Dr Patrick Kelly, University of Auckland and Clinical Director of Te Puaruruhau & Nicola Atwool, Associate Professor, University of Otago
ADDRESS: Child-centred multi-agency practice: challenges for change
Nicola Atwool is an Associate Professor in the social work programme at the University of Otago. Prior to her return at the beginning of 2012 she spent six years as a Principal Advisor in the Office of the Children's Commissioner. She previously worked at the University of Otago as a lecturer and senior lecturer in the social work programme from 1994 to 2005. Nicola has also maintained a close relationship with the Children's Issues Centre during her time at the University.
Nicola has professional qualifications in social work and child and adolescent psychotherapy and was employed in a variety of roles by what is now Child, Youth and Family for nearly twenty years before taking up an academic position. Her research interests include the social construction of childhood and adolescence, attachment theory, resilience, the impact of trauma on children and young people, the experience of children in care and social work intervention with children, young people and their families.
Nicola is committed to bridging the worlds of academia, policy and practice.
Dr Patrick Kelly is a Paediatrician, a Clinical Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland and Clinical Director of Te Puaruruhau (the Auckland District Health Board Child Protection Team). This is based in Puawaitahi, Australasia’s first multi-agency child advocacy centre. Dr Kelly has been involved in multi-disciplinary child protection practice, service development, teaching and research for 20 years.Dr Kelly was chair of the Child Protection Special Interest Group of the Paediatric Society of New Zealand for 13 years, and was a founding member of the National Child Mortality Review Committee and the Family Violence Death Review Committee.
