Dr Fiona Hilferty (BEd Hons, PhD USyd) is a Senior Research Fellow at the Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC), UNSW Sydney. Fiona has expertise in applied social policy research. Her work explores multiple social policy domains including mental health, child protection and homelessness. She has a particular interest in programs that seek to change long term outcomes for disadvantaged people through early intervention, and evaluation methodologies suitable for these distinct program types.

Current and recent projects include:

• Evaluation and capacity building activities with Targeted Early Intervention providers in NSW, commissioned by the Department for Communities and Justice.
• Homelessness amongst Australian veterans, commissioned by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Factors influencing intercountry adoption rates in Australia for the Department of Social Services.
• Evaluation of headspace, the National Youth Mental Health Foundation, commissioned by the Australian Government Department of Health.