Dr. Dimi Lattas is joining the UTCSW for eight months as a Fulbright Scholar from Queensland, Australia. She is a lecturer at the University of the Sunshine Coast, where her research focuses on strengthening and advancing forensic social work education globally. Her Fulbright projects center on developing international collaborations and building shared educational standards to support the next generation of forensic social workers.
Lattas’ work includes designing innovative pedagogies, particularly simulation-based learning, to enhance workforce development and ensure educational practices align with contemporary industry expectations. She teaches across forensic social work, mental health, and practice-based subjects, with a strong emphasis on applied learning and professional readiness.
In 2024, Lattas was awarded the AASW National Social Work Researcher of the Year and the Albert Roberts Scholarship from the U.S. National Organization of Forensic Social Work. Her doctoral research received four awards, including the Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology PhD Candidate Award.
During her time at UT, Lattas looks forward to collaborating with faculty and students on projects related to curriculum design, simulation development, and global approaches to forensic social work.
Her projects will focus on:
Project 1
This project aims to identify the effective practices and specialist skills required of forensic social workers who support young people involved in the criminal justice system. For the purposes of this study, a young person is defined as under 18 years old, with a particular focus on practitioners working with children aged 10 to 14. The findings will provide insights into the strategies and interventions that facilitate meaningful engagement with justice-involved or at-risk young people.
Project 2
This project aims to build consensus on the specialist knowledge, skills, and competencies required for forensic social work practice in the United States. Using the Delphi method, the study will conduct three iterative survey rounds, with each round refining the previous one, to establish agreed-upon educational competencies at the graduate level. The findings will inform professional development frameworks, guide curriculum design, and support the establishment of minimum practice standards, ensuring that forensic social workers are well-prepared to support clients and work effectively within justice systems.