Dr Graeme Stuart

I am passionate about strengths-based, bottom up approaches to creating change. Many of the complex challenges we face such as domestic and family violence, climate change, marginalisation and racism call for responses that are inclusive, build social cohesion and create lasting change.

As a lecturer at the Family Action Centre, University of Newcastle, I focus on inspiring students and practitioners to work with families and communities in ways that build on their strengths and are family or community led, and supporting practice-based research that helps build the evidence of what works.

Some of my current and recent research include:

Building social capital with refugee communities and new arrivals—an evaluation of Alternatives to Violence Project with refugees and new arrivals in Sydney. (Partners: Alternatives to Violence Project NSW an NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors. Co-researchers: Jasmina Bajraktarevie, Helen Bibby, Wendy Lambourne;, Raphael Manirakiza, Shakeh Momartin, Ansuya Naguran, Katherine Smith and Ken Woods).

Peaceful Pathways evaluation—an evaluation of Alternatives to Violence Project with refugees and new arrivals in Tasmania. (Partners: Red Cross Tasmania and Alternatives to Violence Project Tasmania. Co-researchers: Xavier Lane-Mullins, Wendy Lambourne, Christine Widjaya, Julie Donehue, Tamara Blakemore).

Best practice and trends in counselling and mediation programs in NSW: A collaborative case study of Uniting—is exploring best practice in the context of post-separation counselling and mediation, and working with Uniting staff to reflect on their practice. (Partner: Uniting counselling and mediation services. Co-researchers: Tamara Blakemore, Chris Krogh, Tom McClean,  Duncan Cameron, Milena Heinsch, Amanda Howard, Shaun McCarthy, and Margaret Nimac).

Uni4You: A case study of a community-based University widening participation program—Uni4You is an innovative, pre-access and widening participation strategy supporting students with a lived experience of educational disadvantage and who are often the first in their families, and their neighbourhoods, to enrol in higher education. The research interviewed Uni4You participants and community practitioners to explore the experience of the students and the best ways to support them. (Co-researchers: Michele Oshan, Kerrell Bourne, Deb Hartman and the Uni4You team).

Evidence-based practice in Rural NSW children and family support services—Explored ways in which nine rural children and family services could enhance their capacity for evidence-based practice. (Co-researcher: Deborah Hartman).

Strengths-based approaches to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities—Explored strengths based approaches to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. (Co-researchers: Jenny Cameron, Amanda Howard, Paul Hodge).

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

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

My blog, Sustaining Communities (https://sustainingcommunity.wordpress.com) allows me to reflect on strengths-based approaches to working with families and communities and environmental sustainability. With over a million views (averaging around 1000 views a day) it is a resource used by students, practitioners and others around the World.

I started working with communities in 1983 (through social change movements) and started working with families in 1992. Before joining the Family Action Centre in 2003 I worked in a range of roles  including adolescent support, youth work, community development and a peace work. My first five years at the Family Action Centre was as a community worker supporting permanent residents of caravan parks and other projects including facilitating workshops for Aboriginal fathers in prison.

I have a long association with the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) which offers experiential workshop on conflict resolution and nonviolent relationship in over 60 countries around the world. As well as facilitating workshops for with a wide range of groups (including parents, people in prison, high school students, and family workers) I am also a co-convenor of the AVP International Research Subcommittee and am working with a small international team on two books about AVP.

Outside of paid work I have been happily married to Cathy for over 30 years and am the proud father of two beautiful girls (Jasmine and Alexa). I am the secretary of Transition Newcastle (a local environment group), a member of the AVP NSW Council, participate in my local Parkrun and am actively involved in the Parents and Citizens Association at Alexa’s school.