Professional background:

Dr Carolyn Harris Johnson is a social work clinician, researcher and educator with a background of clinical work in prisons, the Family Court and child protection. For many years she has been involved in teaching and clinical supervision of social work students at Curtin University and UWA, and has also taught into the disciplines of psychology and law. 

Her research examines the sensitive topics of familicide following separation, intimate partner homicide, intimate partner homicide-suicide and the links between these offences and childhood trauma. This continues to inform her current work in designing and delivering programs in rural areas to raise community awareness about Family and Domestic Violence and its links to substance misuse, mental health and the intergenerational transmission of trauma. 

Carolyn is committed to providing placements for students on these projects, as a way of providing an alternative experience for them, and to enhance their knowledge of rural communities and the challenges they face in securing a range of health and welfare services. Carolyn combines this community work with her private practice as an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and providing professional supervision and training to clinicians.

Research interests: 

Familicide

Intimate Partner Homicide

Childhood trauma

Family and Domestic Violence

Membership:

Australian Association of Social Workers
WA Ombudsman’s Advisory Panel on Domestic Homicide and Child Death

Lancelin Healthy Communities Forum