Professor of Social Work and Head of Discipline

• Full-time, Ongoing position at Academic Level E.
• Parramatta South campus with flexible working arrangements.
• Salary: $230,375 – $238,446 per annum, plus 17% Super and Leave and Leader Loadings

Lead Social Work as Head of Discipline, advancing education, research and community partnerships across Western Sydney.

The Opportunity

You will provide academic and people leadership for Social Work at Western Sydney University, taking the discipline forward while enhancing curriculum quality and maintaining excellence in research. The position combines a continuing academic appointment at Level E with a three-year appointment as Head of Discipline and a 30% leadership workload allocation.

You will guide a discipline distinguished by its social justice and human rights orientation, commitment to decolonising approaches and Indigenous perspectives, and deep engagement with the diverse communities of Greater Western Sydney. You will support undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD education, including programs that attract strong interest from students across Southeast Asia and South Asia.

As an active member of the School Executive, you will help set the direction of the School of Social Sciences and contribute to its mission of impact in, of and with communities. You will strengthen the integration of research, professional practice and community partnerships, including community-led research undertaken through the Centre for Community Research Collaboration.

You will foster interdisciplinary collaboration, strengthen relationships with industry, government, professional bodies and community partners, and pursue competitive research support. You will also mentor academic colleagues, promote educational excellence and build an inclusive discipline culture grounded in diversity, anti-racism and community impact.

What Success Looks Like:

• Provide clear academic and people leadership that strengthens the direction, culture and performance of the Social Work discipline.
• Enhance undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum while assuring contemporary, inclusive and high-quality teaching practices.
• Maintain a strong national and international research profile and lead productive research teams, networks and partnerships.
• Deepen engagement with Greater Western Sydney communities, industry, government and professional bodies.
• Mentor early and mid-career academics and contribute actively to School governance and strategic direction.

Please refer to the Position Description for full details.

About You

• A PhD in a relevant discipline and a recognised professional qualification in social work.
• A distinguished record of leadership in Social Work research, education and postgraduate research supervision.
• Demonstrated people leadership, with the ability to mentor colleagues and foster educational and research excellence in others.
• Proven success in building productive partnerships with communities, industry, government and professional bodies, including attracting significant external funding.
• Highly developed interpersonal and collaboration skills, together with a global mindset and the ability to lead across diverse academic and community settings.

Benefits

We invest in the people who make our mission possible. Alongside a rewarding career, we offer a range of benefits designed to support your financial, personal and family wellbeing.

• Financial benefits: Access to staff-only products and offers with selected banking partners, salary sacrifice options for onsite parking, and novated motor vehicle leasing.
• Health and wellbeing support: Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP), complimentary annual flu vaccination, eligibility for Fitness Passport membership, and access to discounted private health cover.
• Onsite childcare: Long day care and early learning services operate at our Campbelltown, Hawkesbury, Parramatta, and Penrith campuses. Staff may be eligible for discounted fees and salary packaging, with places subject to centre capacity.

Application Details

• Position Enquiries: Direct to Professor Jason Pandya-Wood, Dean, School of Social Sciences via J.Pandya-Wood@westernsydney.edu.au. Please include the job reference code REF1775L.
• Closing Date: 11:59pm, Monday 21 September 2026.
• Working Rights: Employer Visa sponsorship will be provided if required.
• How to Apply: Please note that only applications submitted via the University’s online recruitment system will be considered. As part of your online application, you will be asked to respond to screening questions addressing the key qualifications, experiences and skills required for this position.

  To express your interest in the role, please prepare the following application materials:

• A comprehensive academic CV detailing your positions held (with dates), key achievements, education, professional training, qualifications (including dates of completion), and a summary of your research activity and outputs.
• A candidate statement (maximum five pages) outlining your vision for the role, what you hope to accomplish, and how your experience and skills align with the selection criteria (the qualifications, experience and skills listed in the Position Description).
• Contact details for three referees, including your relationship to each referee and why you have nominated them. Referees will only be contacted after prior consultation with you.
• Your earliest possible start date.

Belonging at Western

We are committed to substantive equality as outlined in our Equal Opportunity Policy. We actively encourage applications from Indigenous Australians, candidates of all gender identities and expressions, people of all abilities, and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

For reasonable adjustments during the application process, please contact talentacquisitionteam@westernsydney.edu.au.

About Western

This is your opportunity to be part of something bigger. By joining Western Sydney University, you become a valued member of our community. As our region changes, so too does our university. Western is boldly different, energetic, global, diverse, dynamic, and youthful.

Our mission is to deliver student success, impactful research, and stronger communities. As part of our team, you will have a stake in shaping the future of education, broadening horizons, and changing lives. Making a difference starts at Western.

For the latest please visit our website and LinkedIn.