA), and Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk (South Africa). I am also Joint Editor of the journal of Australian Social Work.
Establishing international academic links with colleagues in Canada, the USA, the UK, Europe and the Nordic countries, and South Africa. Most recently I have worked closely with colleagues in New Brunswick, Canada, Sussex in the UK and Wisconsin in the USA.
Supervision of one Masters and eight PhD higher degree student to completion and seven in progress (in the last five years).
Dissemination of research findings to practitioners and fellow researchers through a range of professional forums, including 20 conference presentations in the last five years.
As the second Professorial appointment in social work, I have provided academic leadership for social work colleagues and have been central to the publication of the unique pedagogy on which Newcastles Bachelor of Social Work program is based. Experience-based social work education has become a central focus for my research and scholarship since 1999 when I came to the University of Newcastle.
I have continued my research interest in social work theory, ethics and values which was the subject of my PhD completed in 1993. I am currently working on several books as follows:
Gray, M., Coates, J. & Yellow Bird, M. (Eds). Indigenous Social Work around the world: Towards culturally relevant theory and practice. Aldershot, Hants: Ashgate.
Gray, M. & Powell, W. The art of engagement: Rediscovering meaning in professional Life. Chicago, Il: Lyceum.
Gray, M. & Powell, W. Social Work Ethics. (contract in negotiation with Ashgate).
Gray, M. & Webb, S.A. (Eds).Thinking about Social Work: Theories and Methods for Practice.
Qualifications
- PhD, University of Natal
- Master of Social Science, University of Natal
- Bachelor of Social Science (Honours), University of Natal
- Bachelor of Social Science, University of Natal
Research
Research keywords
- Australian human services
- Evidence-based practice
- Indigenous social work
- Knowledge production
- Knowledge translation
- Morals, values and ethics
- Neoliberalism
- Social work and art
- Theory and philosophy of social work
- Welfare reform
Research expertise
I have conducted research broadly in the area of 'social intervention' which involves the design, development and evaluation of intervention programs. While still in South Africa I was instrumental in putting together a multidisciplinary group of researchers and in gaining funding of R3.4m for the Crime Reduction in Schools Project (CRISP) which involved developing and evaluating a range of interventions implemented in six disadvanatged schools between 1999-2001. CRISP was so successful that it became a private company after the government funding period ended and still continues today. Since being in Australia I have continued to conduct research on and write about social policy in South Africa, specifically the progress of social development in South Africa and am currently editing a special issue of the International Journal of Social Welfare on this topic. I have conducted research to develop standards of out of home care for Indigenous child care agencies for the NSW Office of the Children's Guardian and have published in two international journals on this research. I also conducted research in partnership with the Family Action Centre (FAC) at Newcastle University for the Department of Children's Services (DoCS) on the development of an integrated service centre (ISC) in the Hunter and this research contributed directly to the FAC getting funding from the Communities for Children program in Raymond Terrace (the site we identified for the ISC). I have conducted research into culturally relevant social work education and practice which led to an international writers workshop and an edited book on 'Indigenous Social Work around the World: Towards the development of culturally relevant education and practice' to be published by Ashgate. My research in this area has contributed significantly to debates about local, culturally relevant versus international (universal) models of social work education and practice. I continue my research on social work values and ethics and most recently have collaborated with a colleague in education to explore Habermas's contribution to social work ethics. Together with several other colleagues working in this area, we are developing a new approach to social work ethics. I am also researching Francisco Varela's ethical know how and the relevance of a phenomenological perspective to social work ethics and to social work theory and practice generally. This relates too to my work on 'social work as art'. I recently completed two ARC Discovery Projects, which commenced in 2009. The first focused on 'Implementing Evidence-Based Practice: Factors that Influence the Use of Research Evidence by Human Service Professionals'. The second entitled 'Changing modes: A study of the knowledge economy of human service research in Australia', investigated how current systems of knowledge production contribute to the creation of relevant and effective human services.
Languages
- English
Fields of Research
| Code | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 160700 | Social Work | 100 |
Memberships
Body relevant to professional practice.
- Member - Australian Association of Social Workers
- Member - Past member of Joint Universities Committee on Social Work Education (JUC)
- Member - Past member of Joint Universities Committee on Social Work Education (JUC)
- Member - Past member of the Board of the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) (1996-2000)
- Australian Association of Social Workers
Editorial Board.
- Editor - Australian Social Work
- Member - Families in Society: The Journal of the Contemporary Human Services
- Editor - International Journal of Social Welfare
- Member - Sage Journal of Social Work
- Member - Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk (South Africa)
Appointments
| Guest Editor International Journal of Social Welfare (Australia) | 01/01/2011 - 01/01/2012 |
| Guest Editor Special Issue of International Journal of Social Welfare on Environmental Social Work (Australia) | 01/01/2011 - 01/01/2012 |
| Member for South Africa International Association of Schools of Social Work (South Africa) | 01/01/1996 - 01/01/2000 |
| Chair of the Nominations Committee International Association of Schools of Social Work (United Kingdom) | 01/07/1998 - 01/07/2000 |
| Honorary Research Professorship University of Kwa Zulu Natal (Australia) | 01/09/1999 - 01/09/2004 |
| Guest Editor Special Issue of the International Journal of Social Welfare (Sweden) | 01/01/2006 - 01/07/2006 |
Awards
Recognition.
| 2009 | Vice-Chancellor's Excellence in Supervision Award University of Newcastle (Australia) of outstanding PhD supervision |
|---|
Invitations
| ‘Mapping the Human Services in Australia’, Australian Council of Heads of Schools of Social Work, Launceston, Tasmania, February 2, 2010., Australia (Invited Presenter) | 2010 |
| ‘Social Work and Social Policy in Australia’, Conference of the the European Research Institute for Social Work (ERIS), Transnational Convergence, Diffusion and Transfer in Social Policy and Social Wo European Research Institute for Social Work (ERIS), Germany (Invited Presenter) | 2011 |
| Building castles in the air: The influence of the knowledge production context on practice evaluation in Australia Inter-Centre Network for the Evaluation of Social Work Practice,, Switzerland (Invited Presenter) | 2011 |
Administrative
Administrative expertise
I have twelve years experience as a head of social work (1994-1999; 2000-2001) and head of the school of social sciences (2002-2005). I have served on numerous university committees and academic boards and have expereince in administration in most areas relating to social work teaching and research.
Teaching
Teaching keywords
- Social Development
- Social Policy
- Social Work
- Social Work ethics
- Social work theory & philosophy
Teaching expertise
I have taught most areas of social work practice though more recently have focused on experience-based learning as the medium for teaching social work theory, values and ethics to final year social work students
Grants and Funding
Summary
| Number of grants | 26 |
|---|---|
| Total funding | $688,714 |
For project grants received where the lead institution is other than the University of Newcastle, details are shown in italics.
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
2013 (1 grants)
Examining the effectiveness of peer support for users of mental health services$10,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Mel Gray | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Linkage Pilot Research Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $10,000 | 2013 | 2013 |
| GNo:G1301087 | ||
2010 (3 grants)
2009 FEA VC's Award for Supervision Excellence$7,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Mel Gray | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Award for Supervision Excellence | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $7,000 | 2010 | 2010 |
| GNo:G1000407 | ||
2009 FEA VC's Award for Supervision Excellence$5,790
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Mel Gray | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Award for Supervision Excellence (Equipment) | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $5,790 | 2010 | 2010 |
| GNo:G1000882 | ||
TISSA 2010 "Social Work in times of crisis, What can Social Work deliver - And who benefits?'$1,500
Funding Body: University of Newcastle - Faculty of Education and Arts
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Mel Gray | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $1,500 | 2010 | 2011 |
| GNo:G1000822 | ||
2009 (3 grants)
Implementing Evidence-Based Practice: Factors that Influence the Use of Research Evidence by Human Service Professionals$240,000
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Stephen Webb, Professor Mel Gray, Associate Professor Debbie Plath | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Discovery Projects | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $240,000 | 2009 | 2011 |
| GNo:G0188702 | ||
Changing modes: A study of the knowledge economy of human service research in Australia$140,000
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Mel Gray, Professor Stephen Webb | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Discovery Projects | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $140,000 | 2009 | 2011 |
| GNo:G0188766 | ||
Safe at Home$2,727
Funding Body: NSW Department of Housing
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Mel Gray, Conjoint Professor Anne Graham | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $2,727 | 2009 | 2009 |
| GNo:G0189930 | ||
2008 (3 grants)
'Safe at Home': to created a range of artworks challenging attitudes towards domestic violence$35,000
Funding Body: Australia Council for the Arts
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Conjoint Professor Anne Graham, Ms Leanne Schubert, Professor Mel Gray | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Community Partnerships | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $35,000 | 2008 | 2008 |
| GNo:G0189266 | ||
Mapping the Human Services Sector$6,666
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Mel Gray | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Pilot Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $6,666 | 2008 | 2008 |
| GNo:G0189082 | ||
International Association of schools of social work, 34th Global Social Work Congress (IASSW 2008 Congress), International Convention Centre (ICC), Durban, South Africa, 20/7/2008 - 24/7/2008$2,500
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Mel Gray | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $2,500 | 2008 | 2008 |
| GNo:G0188931 | ||
2007 (1 grants)
15 Symposium of the International Consortium on Social Development, Hong Kong, 16/7/2007 - 20/7/2007$1,640
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Mel Gray | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $1,640 | 2007 | 2007 |
| GNo:G0187904 | ||
2005 (2 grants)
Map Your Future: An intervention research project aimed at assisting women to achieve their potential through mentoring relationships$10,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Jill Gibbons, Professor Mel Gray | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Collaborative Research Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $10,000 | 2005 | 2005 |
| GNo:G0185731 | ||
2005 RIBG allocation$8,500
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Mel Gray | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Research Infrastructure Block Grant (RIBG) | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $8,500 | 2005 | 2005 |
| GNo:G0185824 | ||
2004 (4 grants)
Map your future$24,000
Funding Body: NSW Department of Housing
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Mel Gray, Doctor Jill Gibbons | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $24,000 | 2004 | 2004 |
| GNo:G0185765 | ||
A study of the difference between indigenous and Western models of social work in South Africa$5,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Mel Gray | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $5,000 | 2004 | 2004 |
| GNo:G0183550 | ||
Transforming Social Work Practice, Education and Inquiry, 16-19 October 2004$2,400
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Mel Gray | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $2,400 | 2004 | 2004 |
| GNo:G0184788 | ||
Visit of A/Prof John Coates 1/10/2004 to 31/11/2004$1,200
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Mel Gray | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Visitor Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $1,200 | 2004 | 2004 |
| GNo:G0184483 | ||
2003 (4 grants)
Preparing a range of policies and procedures to be used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander agencies providing out-of-home care services in NSW$79,991
Funding Body: NSW Office of the Children`s Guardian
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Mel Gray | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Research Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $79,991 | 2003 | 2004 |
| GNo:G0183326 | ||
Integrated Service Centre$75,000
Funding Body: NSW Department of Community Services
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Mel Gray, Mrs Judi Geggie | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Hunter Families First | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $75,000 | 2003 | 2003 |
| GNo:G0183066 | ||
Visit of Prof Stanley L Witkin, from 1 July 2003 to 10 August 2003$5,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Mel Gray | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Visitor Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $5,000 | 2003 | 2003 |
| GNo:G0182652 | ||
Transforming Social Work Practice, Education and Inquiry 16/10 to 19/10/03$2,500
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Mel Gray | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $2,500 | 2003 | 2003 |
| GNo:G0183359 | ||
2002 (2 grants)
Not-for-profits running for-profit enterprises: Case studies in social entrepreneurship$10,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Mel Gray | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $10,000 | 2002 | 2002 |
| GNo:G0181373 | ||
Congress of the International Association of Schools of Social Work France, 15-18 July 2002$2,500
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Mel Gray | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $2,500 | 2002 | 2002 |
| GNo:G0181976 | ||
2001 (2 grants)
Towards a development model for business social investment in the Hunter Region.$5,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Mel Gray | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $5,000 | 2001 | 2001 |
| GNo:G0180006 | ||
Annual Program Meeting of the Council for Social Work Education, USA 8-11 March 2001$2,400
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Mel Gray | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $2,400 | 2001 | 2001 |
| GNo:G0180684 | ||
2000 (1 grants)
Joint (Biannual) Conference of the International Federation of Social Workers Canada 29 July - 2 August 2000.$2,400
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Mel Gray | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $2,400 | 2000 | 2000 |
| GNo:G0179847 | ||
Research Supervision
| Number of current supervisions | 7 |
|---|---|
| Total current UoN PhD EFTSL | 2.85 |
For supervisions undertaken at an institution other that the University of Newcastle, details are shown in italics, and the institution name is listed below the program name.
Current Supervision
| Commenced | Proposed Completion | Program | Supervisor Type | Research Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 2017 | PhD (Social Work) | Principal Supervisor | Decolonizing Social Work in Nepal: From Existing Trends to Needs and Processes of Indigenous Social Work Practice |
| 2010 | 2014 | PhD (Social Work) | Principal Supervisor | Making Social Work Research Count: Using Research Knowledge in Practice |
| 2009 | 2013 | PhD (Sociology & Anthropology) | Sole Supervisor | The Philippine Social Economy: A Case Study |
| 2008 | 2012 | PhD (Politics) | Co-Supervisor | Winning Friends and Influencing People: A Study of Political Influence in Australian Policy-Making |
| 2007 | 2017 | PHD Education Not Elswr Classified University of Newcastle | Principal Supervisor | Pedagogy within Christian Youth Groups |
| 2006 | 2014 | PhD (Social Work) | Principal Supervisor | Support for Children and Families Where a Family Member has a Mental Illness |
| 2004 | 2017 | PHD Social Work University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor | Map Your Future - Helping Women Make Changes: An Innovative Mentoring Program for Women in Disadvantaged Communities |
Past Supervision
| Year | Program | Supervisor Type | Research Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | M Philosophy (Social Work) | Principal Supervisor | The Homecoming Experiences of Female Saudi Arabian International Students |
| 2012 | PhD (Sociology & Anthropology) | Principal Supervisor | Faith, Hope and Charity |
| 2012 | PhD (Social Work) | Principal Supervisor | Art, Social Work and Social Change |
| 2012 | PhD (Sociology & Anthropology) | Co-Supervisor | Service-User Perspectives on Evidence: Shaping Participatory Mental Health and Homelessness Services |
| 2011 | PhD (Social Work) | Principal Supervisor | Every Family: Intergenerational Estrangement Between Older Parents and Their Adult-children |
| 2010 | PhD (Social Work) | Sole Supervisor | Indigenous Social Work: A Comparative Study of New Brunswick (Canada) and Alice Springs (Australia) |
| 2008 | PhD (Social Work) | Co-Supervisor | Map Your Future: A Study of a Mentoring Program for Women from Disadvantaged Communities |
| 2003 | M Social Work [R] | Sole Supervisor | The Wellbeing of Older Men: An Exploratory Study |
| 2003 | PhD (Social Work) | Sole Supervisor | Nonviolence and Youth Work Practice in Australia |
| 1998 | Masters Social Work University of Natal | Sole Supervisor | A holistic approach to housing: A social work perspective |
| 1998 | Masters Social Work University of Natal | Sole Supervisor | Fund dependent organisations: Participation in the NNSDP concerned welfare and non-governmental organisations and their experiences of being involved in the National Nutritional and Social Development Programme (NNSDP). |
| 1996 | Masters Social Work University of Natal | Sole Supervisor | Consultation as a new method of social work. |
| 1996 | Masters Social Work University of Natal | Sole Supervisor | An exploration of South African adoption practice in respect of abandoned children. |
| 1995 | Masters Social Work University of Natal | Sole Supervisor | Transracial adoption. |
Professor (Mel) Gray
| Work Phone | (02) 4921 7322 |
|---|---|
| Fax | (02) 4921 7818 |
| Mel.Gray@newcastle.edu.au | |
| Position | Professor School of Humanities and Social Science Faculty of Education and Arts |
| Focus Area | Social Work |
| Office | W223, Behavioural Sciences Building, Callaghan University Drive Callaghan NSW 2308 Australia |
| URL: | www.newcastle.edu.au/profile/mel-gray |
Research Networks
