Kristin (she/her) is a Postdoctoral Fellow in The Care Lab at the School of Social Sciences (UNSW), and an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AASW). Kristin possesses over 20 years’ experience spanning practice, research and education, focused on bereavement counselling and therapeutic support, particularly in contexts of palliative care, end-of-life care and aged care. In 2023, she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the community through palliative care initiatives.

Kristin’s research interests have been shaped by her practice experience, with an emphasis on the social and structural determinants of experiences of caring, dying and grieving, and equity-informed approaches to health and social care. Her PhD thesis was recognised on the 2022 UTS Chancellor’s List and explored structural vulnerability and experiences of social welfare support, during and after caring for someone with a life-limiting illness.

In The Care Lab, Kristin’s work is currently focused on the implications of pandemic disruptions and delays at the end of life, within an ARC Discovery Project (DP24). Kristin possesses teaching experience with clinical and academic cohorts, including undergraduate and postgraduate teaching at both The University of Technology Sydney and The University of New South Wales. Kristin is also on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Social Work in End of Life and Palliative Care and the national Bereavement Consultant Lead for Palliative Care Social Work Australia.