Associate Professor Lorna Hallahan

Lorna has been a significant and long term contributor to the development and analysis of disability policy including the development of the National Disability Insurance Scheme and the Evaluation of its trial from 2013-2016. From July 2019 until February 2021 Lorna was seconded as Senior Research Advisor to the Royal Commission on Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. She is currently a Director, The Achieve Foundation, a national organisation focussed on catalytic innovation in the disability sector.

Lorna was appointed in September 2006. She holds a PhD from Flinders University (2005) having completed a B.Soc.Wk. from University of Queensland in 1982. Prior to coming to Flinders, Lorna practiced in a range of settings, including disability advocacy and the management of a loss and grief service. In 2015 Lorna was appointed Independent Reviewer of the South Australian Adoptions Act (1988). She was a member of the SA Premier's Council for Women for six years until July 2021 and is currently a member of the Board of Directors, Relationships Australia (South Australia). Lorna teaches, speaks and writes on ethical issues for workers in complex human services.

Lorna was Chair, Flinders Social and Behavioural Research Ethics Committee for 4.5 years from 2013 and is currently Chair, Human Research Ethics Committee, Australian Institute of Business. Lorna was Head, Flinders Social Work for 3 years until July 2019 and again from September 2021 to October 2022. During this period she was also President of the Australian Council of Heads of Schools of Social Work (end 2018-2019). She is currently Social Work Professional Accreditation Lead and Academic Lead in Field Education.