Lauren Zeuschner

Position: Lecturer
Study area: Social work, Community and Human Services
Location: Mt Helen Campus, Room H243
Email: l.zeuschner@federation.edu.au

ORCID ID: 0000-0001-7533-8100

Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy - Federation University Australia - 2022

Master of Social Work (Qualifying) - Federation University Australia - 2017

Bachelor of Social and Community Welfare - Monash University - 2012

Teaching

Programs

  • Master of Social Work (Qualifying)
  • Bachelor of Community and Human Services
  • Graduate Certificate in Social and Community Services

Courses

  • Professional Social Work Practice (MSWPG7102)
  • Contemporary Social Work Theories and Practice (MSWPG7201)
  • Interpersonal Communication for Professional Practice (CHSUG1002)
  • Models of Case Management (CHSUG2004)

Biography

Lauren joined Federation University in 2017, initially as a sessional lecturer and tutor before commencing fulltime in 2022.

Lauren is a qualified social worker, who has spent many years in direct practice driven by a desire to contribute to the growth of nurturing communities and innovative, client informed service supports. Lauren’s practice experience has included consultancy work with community and human services as well as educational institutions; group facilitation with a focus on strengthening relationships; intake and assessment; case management; and ‘single session’ counselling.

As part of her Master’s degree Lauren undertook a research placement at a family violence service for women. This project sparked her passion for collaborative social work research and led towards her engagement with the Central Highlands Children and Youth Area Partnership – Research Collaboration, and the completion of an industry-based PhD.

Research interests

Lauren completed her doctoral research through an academic-industry research partnership in the Ballarat region, in collaboration with the family violence team at a child and family services agency. Lauren conducted a feminist interpretative phenomenological analysis of women’s lived experiences of their partners’ referral to a men’s behaviour change program. This research encapsulated Lauren’s passion for ensuring everyday processes within a service setting are informed by the knowledge and experiences of the people who are most affected by those services.

‘Women’s Lived Experiences of Their Partners’ Referral to a Men’s Behaviour Change Program: A Feminist Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis’

Publications

Conference presentations

Cooper, K., Irvin, L., Boyce, W., & Camilleri, M. (2018, November).  Research for change: What does doctoral research add to Area Partnerships? And what do Area Partnerships add to doctoral research? [Conference session]. Children and Youth Area Partnerships Conference, Ballarat, Australia.

Irvin, L. (2017, July). Women’s lived experience of their partner’s referral to a behaviour change program [Poster presentation]. Federation University Higher Degree by Research Conference, Ballarat, Australia.

Irvin, L., & Clarke, A. (2013, November). Building connections through alternative programs [Conference session]. Family Relationships Services Australia (FRSA) Annual National Conference, Canberra, Australia.

Please note: Lauren has also published under the surname ‘Irvin’

Associations

  • Australian Association of Social Workers
  • Golden Key International Honour Society