Jennie Charlton
Social Work Industry Facilitator
College of Education, Psychology and Social Work
Jennie Charlton is a social work academic and practitioner with over 20 years’ experience across mental health and forensic mental health practice, working with individuals, families, and systems across the life course. She holds a Master of Forensic Mental Health and has worked extensively in child protection, out-of-home care and fostering, disability, sexual assault services, sexual offending, domestic and family violence, mental health, and homelessness. She is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and a member of the EMDR Association of Australia, currently working towards EMDR accreditation.
Since 2012, Jennie has held academic and practice-education roles alongside senior clinical practice, contributing to teaching, student supervision, workforce development, and applied research. Her work is grounded in trauma-informed, rights-based, and culturally responsive approaches, with particular expertise in complex risk, ethical decision-making, and interagency practice.
In her role at Flinders University, Jennie supports mental health workforce pathways, student engagement, and practice-education partnerships, bridging frontline practice and higher education to strengthen capability across multidisciplinary and cross-sector contexts.
Master of Forensic Mental Health (Dissertation Pathway); Griffith University, 2026
Dissertation: Differences Between Child Sexual Abuse Material Offenders and other Sexual Offenders: A Systematic Review (Distinction)
Diploma of Correctional Supervision, Department Correctional Services South Australia, 2012
Bachelor of Social Work and Social Welfare (Honours), Upper Second Class (2-1), Northumbria University, UK, 2004
Diploma of Social Work with Commendation, Northumbria University, UK, 2003
Finalist, Australian Association of Social Workers National Excellence Awards – Social Worker of the Year (2025)
Finalist. Agent of Change Award, Australian Association of Social Workers South Australian Branch (2020)
Vice President, Australian Association of Social Workers South Australian Branch (five-year term)
Chair, AASW South Australian Branch Social Justice Committee (ten-year tenure)
Lead and support mental health workforce pathways across social work and allied health disciplines, with a focus on student placement development and practice readiness.
Build and maintain partnerships with health services, NGOs, and community organisations to strengthen high-quality mental health placement opportunities across metropolitan, regional, and remote contexts.
Support student engagement, supervision, and capability development in complex and high-acuity practice environments.
Provide practice-education leadership informed by trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and ethically grounded frameworks.
Contribute to workforce development initiatives aligned with the National Mental Health Pathways to Practice Pilot.
Support cross-disciplinary collaboration across social work, nursing, psychology, and occupational therapy in mental health education and practice contexts.
Contribute to applied research, evaluation, and continuous improvement activities related to mental health education and workforce development.
Previous experience as a Topic Coordinator and Tutor within social work education, with responsibility for curriculum delivery, assessment, and student support.
Experience contributing to curriculum development and review, informed by contemporary practice and professional standards.
Teaching responsibilities are undertaken as part of practice education and curriculum development activities.
Jennie Charlton is an experienced social worker and educator with more than twenty years of practice across forensic mental health, community mental health and trauma‑informed services. Her work focuses on strengthening connections between social work education, practice settings and community organisations, with a commitment to developing a skilled, reflective and socially responsive mental health and social work workforce.
Jennie has held significant leadership roles within the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), including serving as Vice President of the South Australian Branch and leading the branch Social Justice Committee for over a decade. During this time, she also established the Child Protection, Aged Care and Mental Health Practice Groups, creating important professional communities that support practice development, advocacy and sector-wide collaboration. Her contributions have supported socially just and culturally responsive practice, including work aligned with Closing the Gap priorities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
In her role at Flinders University, Jennie collaborates with government and non‑government organisations across the mental health, forensic and community sectors to support student placements, workforce development and practice‑informed education. She is actively involved in building new partnerships, expanding placement opportunities and strengthening the role of social work within interdisciplinary and emerging areas of practice.
Jennie also provides professional education and training for practitioners, including supervision, reflective practice development and trauma‑informed approaches. Her interests include EMDR‑informed practice and bridging research and practice in forensic mental health, particularly in relation to understanding sexual offending behaviours and improving assessment, intervention and policy responses.
She is committed to deepening the relationship between practice, education and research, and to promoting the broad and evolving contribution of social work within interdisciplinary teams and community settings.
Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042
South Australia | Northern Territory
Global | Online
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