Overview
Background
Dr Kathy Ellem is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work at The University of Queensland, Australia. She has previously practiced as a social worker in both government and non-government sectors, working with children, young people and their families in disability and child protection services. As a social worker, she has been actively involved in casework; case management; behavioural intervention; group work; community development; and individual, citizen and systems advocacy. She has taken on family leadership roles in the disability sector, including her former role as President of Queensland Parents for People with a Disability. She is a member of the Queensland board of the Australasian Society for Intellectual Disability, and committee member of Queensland Advocacy Incorporated and Community Living Association.
Kathy completed her PhD in social work at the University of Queensland, researching the experiences of people with intellectual disability in the Queensland prison system. Her research expertise includes participatory research methodologies (including narrative, digital and arts-based research) with people with impaired cognitive capacity; the intersectionality of disability and the criminal justice system; disability workforce development; family-centred practice and capacity building of families who have a loved one with a disability; self-advocacy for people with an intellectual disability; and families who have been forced to relinquish care of their child with a disability. Her work focuses on how both teaching and research can influence positive change in social work practice and in the lives of vulnerable people.
Kathy currently leads the Honours research course for the Bachelor of Social Work (Hons) and supervises research higher degree students in the fields of disability, mental health and health.
Availability
- Dr Kathy Ellem is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Social Work, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
- Postgraduate Diploma, Queensland University of Technology
- Member, Australasian Society for Intellectual Disability, Australasian Society for Intellectual Disability
- Member, Disability and Intimate Citizenship Research and Advocacy Hub, Disability and Intimate Citizenship Research and Advocacy Hub
- Member, Intellectual Disability Education and Training Expert Advisory Group, Intellectual Disability Education and Training Expert Advisory Group
Research interests
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People with cognitive disability and the criminal justice system
The experiences of people with intellectual disability and other cognitive disabilities as accused persons - including interactions with police, courts, youth justice and correctional facilities.
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Young people with complex support needs
Young people who are at significant risk of social exclusion and adverse life experiences, including young people with developmental, cognitive, psychosocial, physical impairment and other health conditions. How systems and services respond to this group
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Inclusive research methodologies
Life story work, arts-based methods, digital life stories, body-mapping research.
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Families of people with a disability
Person-centred planning; family-centred practice; National Disability Insurance Scheme; families who have relinquished care of their loved one with a disability.
Works
Search Professor Kathy Ellem’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Book Chapter
Disability hate speech and hate crimes: assessing the role of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in tackling disability-based animus
Lord, Janet E., Pons, William I., Stein, Michael Ashley, Ellem, Kathy and Harpur, Paul (2025). Disability hate speech and hate crimes: assessing the role of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in tackling disability-based animus. Disability hate crime: perspectives for change. (pp. 148-165) edited by Leah Burch and David Wilkin. Abingdon, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003442004-11
2024
Journal Article
Diminishing their voice through choice? How ‘self-placing’ in out-of-home care affects children and young people’s participation in decision-making
Venables, Jemma, Cullin, Joel, Ellem, Kathy and Healy, Karen (2024). Diminishing their voice through choice? How ‘self-placing’ in out-of-home care affects children and young people’s participation in decision-making. European Journal of Social Work, 1-14. doi: 10.1080/13691457.2024.2408429
2024
Journal Article
Start with a vision: our thoughts on the Disability Royal Commission’s Recommendations for employment for people with intellectual disabilities
O’Dea, Paul, Cherry, Michael, Ellem, Kathy and O’Connor, Morrie (2024). Start with a vision: our thoughts on the Disability Royal Commission’s Recommendations for employment for people with intellectual disabilities. Research and Practice in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 1-9. doi: 10.1080/23297018.2024.2377995
2024
Journal Article
Don’t judge a book by its cover: what the Disability Royal Commission can do for parents with intellectual disabilities
Derzsi, Rhiannon, Ellem, Kathy and O’Connor, Morrie (2024). Don’t judge a book by its cover: what the Disability Royal Commission can do for parents with intellectual disabilities. Research and Practice in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 1-9. doi: 10.1080/23297018.2024.2384699
2024
Journal Article
Approaches to Supporting Young People in Out-of-Home Care Who ‘Self-Place’ in Unapproved Locations: Perspectives of Statutory Child Protection Practitioners
Venables, Jemma, Warrell, Chloe, Cullin, Joel, Ellem, Kathy and Healy, Karen (2024). Approaches to Supporting Young People in Out-of-Home Care Who ‘Self-Place’ in Unapproved Locations: Perspectives of Statutory Child Protection Practitioners. The British Journal of Social Work. doi: 10.1093/bjsw/bcae131
2024
Journal Article
Working Individually and collectively: assisting young people with cognitive disability transitioning from statutory systems
Venables, Jemma, Ellem, Kathy and Nathanson, Caitlin (2024). Working Individually and collectively: assisting young people with cognitive disability transitioning from statutory systems. Journal of Applied Youth Studies. doi: 10.1007/s43151-024-00141-2
2024
Journal Article
Who funds published disability research in Australia?
Smith-Merry, Jennifer, Darcy, Simon, Dew, Angela, Hemsley, Bronwyn, Imms, Christine, O'Donovan, Mary-Ann, Gallego, Gisselle, McVilly, Keith, Gilroy, John, Carey, Gemma and Ellem, Kathy (2024). Who funds published disability research in Australia?. Journal of Disability Policy Studies. doi: 10.1177/10442073241228840
2024
Journal Article
Building capacity to engage in co-produced research: reflections from a digital storytelling project
Harris, Paul, Ellem, Kathy, Gallagher, Hilary, Burgess, Ashley, Abson, Louise and Sunderland, Naomi (2024). Building capacity to engage in co-produced research: reflections from a digital storytelling project. Disability and Society, 39 (5), 1256-1275. doi: 10.1080/09687599.2022.2138267
2023
Book Chapter
Relationship-Based Practice with People with a Mild Intellectual Disability Who Have Been Socially Marginalised and Excluded
Ellem, Kathy and Venables, Jemma (2023). Relationship-Based Practice with People with a Mild Intellectual Disability Who Have Been Socially Marginalised and Excluded. Disability Practice. (pp. 101-120) Singapore: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-99-6143-6_6
2023
Other Outputs
Insights from people with lived experience of disability and the justice system: summary report
Ellem, K., Dowse, L., Rowe, S., Holland, L., Cullin, J., Parker, M. and Henderson, C. (2023). Insights from people with lived experience of disability and the justice system: summary report. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Department of Justice and Attorney-General.
2023
Other Outputs
The need for the Universities ACCORD to expressly recognise the educational and work rights of persons with cognitive disabilities
Harpur, Paul, Ellem, Kathy, Hardy, Fotina, Stein, Michael Ashley and Schormans, Ann Fudge (2023). The need for the Universities ACCORD to expressly recognise the educational and work rights of persons with cognitive disabilities. Brisbane, Australia:
2023
Journal Article
Abuse is everybody’s business. Commentary on “Two scandals: the death of Ann Marie Smith in Australia and the Whorlton Hall scandal in Britain” (Hough 2022)
Cherry, Michael, O’Dea, Paul, Ellem, Kathy and O’Connor, Morrie (2023). Abuse is everybody’s business. Commentary on “Two scandals: the death of Ann Marie Smith in Australia and the Whorlton Hall scandal in Britain” (Hough 2022). Research and Practice in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 10 (1), 83-86. doi: 10.1080/23297018.2023.2170272
2022
Other Outputs
Finding out about the ARROS PLACE program: Supporting young people with cognitive disability and experiences of child protection &/or youth justice involvement
Venables, Jemma, Ellem, Kathy and Nathanson, Caitlin (2022). Finding out about the ARROS PLACE program: Supporting young people with cognitive disability and experiences of child protection &/or youth justice involvement. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland.
2022
Journal Article
Emerging from the shadows: Digital stories of self‐advocates with intellectual disabilities
Ellem, Kathy, Harris, Paul and Strnadová, Iva (2022). Emerging from the shadows: Digital stories of self‐advocates with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 19 (4), 360-369. doi: 10.1111/jppi.12426
2022
Journal Article
If you don’t fight for it, you won’t get it. Commentary on “The National Disability Insurance Scheme: voices of adults with intellectual disability” (Lloyd et al., 2022)
O’Dea, Paul, Cherry, Michael, Ellem, Kathy and O’Connor, Morrie (2022). If you don’t fight for it, you won’t get it. Commentary on “The National Disability Insurance Scheme: voices of adults with intellectual disability” (Lloyd et al., 2022). Research and Practice in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 9 (1), 1-3. doi: 10.1080/23297018.2022.2055488
2022
Journal Article
The future of disability research in Australia: protocol for a multi-phase research agenda-setting exercise
Smith-Merry, Jennifer, O'Donovan, Mary-Ann, Dew, Angela, Hemsley, Bronwyn, Imms, Christine, Carey, Gemma, Darcy, Simon, Ellem, Kathy, Gallego, Gisselle, Gilroy, John, Guastella, Adam, Marella, Manjula, McVilly, Keith and Plumb, Jenny (2022). The future of disability research in Australia: protocol for a multi-phase research agenda-setting exercise. JMIR Research Protocols, 11 (1) e31126, e31126. doi: 10.2196/31126
2021
Other Outputs
Mapping disability research in Australia
Smith-Merry, J., Gallego, G., Yen, I., Imms, C., Dew, A. and Research Agenda Consortium (2021). Mapping disability research in Australia. Sydney, NSW, Australia: The University of Sydney.
2021
Conference Publication
Undergraduate students with caregiving responsibilities relying on substance use to cope with stress
Jauncey-Cooke, J., Ellem, K., Peacock, A., Hawley, G., Drayton, J. and Le Brocque, R. (2021). Undergraduate students with caregiving responsibilities relying on substance use to cope with stress. Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 8-10 July 2021.
2020
Journal Article
Transcending the professional–client divide: supporting young people with complex support needs through transitions
Ellem, Kathy, Smith, Louisa, Baidawi, Susan, McGhee, Adrienne and Dowse, Leanne (2020). Transcending the professional–client divide: supporting young people with complex support needs through transitions. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 37 (2), 109-122. doi: 10.1007/s10560-020-00651-x
2020
Journal Article
Commentary on “Community practitioners supporting young men with borderline intellectual functioning in the criminal justice system: capability for voice and agency” (Catalano, 2019)
Ellem, Kathy (2020). Commentary on “Community practitioners supporting young men with borderline intellectual functioning in the criminal justice system: capability for voice and agency” (Catalano, 2019). Research and Practice in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 7 (1), 49-53. doi: 10.1080/23297018.2019.1683759
Funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Kathy Ellem is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the Recovery Journey of National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Participants with Psychosocial Disability: Implications for Social Work
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr John Drayton
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Doctor Philosophy
Exploring patient-led recording for adults with Down syndrome and their social supports
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Robyne Le Brocque
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Doctor Philosophy
Towards Social Justice for the Hijra Community
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Heena Akbar, Dr Dorothee Hölscher
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Doctor Philosophy
Normalising Ability Diversity through Career Transitions: Disability at Work
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paul Harpur
Media
Enquiries
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