Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy, University of Ballarat 
• Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Education, University of Ballarat 
• Masters in Social Science, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology 
• Bachelor of Social Work (Honours), University of Melbourne 
• Bachelor of Arts (Cum Laude), College of the Holy Cross (Massachusetts, USA) 

Areas of interest

• Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in social work practice and education  
• Lived experience and participatory research (relating to areas such as children’s experiences of shared care post-separation, women’s experiences of family violence service systems, carers and young people’s perspectives on out-of-homecare, and social housing residents’ experiences of access to health services) 
• Qualitative methodologies  

Areas of expertise

Christina has expertise in qualitative and participatory social work research that centres lived experience to inform practice, education, and policy. She has extensive experience in the application of qualitative methodologies, including descriptive phenomenology, narrative inquiry, photovoice, Most Significant Change, qualitative interpretive meta‑synthesis, and human‑centred design. Christina is also highly experienced in developing and leading collaborative university–industry–community research partnerships, and mentoring HDR students and supervisors.  

Grants

• Sadowski, C., Leonard, Z. 2023. ‘Ballarat Community Health Customer Journey Mapping Project’ Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing ($14,999) 
• Martin, J., Sadowski, C., Zeuschner, L. 2022.‚ Service User Knowledge Capture Project, Central Highlands Integrated Family Violence Committee ($21,462) 
• Chihota, C., Ottmann, G., Sadowski, C., Leonard, Z. & Martin, J., 2023. Research and Evaluation of Two Migrant Support Programs: Ballarat Professional Migrant Program, City of Ballarat ($60,000) 
• Sadowski, C., McDonald, J. 2016-2020. Central Highlands Children and Youth Area Partnership (CHCYAP) Research Collaboration Post-Graduate Initiative, Child and Family Services Ballarat Inc. (CAFS), Berry Street, State Government of Victoria, Central Highlands Family Services Alliance, Central Highlands Family Violence Committee ($322,500)  
• Sadowski, C., Goff, R., Sawyer, N.  2018-2019, ‘Widening the Circle of Security: Developing a flexible, client-centric support model in the Central Highlands, Department of Health and Human Services Learning Systems Grant, administered through the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare Inc. ($38,500) 
• Sadowski, C., Hunt, M. 2018) Equine and canine assisted interventions: Development of future direction for CAFS informed by an analysis of research evidence, Child and Family Services Ballarat Inc. (CAFS) ($4,510)  

Current

• PhD student, Federation University, ‘From the heart: An insight into First Nations People’s experiences with cardiac care services in Australia’, associate supervisor. 
• PhD student, Federation University, ‘Exploring the lived experiences of international social work students on placement whilst parenting’, principal supervisor. 
• PhD student, Federation University, ‘The lived experiences of upward bullying in Anglican stipendiary clergy in Australia’, principal supervisor. 
• PhD student, Federation University, ‘The lived experiences Indian Immigrant Mothers in Australia during the initial stages of concern about their child’s neurodevelopment’, principal supervisor. 
• PhD student, Federation University, ‘The lived experience of older Chinese later-life migrant who are grandparents in regional Victoria’, principal supervisor. 

Past

• Master’s student, Federation University, ‘Towards an understanding of user journeys: How families navigate through early childhood services in a rural Victorian city’, principal supervisor. 
• PhD student, Federation University, ‘Women’s lived experience of their partner’s referral to a men’s behaviour change program” Doctor of Philosophy’, principal supervisor. 
• PhD student, Federation University, ‘Integrating youth and adult perspectives: Using participatory action research to examine education and transitions in out-of-home care’, associate supervisor (awarded 2018 Federation University Higher Degree by Research Conference presenter award). 
• PhD student, Federation University, ‘Breaking through using photovoice: Supporting strong families, safe children in the context of family violence’, principal supervisor (awarded 2022 Dean’s Award for Excellence in a PhD Thesis; 2021 Higher Degree by Research Conference best presentation). 
• PhD student, Federation University, ‘It takes a village to raise a family: Designing desire-based community support with parents who receive a family service in Southwest Ballarat’, principal supervisor. 
• PhD student, Federation University, ‘Supporting children and young people in out-of-home care: A study of perspectives of foster and kinship care’, associate supervisor. 

• Social work research 
• Social work practice identity 
• Social work practice education 

Specialist roles

• Elected staff representative, Institute of Education, Arts and Community (IEAC) Academic Board 
• Victorian academic representative, National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) Women’s Action Committee 
• Member, CAFS Community Advisory Committee 
• Steering Committee Member, Outcomes Practice Evidence Network (OPEN), Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare  

Professional association memberships

• National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) 
• Australia and New Zealand Social Work and Welfare Education and Research (ANZSWWER) 

• Sadowski, C. & Leonard, Z. (2023) Mobile Community Connectors Program (MCCP) Customer Journey Mapping Project: Access to Health Services for Social Housing Residents commissioned report for Ballarat Community Health, funded by the Victorian Government. 
• Chihota, C., Ottmann, G., Sadowski, C., Leonard, Z. & Martin, J., (2023). Phase 2: Participant Experiences - Evaluation of the Ballarat Industry Mentoring Pilot. Federation University Australia. 
• Chihota, C., Ottmann, G., Sadowski, C., Leonard, Z. & Martin, J., (2023). Phase 1: Desktop Evaluation of the Ballarat Industry Mentoring Pilot. Federation University Australia. 
• Martin, J., Sadowski, C., Zeuschner, L. (2022) Service User Knowledge Capture Project, commissioned report for Women’s Health Grampians/Central Highlands Integrated Family Violence Committee. 
• Hunt, M. & Sadowski, C. (2018) Equine and canine assisted interventions: Development of future direction for CAFS informed by an analysis of research evidence, commissioned report for CAFS (Child and Family Services Ballarat) prepared by Federation University Australia.