Advancing Social Work in Mental Health Through SBP Advancing Social Work in Mental Health | Page 7

Advancing Social Work in Mental Health through Strengths-based Practice
About the Authors
Dr Abraham P . Francis is a Senior Lecturer at James Cook University in Australia with international exposure and extensive experience in community development and mental health . He taught social work at the Delhi University in India and also worked as a senior mental health social worker with Country Health South Australia , before moving to Townsville to join James Cook University . Dr Francis is associated with many voluntary organisations , associations , professional bodies and developmental projects both in Australia and India . Dr Francis has established international partnerships and research collaborations with universities and nongovernment organisations in Asia . He is the convener of the international consortium on strengths-based social work practice in mental health and has been the honorary founding director of the DePaul International Centre for Wellbeing , India . His other research interests are in the field of community development , criminal justice , international social work , and gerontological social work . Contact : Abraham . francis @ jcu . edu . au
Amanda Kruger has a Bachelor of Social Work from James Cook University , Queensland , Australia , along with a Post Graduate Diploma in Forensic Psychology from James Cook University , Queensland , Australia . She has also completed intensive training in narrative therapy with Dulwich Centre in Adelaide , South Australia . Amanda is a mental health accredited social worker and operates her own private practice . She is the current president of the Australian Association of Social Workers North Queensland Branch . Amanda is a mental health practitioner in the field of children and youth , and has worked in many areas including juvenile justice , adolescent forensic mental health , child and youth mental health and adolescent inpatient and day program services . In private practice , she works with adults and children through counselling , utilising strength based perspectives . She has presented at several conferences on topics
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