Since completing a Bachelor of Social Work degree in 1996, Debbie has worked in a range of health and welfare settings providing support to vulnerable children, young people and their families. Since 2001, Debbie has managed research projects at various government and non-government organisations including: Carers Australia, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the Institute of Child Protection Studies at Australian Catholic University and now at the Australian National University.

Debbie has conducted qualitative research on a range of sensitive issues including: young carers, adoption, child and youth homelessness, children affected by parental alcohol or other drug use, children's experiences of family violence and children's safety within institutions. During this time, Debbie has developed innovative participatory research methodologies and methods to sensitively explore the lives of vulnerable children and positively influence policy and practice in the field of children's safety, health and wellbeing. 

Debbie also has extensive experience in developing and providing professional development in the areas of child safety and child centred practice. She has taught a variety of units in the BSW and MSW degrees at Australian Catholic University. In 2017, Debbie completed her PhD, which focused on vulnerable children's perceptions and experiences of loss. From 2018- 2023 Debbie was employed as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at ANU on an ARC Discovery study examining 'lactation after loss'.

Ph.D (Social Work), BSW

• Participatory qualitative research methodologies and methods (particularly with vulnerable children and young people)
• Grief and loss
• Young carers
• Homelessness
• Child-centred welfare practice
• Lactation and breastfeeding