Absler, Deborah
Position: Honorary Research Fellow
Phone: +61 3 9035 8508
Email: dabsler@unimelb.edu.au
Dr Deborah Absler is an Honorary Research Fellow in Social Work at the University of Melbourne, attached to the Alfred Felton Child and Family Welfare Research Program. She has previously been employed in the Felton Program as a Research Fellow.
Deborah is a social worker with extensive experience in community mental health services for children, adolescents and families both as a clinician and senior manager, in local and inter-country adoption, sexual assault services and working with the indigenous community. She has also been employed in social work education, in a number of research positions and by the Department of Human Services in service development, mental health policy and program development.
Her PhD, awarded in 2006, was entitled "Relationships, Connectedness and Engagement: A study of the multidimensional components of ‘good-enough' collaborative approaches for young people with complex needs and their families." It focussed on identifying practice guidelines for working in partnerships and collaborative approaches, particularly in relation to young people with complex needs.
Deborah operates a Human Services, Social Work & Mental Health Consultancy Practice which provides program and service development and evaluation, organisational consultancy, research and project management, supervision, training and professional development. She specialises in cross program and sector partnerships, collaboration, teamwork building, specialist child and family work & mental health policy, program development and practice.
Her current commitments include:
- Children's Protection Society Volunteer Support for New Mums Evaluation (with Dr Gaye Mitchell & Professor Cathy Humphries),
- VACRO, SKY Program Evaluation with Dr Gaye Mitchell,
- Harrison Family Services, Uniting Care, Stronger Families Program Evaluation,
- Northern Integrated Family Violence Services, Mental Illness and Family Violence Discussion Paper,
- Child Safety Commissioner, Child Death Inquiries case analyst,
- Mental Health Professionals Network, workshop facilitator.
Her main research interests include: theory and practice for providing cross program and sector partnerships; collaboration and teamwork; and young people with complex needs.
Publications
Absler, D. "Relationships, Connectedness and Engagement: A Study of the multidimensional components of ‘good-enough' collaborative approaches for young people with complex needs and their families." Doctoral Thesis, Melbourne University, 2006.
http://eprints.infodiv.unimelb.edu.au/archive/00002463/
--- "Mental illness in children and adolescents." New Paradigm. Melbourne: Psychiatric Disability Services of Victoria, June 2000.
--- "Talking with children about their parent's mental illness or mental health problems" in Cowling, Vicki (ed) Children Of Parents With Mental Illness. Melbourne: Australian Council For Educational Research, 1999.
Absler, D. and O'Neill, C. "It must be because....Non-biological care and mental health in Australia. Part III. Who refers - and why?" Children Australia. 24 (2), 1999.
Absler, D. and O'Neill, C. "It must be because...Non-biological care and mental health. Part I. Setting the context." Children Australia. 23 (3), 1998.
Reports
Contole, J., O'Neill, C., Mitchell, G., & Absler, D. "Counting the Kids, Final Evaluation Report." Odyssey House Victoria, 2009.
Absler, D. "Agency Framework Discussion Paper," GordonCare for Children, Internal Document, November 2009.
Absler, D. "Scoping Study for Supported Playgroup for Parents with Mental Ilness," Northern Area Mental Health Services, North East Child FIRST, Internal Document, 2009
Absler, D. & McDermott, F. "Holding the System. An Evaluation of Care Plan Coordination. " Indigo Assessment and Care Plan Coordination Program, Western Region Health Centre, 2009.
Absler, D. "ISP Program Review," MIND Australia, Internal Document, April 2009.
Absler, D. (2009) "Research Circles Analysis," Take Two Berry Street Victoria, Internal document, March 2009
Absler, D. (2008) "Care Teams in Therapeutic Care," Take Two Berry Street Victoria, Internal document, December 2008.
Absler, D. (2008) Social Advocacy Program, Energy Audit Team Program Description Manual, Kildonan Uniting Care, Internal document, Victoria, June 2008.
Absler, D. (2008) ‘Draft Discussion Paper The Care Team Approach" & "Care Teams Draft Intervention Framework," Berry Street Victoria, Internal document March 2008.
Absler, D, O'Neill, C. & Humphreys, C., (2008) ‘Report of the Permanent Care Questionnaire: Mapping State/Territory Policy & Legislation in Victoria.' Report prepared by the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) Post Placement Working Group, Alfred Felton Research Program: School of Nursing and Social Work, The University of Melbourne, February 2008.
Absler, D & Downey, L. (2008) "Service System Intervention - the Care Team Approach" Take Two, Berry Street Victoria, Internal document, January 2008.
Absler, D. (2007) "Draft Early Intervention Research Working Group Scoping Study." Internal Report prepared for the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) Early Intervention Research Working Group, Alfred Felton Research Program: School of Nursing and Social Work, The University of Melbourne.
Absler, D. (2007) "Building Bridges: Consumer Participation Program Report." Royal Children's Hospital Mental Health Service, Victoria, June 2007.
Absler, D. (2007) "Coordination & Case Management Research Working Group Discussion Paper." Internal Report prepared for the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) Coordination & Case Management Research Working Group, Alfred Felton Research Program: School of Nursing and Social Work, The University of Melbourne, May 2007.
Absler, D. & O'Neal, P. (2007) "Violence Against Children: Who Cares? A national scope of programs and services for children who have experienced violence." The Alannah and Madeline Foundation, Victoria, April 2007.
Atkinson, G., Absler, D. & Campbell, L, Final Report on Aboriginal Family Preservation Pilot Program Evaluation. Yuruga Enterprises and School of Social Work, University of Melbourne, 2000.
Absler, D. Interviews with ACSEPT Network Service Users. Alfred Community Service for Early Psychosis Treatment, Alfred Psychiatry, Victoria, 2000.