Getting to know...Thea Brown
Emeritus Professor Thea Brown
Name: Thea Brown
Title: Emeritus Professor
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Department: Social Work
Campus: Caulfield
How long have you worked at Monash? 29 years
Where did you work prior to starting at the University? Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Sydney, Mater Hospital Newcastle, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Keilor Council and Melbourne University.
What do you like best about your role? The excitement of pursuing difficult research questions in order to overcome social vulnerability and disadvantage with better social policies based on research.
Why did you choose your current career path? I didn’t make clear choices but rather made ad hoc moves, often by invitation, when opportunities dried up where I was.
First job? Social Worker, Professorial Units of Medicine and Surgery at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
Worst job? A one-month holiday job as a telephonist and clerk. They asked me to stay on - they didn’t really understand how being a woman I could also be a university student.
What research/projects are you currently working on and what does it involve? I am working on three research projects - the Monash Filicide Research Project is currently extending to create a national data base on filicide so as to work towards prevention; the Longitudingal Study into the Impact on Men and Partners of Men’s Behaviour Change Programs that covers three states and is the first such study in Australia, and a University/Department of Social Services/Family Life Victoria study on a trial program for separating couples.
What is your favourite place in the world and why? Blue Mountains NSW and Yosemite California because they are so beautiful, uplifting and inspiring.
What is your favourite place to eat and why? Local bar and grill at Mt Eliza associated with Manyung Gallery.
What is the best piece of advice you have received? “Half the work done in this world is done by people too sick to do it.” Source - my mother.
Tell us something about yourself that your colleagues wouldn’t know? I like sailing and race every fortnight on Port Phillip Bay out of Sandringham.