Rate My Professor Kathryn Daley

Dr Kathryn Daley is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies at RMIT University. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy from RMIT University (2009–2014), a Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) from RMIT University (2008), and a Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) from RMIT University (2005). Trained in psychology and social science, she previously worked in direct service provision and in research and policy roles in the not-for-profit sector. Her work focuses on improving the wellbeing of people living on the margins, particularly children and young people, with current research interests including patterns of service use in homelessness services, predictive patterns of adverse childhood experiences, research and practice ethics, and good practice guidelines for youth workers applying a trauma-informed approach.

Dr Daley serves as Assistant Associate Dean of Research and Policy Studies and co-theme lead of the Homelessness and Housing Insecurity research program. She is also Associate Director of the Social Equity Research Centre. She has held leadership roles including manager of the Research Training Unit, Program Manager of the Bachelor of Social Science (Honours), and Program Manager of the Bachelor of Youth Work and Youth Studies. She teaches courses in alcohol and other drug interventions, advanced youth work practice, youth work ethics, critical understandings of youth wellbeing, and research design and methods. She is Chair of the board of Youth Workers Australia, a member of the board of the Professional Association of Lecturers in Youth and Community Work (Australia), and holds a ministerial appointment to the Women’s Correctional Services Advisory Committee. She has received the 2024 Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Research Impact and Engagement and the 2025 RMIT University Media Star of the Year Award. Her publications include the book Youth and Substance Abuse (2016) and numerous peer-reviewed articles on topics such as research ethics with marginalised young people, youth mental health during COVID-19 lockdowns, and young people’s experiences in public housing.