Postgraduate Profile
Vicki Cowling
PhD Candidate, School of Humanities and Social Science
Discipline: Social work
Faculty/Division: Education and Arts
Email: Vicki.Cowling@uon.edu.au
Campus: Callaghan
Current Research
PhD Thesis Title: Support for children and families living with a family member with mental illness
Supervisors: Professor Mel Gray; Dr. Graeme Stuart: Dr. Kylie Agllias
Abstract
This study explores the experiences of children and families living with a family member with mental illness, in the context of relevant mental health and family support policy provisions. A case study approach is used to examine a program within a non-government agency, and the experiences of families who are program clients. The agency family workers will also be interviewed to elicit their perspectives on family experiences.
The research question is: What experiences do parents and children who live with a family member with mental illness have of formal and informal supports, and is this affected by participation in the program provided by a non-government agency?
To answer this question, the following areas of enquiry will be explored:
- What formal and informal supports in the community do families access?
- What factors facilitate or serve as barriers to families' access to supports and services?
- Has participation in the agency program influenced
a) The supports and networks families call on?
b) The family's health and wellbeing?
Publications and conference presentation relating to thesis
Cowling, V. & Lamont, M. (2009) Children and parents living with a family member with mental illness: A model of practice-research collaboration. Family Relationships Quarterly No. 14. The Newsletter of the Australian Family Relationships Clearinghouse.
Cowling, V. & Lamont, M. (2010) "Linking practice and research with families having a family member with mental illness". 6th Australian Family and Community Strengths Conference, Newcastle 1-3 December 2010.
Cowling, V. & Lamont, M. (2009) "Innovation and research in a family support setting: Working together with families. World Children of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI) Conference. 26-28 October, 2009, Adelaide, Australia.
Other publications
Books
Sved Williams, A. & Cowling, V. (Eds.) (2008). Infants of parents with mental illness: Developmental, clinical, cultural and personal perspectives. Brisbane: Australian Academic Press.
Cowling, V. (Ed.) (2004). Children of Parents with Mental Illness 2: Personal and Clinical Perspectives. Melbourne: Australian Council for Educational Research.
Cowling, V. (Ed.). (1999). Children of Parents with Mental Illness. Melbourne: Australian Council of Educational Research.
Articles and book chapters
Cowling, V., Seeman, M.V. & Gopfert, M. (2010). Grandparents parenting grandchildren when parents have a mental illness. COPMI GEM (Children of Parents with Mental Illness, Gateway to Evidence that Matters) Edition 9. http://www.copmi.net.au/gems/files/COPMI_gems_09.pdf
Cowling, V. & Thornton, K. (2009). Pre-school children in families with parental mental illness.
COPMI GEM (Children of Parents with Mental Illness, Gateway to Evidence that Matters) Edition 7. http://www.copmi.net.au/gems/files/COPMI_Gems_07.pdf
Cowling, V. (2009). Working together for change for children of parents with mental illness and their families. Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping 15 (3), 61-73. Journal of School of Social Work, University of California, Long Beach.
Cowling, V. & Garrett, M. (2009). Child and family inclusive practice: A pilot program in a community adult mental health service. Australasian Psychiatry, 17 (4), 279-282.
Cowling, V. & Garrett, M. (2008). Children of parents with mental illness and their family relationships. COPMI GEM (Children of Parents with Mental Illness, Gateway to Evidence that Matters) Edition 3. http://www.copmi.net.au/gems/files/copmi_gems_3_dec_08.pdf
Cowling, V. (2008). "From small things good things grow…" Achievements in Australia for children of parents with mental illness and their families. The Clinician Vol 4 - Vulnerable Families: Children of Parents with Mental Illness. (pp.187-191). Sydney: MH-Kids/NSW Health.
Cowling, V. & Dezilva, G. (2008). Building partnerships towards collaboration. The Clinician Vol 4 - Vulnerable Families: Children of Parents with Mental Illness. (pp.142-148). Sydney: MH-Kids/NSW Health.
Cowling, V. & Azizi, M. (2008). Understanding diversity: Working with families when children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds have a parent with a mental illness. The Clinician Vol 4 - Vulnerable Families: Children of Parents with Mental Illness. (pp. 125-130). Sydney: MH-Kids/NSW Health.
Cowling, V. & Searle, S. (2008). Wiyiliin Ta nubaliin Ta - Awabakal language for talking, learning. Working with Aboriginal families and communities. The Clinician Vol 4 - Vulnerable Families: Children of Parents with Mental Illness. (pp. 135-141). Sydney: MH-Kids/NSW Health.
Falkov, A. & Cowling, V. (2008). Talking with parents - concerns and dilemmas. The Clinician Vol 4 - Vulnerable Families: Children of Parents with Mental Illness. (pp. 31-37). Sydney: MH-Kids/NSW Health.
Cowling, V., Edan, V., Cuff, R., Armitage, P. & Herszberg, D. (2006). Mental health consumer and carer participation in professional education: Getting There Together for children of parents with mental illness and their families. Australian Social Work, 59, p. 406-421.
Cowling, V. (2006). Parents with a mental illness: how schools can assist children and adolescents to cope. Education Connect, Issue Four. www.responseability.org
Cowling, V., Costin, J., Davidson-Tuck, R., Esler, J., Chapman, A. & Niessen, J. (2005). Responding to disruptive behaviour in schools. Collaboration and capacity building for early intervention. Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health 4 (3). www.auseinet.com/journal/vol4iss3/cowling
Cowling, V., Cuff, R., Luntz, J. & Verscharen, K. (2004). Peer support activities for children and young people who have a family member with mental illness. In V. Cowling (Ed.). Children of Parents with Mental Illness 2: Personal and Clinical Perspectives. Melbourne: Australian Council for Educational Research.
Cowling, V. (2004). Models of service provision. In Parental Psychiatric Disorder. M. Gopfert, J. Webster & M. Seeman (Eds.) (2nd. Ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Cowling, V. in collaboration with four parent groups in Melbourne, Massachusetts and Toronto (2004). "The same as they treat everybody else": Parents' perspectives. In Parental Psychiatric Disorder. M. Gopfert, J. Webster & M. Seeman (Eds.) (2nd Ed.) Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Cowling, V., Luk, E., Mileshkin, C. & Birleson, P. (2004). Children of adults with severe mental illness: mental health, help seeking and service use. Psychiatric Bulletin, 28, 43-46.
Cowling, V. (2004). From little things big things grow: A decade of Australian achievements for children of parents with mental illness and their families. Visions, 2 (2), 29-31. www.mentalhealthaddictions.bc.ca
Joyce, A., Allchin, B., Malmborg, J., Candy, L. & Cowling, V. (2003). Primary schools: opportune settings for changing attitudes and promoting mental health. Health Promotion, Journal of Australia, 14, 216-218.
