Dr Graeme Stuart
Team Leader, Community Engagement (Teaching and Learning)

Graeme is committed to inclusive, interactive processes that build on the strengths of communities and individuals. He started at the Family Action Centre (FAC) in 2003 as a community worker with the Caravan Project supporting permanent residents of caravan parks. Since then he has been involved in a range of FAC projects and now focuses on community engagement, asset based community-driven development and strength-based practice through teaching, research and supporting other organisations.

He started working with communities in 1983 (through social change movements) and has continued to do so ever since in both paid and voluntary capacities. Before starting at the Family Action Centre, he worked in a range of organisations including Newcastle Youth Service, the Newcastle Community Youth Development Project, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Uniting Churchs Division of Social Justice and Newcastle TAFE. He has also volunteered with a range of peace, justice and environment movements including People for Nuclear Disarmament, the Alternatives to Violence Project, Action for World Development, Oxfam, the Wilderness Society and Transition Newcastle.

He has extensive experience facilitating workshops on a variety of topics with a wide range of people including community workers, teachers, students, homeless youth, parents, Aboriginal prison inmates, and the general community.

His research focuses on practice-based and applied research in relation to strengths-based approaches to working with communities. Current and previous research projects include:

- The Transition Streets Challenge - Exploring the community engagement strategies (both the process and impact) involved in the Transition Streets Challenge - a local neighbour level sustainability project. (Partner: Transition Newcastle; Co-researchers: Amanda Howard and Emily Grace).

- Strengths-based approaches for organisations working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities - Exploring what is working in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and how organisations can build on these strengths. (Partner: Centre for Appropriate Technology; Co-researchers: Jenny Cameron, Amanda Howard, Paul Hodge).

- Special Needs Unlimited Group (SNUG) -  The evaluation of strengths-based retreats for the whole family of children with rare conditions and the engagement of students in service-learning. (Partner: SNUG; Co-researchers: Emma Hazelwood, Jessica Altmann, Kirsty Stapylton, Imelda Burgman, Bernice Mathisen and Elizabeth Sinclair).

- What can we do? Communities Responding to Violence - An action research project which explores how to build on community strengths to respond to domestic and family violence. (Partner: Caravan Project; Co-researchers: Dee Brooks, Craig Hammond).

- Kia Kia: Engaging Aboriginal Fathers - Explored ways in which family and community services can engage Aboriginal fathers. (Co-researcher: Craig Hammond).

- Supporting residents of caravan parks: Principle of Promising Practice - Identified principles of practice for strengths-based community engagement in caravan parks. (Partner: Caravan Project).

Outside of paid work he is the convenor of Transition Newcastle, actively involved in the Parents and Citizens Association at his daughters' schools, and writes a blog (www.sustainingcomunity.wordpress.com/). He has been happily married to Cathy for over 25 years and is the proud father of two beautiful girls (Jasmine and Alexa).

Books and book chapters

Stuart, G. (2009). Conflict resolution and nonviolence workshops with young people. In R. White (Ed.), Concepts and methods of youth work. Hobart: Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies.

Stuart, G. (2009). Nonviolence as a framework for youth work practice. In R. White (Ed.), Concepts and methods of youth work. Hobart: Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies.

Stuart, G. (2008). Youth work and nonviolence: Nonviolence as a foundation for youth work practice. Saarbrucken VDM Verlag Dr. Muller.

Journal articles (* = refereed)

*Grace, E., Mathisen, B., Stuart, G., & Hawes, H. (2010). Students' experiences of family-centred strength-based practice in a non-traditional clinical setting. ACQuiring Knowledge in Speech, Language and Hearing, 12(2), 78-81.

Brooks, D., & Stuart, G. (2011). AI and Asset-Based Community Development in the Defence Community Organisation. AIPractitioner: International Journal of Appreciative Inquiry, 13(2), 65-69.

Brooks, D., & Stuart, G. (2011). Building on the strengths of communities. Defence Family Matters, Spring Summer, 12-13. Available from http://www.defence.gov.au/dco/documents/dfm/DFM_Spr_11.pdf 

Brooks, D., Hernandez, K., & Stuart, G. (2005). Beyond the boom gate: Supporting park residents. Parity, 18(5), 24.

Stuart, G., Brooks, D., & Stephens, C. (2009). Its nearly time to go: Asset Based Community Development with transient caravan park communities. Parity, 22(2), 27-28. Available from http://sustainingcommunity.wordpress.com/2013/01/23/its-nearly-time-to-go/

Stuart, G. (2009). Stepping Stones: Building relationships between caravan park residents and schools. The Boys in School Bulletin, 12(1).

Stuart, G., Giles, R., & Hamilton, J. (2007). Homelessness: Stories from the street. The experience of service provision. Parity, 20(5), 39-40.

Stuart, G. (2008). Families with children living in caravan parks. Parity, 21(8), 31-32. Available from http://sustainingcommunity.wordpress.com/2013/01/22/families-with-children-living-in-caravan-parks/

*Stuart, G. (2006). What does Gandhi have to say about youth work? Youth & Policy(93), 77-89.

Stuart, G. (2005). In beats living in a tent: A survey of residents in eight Lower Hunter caravan parks. Parity, 18(5), 17-18. Available from http://sustainingcommunity.wordpress.com/2013/01/21/it-beats-living-in-a-tent/

Stuart, G. (2005). Exclusion and behaviour management in youth work. Newsletter of the Youth Action and Policy Association(15), 8-11.

*Stuart, G. (2004). Nonviolence as a Framework for Youth Work Practice. Youth Studies Australia, 23(3), 26-32.

*Stuart, G. (2004). Youth work and managing behaviour. Youth and Policy(85), 19-36.

*Stuart, G. (2001). Are you old enough? Research ethics and young people. Youth Studies Australia, 20(4), 34-39.

Conference presentations (* = refereed)

Altmann, J., Burgman, I., & Stuart, G. (2010). The parental experience of raising a child with a disability in rural NSW. Paper presented at the The 6th National Australian & Family Community Strengths Conference.

*Douglas, S., Crofts, P., Le Gresley, H., & Stuart, G. (2011). When do community projects become valid engaged scholarship? Paper presented at the Australian Universities Community Engagement Alliance Conference: Next Steps - Building a new engagement agenda.

Gray, M., Crofts, P., Geggie, J., Gibbons, J., & Stuart, G. (2003). Putting families first - Towards the development of a one stop model of service provision for families of young children. Paper presented at the Family and Community Strengths Conference.

Hammond, C., & Stuart, G. (2008). Brothers Inside: Fathering workshops with Indigenous prisoners. Paper presented at the First National Indigenous Family and Community Strengths Conference.

Hazelwood, E., Mathisen, B., & Stuart, G. (2010). Students learning family-centred, strength-based practice in a non-traditional clinical setting. Paper presented at the The 6th National Australian & Family Community Strengths Conference.

Stapylton, K., Burgman, I., & Stuart, G. (2010). Experiences of a strengths based camp for rural and remote families who have a child with a disability. Paper presented at the The 6th National Australian & Family Community Strengths Conference.

Hammond, C & Stuart, G 2008, Brothers Inside: Fathering workshops with Indigenous prisoners, paper presented at the First National Indigenous Family and Community Strengths Conference, Newcastle.

Stuart, G. (2012). Authentic community engagement: Some reflections from theory and practice (Key note address). Paper presented at the Authentic engagement: Local Community Services Association Conference.

*Stuart, G., & Crofts, P. (2012). Community engaged learning in an online environment: What happens when the subject of the course is community engagement theory and practice? Paper presented at the Engagement Australia Conference Next Steps: Community Engaged Learning.

Stuart, G. (2010). Strengths-based assessment. Paper presented at the The 6th National Australian & Family Community Strengths Conference.

Stuart, G., & Brooks, D. (2008). Stepping Stones: From Caravan Park to School. Paper presented at the 5th National Family and Community Strengths Conference.

Stuart, G., Brooks, D., Stephens, C., & Howard, J. (2008). Supporting caravan park residents: Principles of promising practice. Paper presented at the 5th National Family and Community Strengths Conference.

Stuart, G., Bourne, K., & Crofts, P. (2008). Asset mapping as a teaching tool. Paper presented at the Inaugural Asset Based Community Development Asia Pacific Network Conference. Retrieved 6 March 2009,

Stuart, G. (2008). "I try and make it feel more like a home" - Families living in caravan parks. 10th Australian Institute of Family Studies Conference 

Stuart, G. (2008). Engagement - the first step towards social inclusion. Paper presented at the Social inclusion: rhetoric or reality?

Stuart, G., & Hammond, C. (2008). Brothers Inside: Fathering workshops with Indigenous prisoners. Paper presented at the First National Indigenous Family and Community Strengths Conference.

Stuart, G., Brooks, D., & Hammond, C. (2008). Developing strengths-based domestic and family violence resources: Potential and challenges. Paper presented at the 5th National Family and Community Strengths Conference.

Stuart, G. (2006). Domestic Violence. Paper presented at the Supporting caravan park residents - A national best practice forum, Port Stephens.

Stuart, G. (2006). Advocacy. Paper presented at the Supporting caravan park residents - A national best practice forum, Newcastle.

Stuart, G. (2005). Exclusion and behaviour management in youth work. Paper presented at the When is banning OK? How to keep staff, property and other service users safe: Youth Action and Policy Association Forum.

*Stuart, G. (2004). Community leadership: A tale of two residential parks. In R. Flowers (Ed.), Eduation and Social Action Conference Proceedings. Sydney: University of Technology of Sydney. Available from: http://sustainingcommunity.wordpress.com/2013/02/27/community-leadership-a-tale-of-two-residential-parks/

*Stuart, G. (2002). Youth work as informal education - issues of control. Paper presented at the What Works!? Evidence based practice in child and family services, Association of Childrens Welfare Agencies Conference, Sydney. Available from http://www.acwa.asn.au/Conf2002/Conf_proceedings/11%20Stuart%20Graeme.doc

*Stuart, G. (2000). Developing cultures of nonviolence in youth services. Paper presented at the First International Youth Service Models Conference.

Reports

Stuart, G., Hazelwood, E., Altmann, J., Stapylton, K., Burgman, I., Mathisen, B., & Sinclair, E. (2012). SNUG: Reflections from retreats for families with children with a rare condition. Newcastle: Family Action Centre, The University of Newcastle

Hammond, C., & Stuart, G. (2010). Kia Kia: Engaging Aboriginal Fathers Final Report. Newcastle: Family Action Centre, University of Newcastle.

Stuart, G., & Brooks, D. (2008). Stepping Stones: Supporting students in a caravan park. Newcastle: Family Action Centre, University of Newcastle.

Stuart, G., Brown, J., & Crofts, P. (2008). 'Being a father gives you a different outlook': Fathers reflect on work and child-friendly communities. Newcastle: Family Action Centre, University of Newcastle.

McBride, J., & Stuart, G. (2008). The Rocky Project: Child and Family Health Nurses role in supporting marginalised families. Newcastle: Child and Family Health Nursing.

Stuart, G., Brooks, D., & Hammond, C. (2007). What Can We Do? Communities responding to violence: Final report. Newcastle: Family Action Centre, University of Newcastle.

Stuart, G. (2007). Supporting residents of caravan parks: Principles of promising practice. Newcastle: Family Action Centre, University of Newcastle. Available from http://www.newcastle.edu.au/Resources/Research%20Centres/Family%20Action%20Centre/downloads/caravan_project/Supporting_Residents_of_CP_Promising_Principles.pdf

Stuart, G., & Hammond, C. (2006). Brothers Inside: Reflections on fathering workshops with Indigenous prisoners. Newcastle: Family Action Centre, University of Newcastle. Available from http://www.newcastle.edu.au/Resources/Research%20Centres/Family%20Action%20Centre/reports/Brothers_Inside_report.pdf

Stuart, G. (2006). Building Healthy Caravan Park Communities: Final report. Newcastle: Family Action Centre, University of Newcastle.

Giles, R., Stuart, G., Hamilton, J., & Stefans, P. (2006). Homelessness: Stories from the street. A qualitative exploration of the issues, risks and survival. Newcastle: Mission Australia and University of Newcastle.

Stuart, G., Silberberg, S., & Hughes, L. (2005). A snapshot of residents in eight Lower Hunter caravan parks. Newcastle: Family Action Centre, University of Newcastle.

Stuart, G., & Eddy, G. (2004). Community Leadership Project - Hunter Caravan Parks: Evaluation report. Newcastle: Family Action Centre, University of Newcastle.