Work-Integrated Learning in the Centre for Research and Social Change at Anglicare Southern Queensland

Ana Stevenson; Leanne Wood; Sarah Marris

doi:10.21153/jtlge2026vol17no2art2400

Authors

Dr Ana Stevenson Anglicare Southern Queensland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4858-1073
Leanne Wood Anglicare Southern Queensland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9354-6878
Sarah Marris Anglicare Southern Queensland https://orcid.org/0009-0005-2316-8118

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21153/jtlge2026vol17no2art2400

Abstract

Anglicare Southern Queensland (Anglicare) is a not-for-profit organisation that delivers community and human services. With a long history of hosting applied student placements in aged care, social work and community services, mental health and wellbeing, youth support, and nursing and allied health, Anglicare has in recent times begun to expand our hosting of work-integrated learning (WIL) relating to research and evaluation, advocacy, and community outreach. Proceeding from the principle that different types of WIL are advantageous to social science and humanities students at all levels, we currently host a variety of industry research projects, student placements, and internships. These arrangements encompass everything from formal assessment to projects that are co-designed between student/s and supervisor/s. The benefits of hosting WIL include supporting the future careers of emerging professionals while simultaneously expanding our capacity in research, evaluation, and advocacy. As working with students who are new to a corporate workplace can also be time intensive, WIL programs need adequate university staffing to support students’ engagement with industry hosts and moderated timelines for assessment and reporting requirements. In this practitioner reflection, we discuss how Anglicare’s Centre for Research and Social Change establishes and manages community engaged WIL partnerships, welcoming undergraduate and postgraduate students in all areas of the social sciences and humanities.

Author Biographies

Dr Ana Stevenson, Anglicare Southern Queensland

Dr Ana Stevenson is the Senior Advisor – Research and Evaluation at Anglicare Southern Queensland. After receiving her PhD in history from The University of Queensland in 2015, she held academic appointments at the University of the Free State in South Africa and James Cook University and the University of Southern Queensland in Australia. Her multidisciplinary expertise spans humanities and social sciences methodologies, including qualitative and mixed-methods research. With funding from the Australian Research Council and South Africa’s National Research Foundation, her research interests include social movements, digital archives, education, media, and knowledge translation.
Leanne Wood, Anglicare Southern Queensland

Leanne Wood is the Manager – Centre for Research and Social Change at Anglicare Southern Queensland. She has worked at Anglicare for more than a decade in research, policy and advocacy roles, drawing on previous experience across diverse projects in the government, academic, education and private sectors. Her experience managing, and participating in, Australian Research Council- and government-funded research teams, gave rise to Leanne’s longstanding interest in the multiple facets of individual and community wellbeing, as well as qualitative methods for enhancing participant voice.
Sarah Marris, Anglicare Southern Queensland

Sarah Marris is the Strategic Advocacy Lead at Anglicare Southern Queensland. Sarah has qualifications in health science, media communications and human services. She has experience working in the disability sector across a diverse range of projects, both community education and engagement. With a strong background in relationship building and significant experience in advocacy and communications, Sarah is passionate about elevating the voice of those with lived experience.

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