School of Arts and Humanities

Associate Professor Trudi Cooper

Trudi is an Associate Professor in Youth Work, Course Coordinator for Youth Work and Leader of the Social Program Innovation Research and Evaluation group within the School of Arts and Humanities.

Current teaching

• YWK3107 - Ideology and Youth Work
• CSV2116 - Ethics in Human Services

Background

Associate Professor Trudi Cooper is an Australian Learning and Teaching Fellow, Director of the Social Program Innovation, Research and Evaluation (SPIRE) group and Coordinator of the Youth Work degree program at Edith Cowan University. Her research focuses on improvement of youth work theorisation and linkages to youth work policy, youth work practice, and youth work education. Postgraduate projects are focused on explicating youth work careers and on youth and sustainable development goals. Previous research projects have been commissioned by federal, state or local government, or non-government youth organisations and peak bodies. Topics have included policy responses for youth homelessness, Indigenous youth night patrols and the social value of Aboriginal Arts Centres. Professor Cooper has also led higher education policy and curriculum projects. Her educational research interests include quality management and policy and how this effects specialist courses like youth work, and innovation in teaching and learning for professional practice in youth work.

Professional associations

• International Federation of National Teaching Fellows (IFNTF), (Member)
• Professional Association of Lecturers in Youth and Community Work (PALYCW), (Member)
• Youth Workers Association (YWA), (Member)
• Youth Work Western Australia (YWWA), (Member)
• International Sociological Association (ISA), Member)

Awards and recognition

National and International Awards

• 2014 - Youth Work Leader: Special commendation awarded by the Western Australian Association Youth Workers

University and National Teaching Awards

• 2016 - Australian Learning and Teaching Fellow, Office for Learning and Teaching
• 2006 - Australian National Award: Carrick CAAUT Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Learning and Teaching. Citation title: For enhancement of quality of student learning, through systematisation of portfolio-based assessment within professional degree programs and dissemination of learning to other professional fields
• 2006 - ECU University Award: Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. Citation for outstanding contribution to student learning: Citation Title: Development of portfolio-based assessment within a social science professional degree program and dissemination of learning across other professional fields

National and International Research Awards

• 2021 - ECU School of Arts and Humanities Award: Research Engagement (joint winner)
• 2020 - Literati Award 2020 (Emerald Publishing: For paper “Rethinking Teaching Excellence in Australian Higher Education” Highly Commended
• 2018 - Best scholarly paper HERDSA Conference, Adelaide
• 2010 - ECU University Research Excellence award: High performance in research

Research areas and interests

• Youth work -theory and practice
• Sustainable Development Goals and Young People
• Youth Policy research
• Youth Work curriculum
• Digital learning, digital literacy
• Young people and social movements

Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy, Edith Cowan University, 2005.
• Master of Science, England, 1984.
• Graduate Certificate in Education, England, 1977.
• Bachelor of Arts, England, 1974.

Research Outputs

Research Projects

• Climate change and the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people, Healthway (WA Health Promotion Foundation), Health Promotion Research - Exploratory Research Grants, 2023 ‑ 2025, $74,993.
• Participative approach to professional development, peer learning and evaluation in youth work, Lotterywest, Grant, 2017 ‑ 2019, $76,000.
• Project to establish an international youth policy research network facilitated by Maynooth University and ECU, with other partners, Edith Cowan University, ECU Collaboration Enhancement Scheme - 2018 Round 1, 2018 ‑ 2019, $7,827.
• Achieving economic sustainability for niche social profession courses in the Australian higher education sector - a nationwide collaborative strategy., Office for Learning and Teaching, OLT - Fellowship, 2016 ‑ 2019, $90,000.
• Research to improve responses to the needs of independent young people under 16 years of age who experience homelessness., Edith Cowan University, ECU Industry Collaboration Grant - 2017 Open Round, 2017 ‑ 2018, $50,000.
• Provision of consultancy services: Youth Outreach model, and Youth Centre service model, City of Wanneroo, Tender, 2018, $42,700.
• Evaluation of the KindiLink Pilot for the Department of Education, Department of Education WA, Department of Education - Tender, 2016 ‑ 2018, $100,000.
• The use of new technologies in human services: facilitating democracy or amplifying exclusion?, Edith Cowan University, ECU Collaboration Enhancement Scheme - 2016 Round 1, 2016 ‑ 2017, $7,500.
• Scoping study on homelessness with young people under 16 years, Commissioner for Children and Young People WA, Grant, 2016 ‑ 2017, $10,000.
• Research into efficacy of program processes and evaluation of the ‘Ballajura Connect’ program, Dungeon Youth Services Inc, Grant, 2015 ‑ 2017, $36,363.
• The economic and social impacts of contemporary music in Western Australia (WAM project), Edith Cowan University, ECU Capability Enhancement Scheme - 2015 or earlier, 2015 ‑ 2016, $18,410.
• External Evaluation of the Industry Skills Centre Program, Victoria Prisons, Department of Justice and Community Safety, Industry Skills Centre (ISC), 2013 ‑ 2015, $84,443.
• Mission Australian Inner City Evaluation (Youthbeat), Mission Australia, Mission Australian Inner City Evaluation Grant, 2013 ‑ 2015, $36,364.
• Australian Youth Work Education: Curriculum Renewal and a Model for Sustainability for Niche Professions, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Novated ALTC Grant, 2010 ‑ 2015, $214,000.
• Why do mentoring relationships breakdown?, Department of Local Government and Communities, Grant, 2013 ‑ 2014, $5,000.
• Evaluation of Indigenous Justice Programs, Attorney-General - Commonwealth, Grant, 2010 ‑ 2013, $336,000.
• Investigating the social welfare indicators of regional art centres: a pilot study, Edith Cowan University, ECU Industry Collaboration - Grant, 2010 ‑ 2012, $55,000.
• Consultancy Services for the Rapidly Degenerating Neurological Conditions Pilot Program, Disability Services Commission WA, Grant, 2008 ‑ 2011, $63,636.
• An Evaluation of the YiELD Wilderness Project, Department of Sport and Recreation WA, Grant, 2009 ‑ 2010, $5,000.
• Evaluating the Rocky Bay School Aged-Therapy Service , Rocky Bay Inc, Grant, 2010, $46,000.
• Evaluation of Reel Connection Project for the City of Stirling, City of Stirling, Grant, 2007 ‑ 2010, $56,045.
• Evaluation of the Integrated Services Centre (ISC) Pilot Project, Office of Multicultural Interests WA, Grant, 2007 ‑ 2009, $32,124.
• Evaluation of the City of Stirling Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Youth, Sport and Leisure Project, Department of Sport and Recreation WA, Grant, 2007 ‑ 2009, $46,933.
• Research into Criminal and Anti-Social Behaviour on the Southern Rail Line, Office of Crime Prevention WA, Grant, 2007 ‑ 2009, $22,724.
• Evaluation of Western Australia COAG Care Coordination Initiative, Department of Health WA, Grant, 2008, $5,455.
• Research of Participation in Organised Sport and Recreation by People from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) Backgrounds, Department of Sport and Recreation WA, Grant, 2008, $29,270.
• Young People's Participation in Communities (Indicators and Performance Measures) - Scoping Study, National Youth Affairs Research Scheme, Grant, 2006 ‑ 2007, $20,000.
• Research the effectiveness of mentoring as a crime prevention strategy with homeless young people, Joondalup Youth Support Services (Inc), Grant, 2004 ‑ 2006, $5,000.
• Evaluation of the YMCA Wheatbelt Multi Purpose Mobile Youth Service Project, National Council of the YMCA of Australia, Grant, 2005 ‑ 2006, $8,861.
• Research into integrated crime prevention strategies for rail station environs, Office of Crime Prevention WA, Grant, 2005 ‑ 2006, $104,262.

Research Student Supervision