Dr. Nada Eltaiba
Qualified and experienced academic and practicing social worker with over 30 years of applied international
research outcomes and demonstrated excellence in teaching and practice methodology. I am a leader in the field
of researching and advocating for the voices of women and families from ethnic backgrounds and conduct vital
research in the complexities of their experience in the family unit both in Australia and abroad. I contribute
extensively to academic research in the areas of refugees, mental health, ethics, teaching of social work, family
dynamics, religion, and cross-cultural practice. In addition, I remain immersed in the field of applied social work
with diverse ethnic community groups and drawing this experience back into rich and diverse teaching examples
for my students. I have focussed my teaching frameworks on academic theory while making it come alive with
stories of clients and families to further students’ insight and empathy in their practice.
My academic and field efforts have been directed towards my leadership roles in teaching, research, service,
and advocacy roles for ethnic minority groups. Being a woman from diverse ethnic background promoting
understanding, acceptance and collaboration are main concepts that inform my academic identity and actions. I
am an accredited mental health social worker by Australian Association of Social Workers since 2013 and am
cognizant of my role in incorporating these practical experiences in teaching to demonstrate the link between
theory and practice.
Educational Background
Master of Narrative Therapy & Community Work, The Department of Social Work in partnership with The Dulwich Centre, University of Melbourne, Australia, 2018.
BA, Science and Education, Specializing in Social Work, Tripoli University, Libya, 1983.
Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching, Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching, UWA, 2020 - Current
P U B L I C A T I O N S
Book
Eltaiba, N. (2007). Perceptions of Mental Health Problems (Islamic Context), VDM Publisher.
Book Chapter
Eltaiba, N. (2019). Mental Health and Muslim Refugees Communities: A Guide for Practitioners in Handbook of
Refugee Experience: Trauma, Resilience, and Recovery by Kottler, Banu, and Jani. (Eds.), P.264, Cognella.
Eltaiba, N. (2019). An ethical decision-making model. The Routledge Handbook of Social Work Ethics and Values
in The Routledge Handbook of Social Work Ethics and Values by Marson and McKinney (Eds), Routledge.
Eltaiba, N. (2015). Teaching ethics to social work students in Qatar: a vibrant challenge, in ten Have, Henk A.M.J.,
& Gordijn, Bert, Bioethics education in a global perspective: Challenges in global bioethics, Springer
Peer Reviewed Articles
Eltaiba, N. (2020). Bringing Experience into the Classroom: A Shared Journey. Reflections: Narratives of
Professional Helping, 26(1), 110-119.
Eltaiba, N. (2020). Winning stories: Responses to Ambivalence and Insensitivity. International Journal of Narrative
Therapy and Community Work, (3), 13-20.
Eltaiba, N. & Ndoye, A. (2018). The effectiveness of field education in social work education: A student
perspective. Advances in Social Work and Welfare Education, 20(1), 170.
Eltaiba, N. (2016). Social workers in a Qatari health setting: responding positively to ethical problems, Ethics and
Social Welfare 1-15.
Eltaiba, N. (2015). Islam and Social Work [Editorial]. International Social Work, 59 (3).
Eltaiba, N. & Harries, M. (2015). Reflections on Recovery in Mental Health: Perspectives from a Muslim Culture.
Social Work in Health Care, 54(8).
Eltaiba, N. (2014). Islam and Social Work: Hope and the commitment to change. In James D. Wright: The
International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioural Sciences, second edition.
Eltaiba, N. (2014). Counselling with Muslim refugees: Building rapport. The Journal of Social Work Practice,
28(4).
Eltaiba, N. (2014). A model for teaching group work to social work students. Egyptian Association of Social
Workers Journal, 52.
Eltaiba, N. (2010). The Experience of a Female Social Worker in Mental Health Settings in Jordan, Reflections.
Narratives of Professional Helping, 16(4).
Al-Krenawi, A., Graham, J. R., Dean, Y. Z., & Eltaiba, N. (2004). Cross-national study of attitudes towards
seeking professional help: Jordan, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Arabs in Israel. International journal of social
psychiatry, 50(2), 102-114.
Eltaiba, N. (2005). Religion and Spirituality and the promotion of social inclusion for individuals with mental
health problems within Muslim communities. Synergy (1).
RESEARCH
Research Project Titled: Mental Health Issues amongst Adolescents in Qatar and Pathways to Improvement (In
process) 2018 – ongoing.
(WISH) World Innovation Summit for Health and (WEYAK) Mental Health Association (funded by WISH Qatar
Foundation, amount $70,000).
Research Project Titled: Spirituality and Religion in the practice of social work Joint research with Professor
Maria Harries, The University of Western Australia, 2018 – ongoing.
Research Project Titled: The effectiveness of field education in social work education: A student perspective,
Joined research with Dr. Abdou Ndoye Northern Kentucky University, 2015- 2018.
Research Project Titled. Ethical Challenges Social Workers face in Qatar/ University. Internal grants. Qatar,
2012–2014.
Research Project Title. Rights Practice in the Biosphere: Testing a model of social work practice across diverse
international contexts. IASSW Grants for Projects in Social Work Education 2011. IASSW International
Association of Schools of Social Work, 2012–2013.
Research Project Title Views of Muslim in-patients and their carers about mental care. Start Up grant. Qatar
University. Qatar, 2013.
Research Project Title Views of Muslim in-patients about mental care. The University of Western Australia, 2009.
T E R T I A R Y TE A C H I N G EX P E R I E N C E
UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
- Adjunct Research Fellow, Discipline of Social Work and Social Policy, School of Allied Health
July 2022 – Present
Key Accountabilities:
Contributed to research, publication, supervision of PhD students, and examination of thesis.
UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
- Senior Lecturer
July 2019 - 2022
Key Accountabilities:
• Social Work and Social Policy Senior lecturer with the School of Allied Health in the Faculty of Health
and medical Sciences.
• Taught Counselling and Ethics, 2019- 2020- 2021.
• Taught Introduction to Social Work Methods, 2020-2021.
• Supervision of postgraduate students.
• Supervising students in placement.
UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
- Adjunct Research Fellow, Discipline of Social Work and Social Policy, School of Population Health
July 2010 - June 2019
Key Accountabilities:
• Contributed to research, publication, and examination of thesis.
DOHA INSTITUTE FOR GRADUATE STUDIES, QATAR
- Associate Professor, School of Psychology and Social Work
June 2018- June 2020
Key Accountabilities:
• Taught Direct Practice II Spring, 2019.
• Taught Direct Practice 1 Fall, 2018.
• Taught Introduction to community development Fall, 2018.
• Taught Field Education Fall, 2018; Spring 2019.
• Taught Clinical Social Work Fall, 2019; Spring 2020.
Service to Doha Institute for Graduate Studies:
• Teaching and learning committee, Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, 2018 – 2019.
• Academic Policies: PhD Program; Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, 2018 – 2019.
• Recruitment social work program Committee, Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, 2018 – 2019.
QATAR UNIVERSITY, QATAR
- Associate Professor, Department of Social Work
August 2016- June 2018
Assistant Professor, Department of Department of Social Work
August 2010- June 2016
Key Accountabilities:
• Core-Curriculum Council Coordinator / Coordinator of Core curriculum assessment committee, Qatar
University, University level, 2011- 2013.
• Coordinator of PLO Social Work Program, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, college level,
2012 – 2016.
• Coordinator of Practicum, Qatar University, Program level, 2012 – 2013.
• Member, Social Work admission committee, Qatar University, Program level, 2012 – 2017.
• Head of Faculty Appraisal committee, Qatar University, Department level, 2011.
• Faculty Appraisal committee; Qatar University, Department level, 2012 and 2013.
Professional Services:
• Guest editor: “Islam and social work” for International Social Work Journal, 2013-2015.
QATAR UNIVERSITY, QATAR
- Key Accountabilities:
• Taught Human Behaviour I Fall, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018.
• Taught Human Behaviour II Spring, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018.
• Taught Social Work and Mental Health Fall, Spring 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017,
2018.
• Taught Field Education Spring 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018.
• Taught Generalist Practice III Spring, 2012.
• Taught Generalist Practice II Spring, 2012, 2018.
• Taught Generalist Practice I Fall 2012.
UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
- Assistant Professor, Discipline of Social Work and Social Policy
January 2008- October 2010
Key Accountabilities:
• Undergraduate and MSW University of Western Australia, Australia.
• Taught Knowledge, Theory and Value Fall, 2009, 2010.
• Taught Group Work Spring, 2010.
• Taught Interpersonal Skills Spring, 2008, 2009, 2010.
• Taught Community Work Spring, 2010.
• Taught Introduction to Professional Practice Fall 2009.
• Taught Organisational Practice/ Ethics Spring, 2009.
• Taught Interpersonal Skills (group work), Spring 2010.
• Taught Field education Coordinator 2009.
CURTIN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AUSTRALIA
- Sessional Teaching
February 2006- June 2006
Key Accountabilities:
• Taught Field Education, 2004, 2008.
• Tutor
AL-BALQA APPLIED UNIVERSITY, SALT, JORDAN
Lecturer
August 2001- July 2002
Key Accountabilities:
• Undergraduate Al-Balqa University
• Taught Social Work in Health settings, Fall, 2001.
• Taught Introduction to Social Work, Fall, 2001.
• Taught Interpersonal Practice, Spring, 2002.
• Taught Field education, Spring, 2002.
- (WISH) World Innovation Summit for Health & (WEYAK) Mental Health Association. Research Project Titled:Mental Health Issues amongst Adolescents in Qatar and pathways to improvement, ($70.000), 2017 – Present.
- Qatar University internal grant. Research Project Title: Ethics and social work ($20,000), 2012.
- Start Up grants Qatar University Research Project Title: inpatient views on mental health services in Qatar.($7,000), 2010.
- Research Development Award, The University or Western Australia, Australia, Research Project Title: in patient views about mental health services, ($5,893), 2010.
- Equity and Diversity grant, The University or Western Australia, Australia, Research Project Title: Remove the barriers and expanding the horizon, ($3,000), 2008 – 2009.
- Supplementary Travel Grant, UWA, Australia, ($1000), 2010.
- Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences travel grant, 2009.
- Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences travel grant, 2010.
- Completion Scholarship, The University of Western Australia, Australia, 2007.
- Fay Gale fellowship $15,000, The University of Western Australia, Australia, 2010