Sharon Dr Du Plessis-Schneider
Senior Lecturer in Social Work
College of Education, Psychology and Social Work
Dr Sharon du Plessis-Schneider is a social worker and academic with over twenty-five years of experience in practice, teaching, and research in youth work, deradicalisation programs and community outreach, school social work, trauma-informed social work practice, social work with refugees and migrants, and international social work. As a Senior Lecturer, she is responsible for designing, teaching, and evaluating research-driven courses in the Honours and Undergraduate Social Work programs, leading efforts to prepare students to address complex social problems in practice.
Sharon has led international collaborations, including partnerships with the Regional European University Network (RUN) and Erasmus programs, contributing to the extension of global perspectives in social work education.
Sharon's research and teaching focus on social work and human rights, with an emphasis on the application of social work theories, social justice, ethics, and the role of school social work in student belonging and school retention. Her interdisciplinary research includes work on inclusive education and children's rights.
Doctor of Education (Dr Paed.) magna cum laude from the Faculty of Education and Psychology at the University of Education Weingarten, Germany,
Master of Social Work in Human Rights by research from the Catholic University of Applied Social Sciences Berlin, Germany.
Diploma in Social Work from the Social Academy in Bregenz, Austria,
Family Mediator certification, Germany.
Postgraduate Certificate in Management of Social Organisations, Switzerland.
Advance HE: 2024, Status as Senior Fellow (SFHEA)
Reviewer for Publishers: Sage and Routledge; Social Work Education
Research Fellowship 2012-2015: Australian Catholic University (ACU)
Nomination: MIA Award 2011 for Outstanding Humanitarian Achievement in Austria: www.mia-award.at
Children’s Rights Award 2010 Associations/Institutions Category: 2nd Prize for the projects: (1) "Best Practices from Everyday School Life in Vorarlberg: Living and Experiencing Children’s Rights in Schools" and (2) Publication of a children’s rights book with children and young people: "We Are the Children * Children Have Rights."
Children’s Rights Award 2006, School/Kindergarten Category: 1st Prize in collaboration with Höchst Secondary School for the peer mediation project "Front Line Kids."
Sharon has led initiatives in curriculum development, reaccreditation processes, and the mentoring of junior academics within the social work discipline. She is responsible for overseeing curriculum design, course delivery, and the integration of innovative teaching methods. She holds a leadership role as the Academic Integrity Lead for the social work discipline, where she is responsible for implementing policies that uphold ethical standards and plays a central role in shaping the discipline’s approach to academic integrity and professional ethics. In this capacity, she leads efforts to ensure that integrity and ethical considerations are embedded in all aspects of the curriculum and faculty practice. She also exercises leadership within the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) working group, contributing to the integration of reconciliation principles into the social work curriculum.
Sharon is a founding member of the Austrian Association for Social Work in Teaching and Research (ogsa), where she served for eight years as a board member. During her tenure, she co-organised and chaired research panels at annual conferences, focusing on the scholarship of teaching and research, and coordinated a special interest group in social work, ethics, and human rights.
Beyond her academic scholarship and leadership, Sharon served as the Vice-Chair of the Monitoring Commission on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Vorarlberg, Austria, where she led efforts to ensure compliance with human rights standards. Demonstrating her leadership in social work practice, she founded and directed the first school social work agency in Western Austria, establishing key frameworks for child and youth well-being, protection, and participation in collaboration with regional stakeholders.
My teaching ethos aligns with the principles of critical pedagogy, which supports individuals as informed and critical thinkers capable of self-transformation and contributing to societal change through rational and scientifically grounded methodologies. I draw on Mario Bunge's scientific realism (2013), which explains the world through empirical evidence and logical reasoning. I also incorporate John Dewey's (1916) philosophy, which advocates for experiential learning and education as a tool for social progress, and Paulo Freire's (1970) grassroots approach, which focuses on critical consciousness and empowerment.
In education, applying scientific realism, Dewey's principles, and Freire's ideas involves creating a learning environment where students engage critically with evidence-based knowledge, question assumptions, and use rational, scientific methods to solve real-world problems. This methodology values objective inquiry and focuses on the practical application of knowledge to enhance both individual and collective well-being.
My approach begins with analysing the specific social and political conditions of each context, subjecting them to thorough critique. Critical pedagogy continually adapts and refines its concepts to address new challenges and find innovative solutions to emerging social problems. The central challenge of critical-emancipatory pedagogy lies in reflecting critically on socio-economic conditions and transforming society through political practice grounded in scientific realism, Dewey's focus on education for the common good, and Freire's approach to empowerment. My tenet is that emancipatory education encourages learners to exercise self-determination and cultivates critical thinking, action competence, and solidarity, thereby contributing actively to the development and sustenance of democracy.
My professional and community interests are deeply rooted in a commitment to social justice and the empowerment of marginalised communities, both locally and globally. Professionally, I am focused on advancing social work as a profession and discipline, drawing on the work of Silvia Staub-Bernasconi, who emphasises the importance of integrating social work’s theoretical foundations with its practical applications.
I am curious about innovative teaching methodologies, grounded in critical pedagogy and scientific realism, and how these can be applied to address complex social problems and enhance the quality of social services. My work includes mentoring teaching teams, developing curricula that bridge theory and practice, and conducting research that informs both educational practices and social work interventions. In the community, I have been actively engaged in initiatives that support vulnerable populations, particularly in areas related to education and social welfare. I've collaborated with local organisations to design and implement programs that address the needs of refugees, low-income families, and other marginalised groups. These efforts are guided by recognising our shared responsibility in a global society, while also addressing specific local requirements. This ‘glocal’ approach means that I work on remedies that are both globally informed and locally relevant. I engage in cross-disciplinary projects that bring together interdisciplinary professionals to support environmental sustainability, and public health. I am passionate about fostering a culture of lifelong learning and reflection within social work. This includes advocating for policies that support professional development, as well as creating spaces for dialogue and collaboration among social workers, educators, and community leaders. My goal is to contribute to a more just and equitable world society, where education and social services empower individuals and communities to thrive.
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Counselling
- Education - Curriculum
- Ethics
- History - German
- Human rights
- Human rights and civil liberties
- International relations
- Mediation
- Motivation
- Overseas students
- Philosophy
- Politics
- Social inclusion
- Social issues
- Social policy/welfare
- Social theory
- Social work
My professional and community interests are deeply rooted in a commitment to social justice and the empowerment of marginalised communities, both locally and globally. Professionally, I am focused on advancing social work as a profession and discipline, drawing on the work of Silvia Staub-Bernasconi, who emphasises the importance of integrating social work’s theoretical foundations with its practical applications.
I am curious about innovative teaching methodologies, grounded in critical pedagogy and scientific realism, and how these can be applied to address complex social problems and enhance the quality of social services. My work includes mentoring teaching teams, developing curricula that bridge theory and practice, and conducting research that informs both educational practices and social work interventions. In the community, I have been actively engaged in initiatives that support vulnerable populations, particularly in areas related to education and social welfare. I've collaborated with local organisations to design and implement programs that address the needs of refugees, low-income families, and other marginalised groups. These efforts are guided by recognising our shared responsibility in a global society, while also addressing specific local requriements. This ‘glocal’ approach menas that I work on remedies that are both globally informed and locally relevant. I engage in cross-disciplinary projects that bring together interdisciplinary professionals to support environmental sustainability, and public health. I am passionate about fostering a culture of life long learning and reflection within social work. This includes advocating for policies that support professional development, as well as creating spaces for dialogue and collaboration among social workers, educators, and community leaders. My ultimate goal is to contribute to a more just and equitable world society, where education and social services empower individuals and communities to thrive.
Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042
South Australia | Northern Territory
Global | Online
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