Dr Athena 'Tina' Lathouras graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work (Hons) in 2000 having worked in the social services sector since 1980. Her fields of work have included disability services, neighbourhood centres and sector development work with peak bodies.
Tina's 2012 PhD research was entitled 'An exploration of the relationship between structure and community development practice: Towards a Theory of Structural Community Development'.
Tina's current research goals include to:
- theory-build and theory-test conceptual frameworks and practice approaches for ‘structural community development’, that is, community development practice that is making micro-macro connections and working towards effecting structural change
- investigate, support and theorise citizenship and citizen-led social movements that are working for social justice and human rights
- investigate and support local / regional community development and social change work
Professional memberships
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Member, Australian Association of Social Workers
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Editorial Advisor (Queensland) New Community Journal
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Director, Sunshine Coast Coalition of Community Boards Co-operative Ltd
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Council Appointee, Australian Participatory Community Development Institute Ltd
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Co-convenor, Research Sub-Committee, Australian Participatory Community Development Institute Ltd
Awards
- 2016 National Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning: For an inspiring community-development approach to education, taught with a passion for social justice that enables social work students to become agents of change
- 2015 USC Advance Award for Learning and Teaching: Advancing Quality Teaching, University of the Sunshine Coast (with Cary Shaw)
Current PhD students
- Rachael Donovan - Beyond Methods: The Inner Terrain of Community Practitioners as a Site of Personal Transformation and Social and Ecological Change.
- Chris Mundy - How Do Australian Neighbourhood Centres Foster Place-Based Human Flourishing in Contested Political Spaces?
Current Master Social Work by Research
- Phillip Dien - Invisible threat: Exploring the Psychosocial Impacts of Asbestos Exposure in DIY Home Renovators in Australia.
Completed Higher Degree by Research Supervision
- Dr Pornsiri Cheevapattananuwong - A Positive Transition for local people in an Area of Rapid Economic Development: A Case Study of the Ban Pho and Bangkhla Districts, Chachoengsao Province, Thailand
- Dr Robyn Kemble – Thesis topic: Exploring Infant-Practitioner Relationships in Out-of-Home Care: Towards an Infant-Led Praxis in Child Protection.
- Dr Richard Finn – Thesis topic: Embracing the Alien: Exploring contemporary issues in Male Primary Caring through the writing of a science fiction theatre script.
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Dr Nnenna Ike – Thesis topic: University student accommodation in Australia
Potential Research Projects for HDR and Honours students
- Community Development within a Critical Paradigm
- Developmental Approaches and Social Movements
- Structure/Agency Debates
- Critical Social Policy Analysis in Social Work and the Human Services
- Action Learning and Participatory Research Methodologies
Current Research Projects
- Investigating the Challenges in Parent-Teacher Relationships when Students have Disability: A Community Development Approach.
- Nature Connections and Community Cultural Arts Practices to Sustain One’s Self, One’s Work and Place with the Natural World: Connecting with Nature – Singing Up the Land.
- Evaluating the Lived Experience Inclusion Approach to Respond to Homelessness: A Participatory Action Research Project.
- Collecting and Supporting the Lived Experience Stories of Women through a Collective Narrative Community Arts project: Your Story – Our Story.
Research grants
|
Grant / Project name |
Investigators |
Funding body and A$ value |
Year(s) |
Focus (of research grant) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evaluating the Lived Experience Inclusion Approach to Respond to Homelessness |
Tina Lathouras |
Sunshine Coast Council, $32,765 |
2023/24 |
To explore Lived Experience Inclusion approaches and theorise a new model for community development. |
| Enhancing the goals of Neighbourhood Houses Tasmania and Queensland Water and Land Carers through “Popular Education” Participatory Action Research |
Tina Lathouras (UniSC) Peter Westoby (QUT) |
USC Industry Connect Scheme |
2019/2020 |
To build a long-term partnership and enhance the goals of two state-wide peak bodies, both of whom work to create sustainable and socially just outcomes for communities. |
|
Reimagining and Radicalising Community Development Through Popular Education |
Tina Lathouras Peter Westoby (UQ) Lynda Shevellar (UQ) |
USC Collaboration Grant |
2016–2017 |
Participatory action-research to investigate ideas and practices of popular education to support emancipatory initiatives. |
|
Meeting the Challenge of the Changing Community Service Sector - Action-Research with the Sunshine Coast Coalition of Community Boards (CoCB) |
Tina Lathouras |
Queensland Community Foundation |
2015–2017 |
Participatory action-research to investigate unfolding sectoral processes and support the CoCB’s efforts of critical analysis and increase their impact in social policy advocacy and development activity. |
|
Enhancing Students’ Learning and Engagement Through the use of a Critical Pedagogical Curriculum Intervention in the Social Work Program
|
Tina Lathouras |
USC Learning and Teaching Exploratory Grant Scheme |
2015–2016 |
Participatory action-research to explore how community development and critical pedagogy enhances both international and domestic students’ deep learning and retention. |
Research areas
- structural community development
- popular education and social change
- citizenship and social movements
- international students' experience
- students' 'transformative agency'
- frameworking for development practice
- action learning and participatory research methodologies
Teaching areas
- Community Development and Social Action
- Critical Social Policy Analysis
Program coordinator
Dr Athena 'Tina' Lathouras's specialist areas of knowledge include Community Development and Social Change, Structural Community Development, Micro/Macro Social Change, Frameworking for Development Practice, Critical Social Policy Analysis, International Students, Critical Pedagogy, Action Learning and Participatory Research Methodologies