Our Mentoring & Student-led Research Inquiries

Mentoring in Co-operative Inquiry

INCInq considers the most effective way to learn about co-operative inquiry is to live an inquiry. In 2025, we began mentoring research-curious people in this fun participatory research method. Earlier, in 2022, we began offering student-led inquiries through participating universities. The testimonials below explain what it is like to live an inquiry. For more information about mentoring and other opportunities within INCInq, please contact Dr Monica Short, who collaboratively and cooperatively leads INCInq, via the form below.

Mentorship with INCInq

My (Deborah Boswell) first participatory writing experience with INCInq has been the creation of a book chapter for Routledge on participatory writing methodology. INCInq members welcomed, guided, and supported me with every suggestion made. Being with esteemed academics from across the globe meant that, at times, I questioned my emerging contributions. After several weeks of experiencing the participatory writing process, I grew in confidence and competence. I contributed through the sharing of ideas and concepts, content development and chapter review and refinement through to the submission stage.

Working as part of a co-operative inquiry has been stimulating and inspiring. Individual members work in smaller groups across time, with all members creating a safe space devoid of the egos often found in academic circles. I realised how the group project also functioned for me as an informal supervisory mechanism, supporting my continued research-based learning and outputs. Whilst I am still learning to apply the approach of “guilt-free research”, I continue to enjoy and cherish the hours I spend with a wonderful group of people and the applied relational approach. Thank you INCInq members, for the professional collaboration that supports and sustains our mutual passions and aspirations to contribute to the greater good of society.

I (Deborah Boswell) am a dedicated educator, mental health practitioner, “pracademic” and proud social worker with interests spanning equity and diversity, life and career transition, veteran support, student well-being, mental health, neurodivergence and dis/ability. Having an active teaching and clinical career whilst juggling sole parenting, time and focus on research and publication has never prevailed. It took years, readiness, encouragement and growing connections and projects with other members to prompt me to officially join INCInq. I joined INCInq in 2025, having known of the dynamic, innovative network through a long, nurturing and collegial relationship with INCInq Coordinator, Dr Monica Short.

Since joining, I have connected with a remarkable and talented network of individuals working collaboratively and generously to collectively write and publish. I have cherished the carved-out space and time to meet and write with people across the globe, from diverse cultures and disciplines. Members are giving of time, wisdom, and humour, with a mutual respect and understanding of contemporary lives and workplaces.

This testimonial is by Deborah Boswell

Student-led inquiry: The experience of doing a PhD

Prevett, A., Gersbach, K., Clatworthy, D., Dkhar, D., White, T., Short, M., & Rush, E. (2025). In the thick of it: A candid look at the lived experience of online PhDs with publications or creative works. The Australian Educational Researcher, 1–25. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13384-025-00832-6

“What are the strengths and challenges in undertaking a PhD with publication or creative works, and how do these differ according to personal backgrounds and academic disciplines? [This] research uncover[ed]: first, the importance of passion, motivation, emotional aspects, and connections supporting these types of doctoral journeys; second, that navigating the formidable pressures and celebrating the rewards of publishing and creating is part of the process; and third, the integral partnership between supervisors and students in an online environment is essential in creating outputs.” (Prevett et al., 2025, p. 1)

List of Student-led, Rural-focussed, Co-operative Inquiry Research Publications

McLaughlin, A., Pascoe, E., Lawson, L., Parker, L., Whalan, T., Safdar, T., Beeton, G., Kennedy, R., Ivory, N., Morley, L., Halton, H., Russ, E., Gartshore, S., Short, M., (2024) A new perspective regarding the impact of rural disadvantage on accessing services: Hearing the Australian and Irish social work student voice. Advances. Online. https://www.journal.anzswwer.org/index.php/advances/article/view/305/275

Doyle, K., Pascoe, E., Donnarumma, S., Anderson, M., Stoyle, K., McDaid, D., Morley, L., Russ, E., Hawkins, P., Doyle, P., & Short, M. (2023). A transnational student-led, rural-focussed inquiry: Social work educational competency in disaster management. Social Work Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2023.2254794

Lomas, G., Gerstenberg, L., Kennedy, E., Fletcher, K., Ivory, N., Whitaker, L., Russ, E., Fitzroy, R., & Short, M. (2022). Experiences of social work students undertaking a remote research-based placement during a global pandemic. Social Work Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2022.2054980

Contacts, Our Partnering Organisations and Funding 2020-2023

Funding: We wish to acknowledge the team from the University Centre for Rural Health, University of Sydney for their generous support of the student-led, rural-focussed research projects with regional Universities; in particular, Robyn Fitzroy and Frances Barraclough. We also acknowledge the University of College Cork and Charles Sturt University FoAE for their generous financial support of these projects and providing administrative support.

For information about the three student-led, rural-focussed, social work projects please contact one of the following academic co-leads through the contact sheet below or at their instituations: overall administerion and co-operatively and collaboratively co-leading the three research projects – Dr Monica Short, Charles Sturt University; Southern Cross University research co-lead – Assoc Prof Erica Russ; University of College Cork research co-lead – Joanne Rose, University of New England research co-lead – Dr Louise Morley; and University Centre Rural Health – Sydney University research co-led – Robyn Fitzroy and Pete Hawkins.

Resources for new students

Further resources:

APA referencing
Paraphrasing
Academic writing

Previous Student Project 2022/2023 – Social work educational competency in disaster management

Publication: Doyle, K., Pascoe, E., Donnarumma, S., Anderson, M., Stoyle, K., McDaid, D., Morley, L., Russ, E., Hawkins, P., Doyle, P. & Short, M. (2023). A transnational student-led, rural-focussed inquiry: social work educational competency in disaster management. Social work education, 1-22. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02615479.2023.2254794

Students

Previous Student Project 2021/2022– Rural focus

Publication: McLaughlin, A., Pascoe, E., Lawson, L., Parker, L., Whalan, T., Safdar, T., Beeton, G., Kennedy, R., Ivory, N., Morley, L., Halton, H., Russ, E., Gartshore, S., Short, M., (2024). A new perspective regarding the impact of rural disadvantage on accessing services: Hearing the Australian and Irish social work student voice. Advances. Online. https://www.journal.anzswwer.org/index.php/advances/article/view/305/275

Students

Poster presentations

2023 Learning and Teaching Showcase Event CIRTL: University College Cork, Ireland

McLaughlin, A., Stoyle, K., Rose, J., Russ, E., Short, M. & Halton, C. (2023, 5^th December) Unlocking the impact of inclusive, student-led participatory research on placement: A guide to lead and succeed in a digitally enhanced learning environment in higher education [Poster Abstract]. 2023 Learning and Teaching Showcase Event CIRTL: University College Cork, Ireland. 2023 Learning and Teaching Showcase | University College Cork (ucc.ie)

The 26th Asia-Pacific Regional Social Work Conference 2021

Previous Student Project 2020/2021 – Student experience during COVID-19

About

This inquiry aimed to explore the student experience of remote project-based placements. The research explored how social work students from regional universities experienced online and remote research-based placements during COVID-19. The four student participants were undertaking a social work research-based placement during COVID-19, participating in a range of research activities supported by the academics in the research team. The co-operative inquiry was undertaken with a unique focus on the student voice.

Publication: Lomas, G., Gerstenberg, L., Kennedy, E., Fletcher, K., Ivory, N., Whitaker, L., Russ, E., Fitzroy, R., & Short, M. (2022). Experiences of social work students undertaking a remote research-based placement during a global pandemic, Social Work Education, online, DOI: 10.1080/02615479.2022.2054980

Students

Testimonials

“There is a different voice that arises out of the co-operative inquiry process because we play that role of both researcher and subject”

“This experience has forged a greater appreciation for the role that research plays in social work, enhanced our ability to communicate effectively and developed our skills in research and strengthened our developing sense of professional identity”

Interested in joining a co-operative inquiry with us?

We are always looking for new students to join our projects. To join a student-led inquiry, you will need to have a placement organised and the support of your academic liaison, your onsite supervisor and if you have one, your off-site supervisor. If you are interested in being involved in a co-operative inquiry with us, please speak to your supervisor/placement establishment academic at your University and then contact us using the form below. Please include the name of your University, the name of your supervisor/s and their email, and the name of your placement establishment academic and their email in your form.

Presentation on Co-operative Inquiry