A mixed-methods study of two modes of the circle of security
- Authors: Sadowski, Christina , Goff, Rachel , Sawyer, Neroli
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Research on Social Work Practice Vol. 32, no. 1 (2022), p. 49-60
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- Description: Purpose: This study compared the impact, challenges, and benefits of the Circle of Security-Parenting (COS-P) intervention across two delivery modes: group center-based (GCCOS-P) and individual home-based (IHCOS-P). Methods: This mixed-methods study compared the impact of the COS-P on parental reflective functioning and parental stress across two delivery modes: GCCOS-P (n = 7) and IHCOS-P (n = 7). It compared the challenges and benefits of each, from the qualitative perspectives of participants (n = 2 IHCOS-P; n = 3 GCCOS-P) and facilitators (n = 4). Results: Quantitative statistical analysis comparing pre- and postintervention measures suggest that each delivery mode was equally effective in reducing parental stress and generally noneffective with respect to parental reflective functioning. Challenges and benefits of each mode, inherent in the peer/shared learning environment of the GCOS-P and the individualized, flexible delivery of the IHCOS-P, were identified. Discussion: This study adds to knowledge about the widely utilized COS-P, highlighting challenges and benefits of two modes of delivery. © The Author(s) 2021.
A Phenomenological analysis of the experience of security and contentment for latency aged children in shared-time parenting arrangements
- Authors: Sadowski, Christina , McIntosh, Jennifer
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Phenomenological Psychology Vol. 46, no. 1 (2015), p. 69-104
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- Description: This study explored the lived experience of security and contentment, and their absence, for latency-aged children (aged 8-12) living in shared-time parenting arrangements following their parents' separation. A descriptive phenomenological methodology was utilized (Giorgi, 1985, 2009; Giorgi & Giorgi, 2003, 2008). Sixteen children living in shared-time were interviewed about their experiences of two phenomena: "feeling secure and content living in shared-time" and "not feeling secure and content living in shared-time." The eight richest protocols were selected for analysis. The two resultant general structures and their core constituents are presented, and individual variations discussed. Central to each phenomenon is the parent/s' capacity, or incapacity, to create and sustain a physical and emotional space in which the child feels secure and held in the mind, feels the arrangements are responsive to their needs, feels free to access the "absent" parent, and experiences integration between the two parental homes. Implications for phenomenological human science research are considered, including the use of descriptive phenomenology with children.
Beyond survival : strengthening community-based support for parents receiving a family service intervention
- Authors: Goff, Rachel , Sadowski, Christina , Bagley, Kerryn
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Child and Family Social Work Vol. 28, no. 2 (2023), p. 491-502
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- Description: This paper presents parents' experiences of community support and their recommendations for how their communities, and the services within them, might support their families. Generated through a human-centred design methodology and using a desire-centred framework, the findings suggest that parents receiving a family service require support invoking feelings of intimacy, trust, reciprocity, inclusivity, connection and belonging. Parents' recommendations for community support include addressing material and attitudinal constraints impacting on engagement with services; creating non-judgmental services tailored to their needs but accessed as a last resort; and creating peer-based opportunities to support each other. Parents reflect that moving beyond basic survival of risk and vulnerability to a position where thriving is possible requires purposeful integration of parent's existing and desired community into service interventions. Facilitating deliberate change at the intersection of community and service support is pertinent to current and future social work policy and practice. Wider opportunities for understanding and enabling the needs and aspirations of parents, which are often overlooked because of a focus on addressing risk and vulnerability, are considered. © 2022 The Authors. Child & Family Social Work published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Clients and workers
- Authors: Sadowski, Christina , Ratcliffe, Stacey
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Community and human services: Concepts for practice Chapter 3 p. 45-64
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- Description: Clients and Workers, ends Section 1 and leads into Section 2: Identities and Relationships. Christina Sadowski and Staci Ratcliffe explore the context of the client– worker relationship. In so doing, they unpack the meanings that we ascribe to these subjective positions by encouraging you to examine the concepts and consequences of labelling and objectification. Negative and positive aspects of power dynamics in the client– worker relationship are reflected upon, and five types of power are discussed: reward, legitimate, coercive, expert and referent. You are encouraged to incorporate power-sharing into your practice framework. Current approaches in community and human services work, including service user involvement and marketisation, are highlighted. You are invited to virtually experience accessing a community and human.
On laughter and loss : Children's views of shared time, parenting and security post-separation
- Authors: Sadowski, Christina , McIntosh, Jennifer
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Childhood Vol. 23, no. 1 (2016), p. 69-86
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- Description: Among the research, practice and socio-legal commentary on the substantial sharing of parenting time after separation, children's voices about their experiences remain overwhelmingly silent. This article draws on findings of a descriptive phenomenological study which investigated Australian school-aged (8- to 12-year-old) children's descriptions of two binary phenomena: security and contentment in shared time arrangements, and the absence of security and contentment in shared time parenting. Specifically, this article focuses on exploring parental behaviours and interactions recognised by children as sources of security in shared time lifestyles, through happy and needy times. Central to this is the juxtaposition of the child's experience of security and shared enjoyment with the present parent, against the absence of security emanating from unresolved longing for the 'absent' parent. The article provides an empirically derived formulation of children's advice to parents about shared time parenting, with relevance for family law related parent education forums. © The Author(s) 2015.
Pathway to success : Using students’ insights and perspectives to improve retention and success for university students from low socioeconomic (LSE) backgrounds
- Authors: Sadowski, Christina , Stewart, Margaret , Pediaditis, Mika
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Inclusive Education Vol. 22, no. 2 (2018), p. 158-175
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- Description: In an increasingly complex landscape of diversification and massification, universities are grappling with challenges of student attrition. This paper presents findings from a project investigating how students from low socio-economic backgrounds at a regional Australian university perceive challenges and supports associated with retention and success. Twenty-seven students received intensive one-to-one support from a Faculty-embedded ‘academic advisor’, and reflected on this support, their overall student experience, and strategies to enhance student success. Students identified a range of challenges that they experienced across an academic year (personal circumstances, lack of preparedness for university study, timely access to support, course/programme difficulties) and what worked well for them (academic advisor, University support services, growing confidence in self as competent student, peer support). A range of strategies for enhancing student success were identified by students, namely consistency across teaching design and delivery, transparency of delivery modes, mandatory orientation, access to a dedicated academic advisor, and increased peer connectedness. The applicability and viability of the proposed strategies within current higher education settings are explored. © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
The lived experience of security and contentment for latency aged children in shared care, post-separation : a descriptive phenomenological enquiry
- Authors: Sadowski, Christina
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
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- Description: "As a result of complex social, economic and legislative factors, the number of children in shared time arrangements (in which children spend equal, or near-equal time, with both parents post-separation) has risen steadily and incrementally in Australia and internationally. Despite the increasing numbers of children in this arrangement, conceptualisations of and discussions about shared care remain largely devoid of children's perspectives about their experiences. As a result, little is known about how children experience this way of living. This study used a descriptive phenomenological approach to explore latency aged (aged 8-12) children's lived experience of security and contentment, and their absence, in a shared care time arrangement." "Interviews were conducted with sixteen children across a diversity of living arrangements (levels of parental cooperation and conflict; self-selected and Court-ordered; day-to-day patterns) who had current or recent experience living in shared care. From this pool of interviews, the eight richest and detailed protocols were selected for descriptive phenomenological analysis. Through a process of detailed analytic exploration of these eight individual descriptions of phenomena under investigation (security and contentment in shared care; the absence of security and contentment in shared care), the core constituents of each phenomenon were discerned. From these, General Structures representing the essence, or the invariants common to all experiences under investigation, were identified. This thesis introduces a child-generated phenomenology of security and contentment, and their absence, in shared care. This phenomenology is based on the careful analysis of children's pre-reflective narrative descriptions, describing core aspects of this arrangement that contribute to their felt security and contentment, and core aspects that compromise it. Ultimately, this thesis presents the child's lived experience of feeling securely shared by parents in the context of a shared time living arrangement. "
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
University students' perceptions of social networking sites (SNSs) in their educational experiences at a regional Australian university
- Authors: Sadowski, Christina , Pediaditis, Mika , Townsend, Robert
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australasian Journal of Educational Technology Vol. 33, no. 5 (2017), p. 77-90
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- Description: Higher education institutions, and the way education is delivered and supported, are being transformed by digital technologies. Internationally, institutions are increasingly incorporating online technologies into delivery frameworks and administration – both through internal learning management systems (LMS) and external social networking sites (SNSs). This study aims to explore how higher education students in a regional Australian dual-sector institute use and manage SNSs for personal and study-related activities and their perceptions of how this impacts their educational experiences. This mixed-methods study involved a quantitative and qualitative survey of 355 vocational training and higher education students and in-depth focus groups with ten higher education students. Four key themes were identified through thematic analysis: SNSs as a tool for fostering peer connectedness with fellow students; deliberate and distinct variation between personal and educational use of SNSs; resistance to external SNSs within education settings; and, need for a balance between digital and face-to-face learning and connectedness. Implications for curriculum design and delivery, and development of support for students in diverse learning contexts, are considered.
‘You say one thing wrong, and your children are gone’ : exploring trauma-informed practices in foster and kinship care
- Authors: Cooper, Kimberlea , Sadowski, Christina , Townsend, Rob
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: British Journal of Social Work Vol. 53, no. 6 (2023), p. 3055-3072
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- Description: Trauma-informed care is a growing practice approach in child and family social work. Current policy directions in out-of-home care (OOHC) in Victoria, Australia show an interest in further implementation of trauma-informed care, particularly through training for foster and kinship carers. Drawing upon findings from grounded theory research with sixteen foster and kinship carers, this article considers the application of trauma-informed practices in home-based care in the Central Highlands region of Victoria, Australia. The research reveals that whilst carers utilise principles of trauma-informed care to support children and young people, they do not always experience trauma-informed support from the wider OOHC system. This discrepancy suggests that the implementation of trauma-informed care has the potential to increase pressure on home-based carers if it is only encouraged at the interpersonal level between carers and children, without incorporating associated systems-level change. These findings propose that whilst micro-level support and training for carers are necessary and useful, it is crucial for OOHC systems to move beyond such initiatives to plan and enact macro-level reforms. © The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The British Association of Social Workers.