BIO
Rebecca Stephens has achieved almost 30 years within the social work profession. After qualifying with a BA Social Work at the University of Queensland, Australia, Rebecca practiced as a front-line social worker in areas including mental health, disability, and domestic abuse and in hospital and community-based settings across metropolitan and rural areas of Queensland and New South Wales. She worked for the Australian Association of Social Workers as the International Qualifications Advisor and provided lectureships at three universities in Australia.

Rebecca moved to the UK in 1999 and practiced as a senior social worker working with older people. After qualifying with an MA in Education & Training, Advanced Award in Social Work, and Practice Teaching Award in Social Work in 2006, Rebecca worked as an Independent Social Worker, Educator and Consultant for a number of corporate and PVI sector organisations and provided lectureships at five universities.

Rebecca has been at the University of Sussex since 2017, teaching on the BA and MA/PG Diploma courses, and is the course leader for the Post Graduate Diploma in Social Work (Step Up) and Practice Education in Social Work courses. She is also the Admissions Lead for the Department of Social Work and Social Care and Academic Misconduct Investigating Officer for the School of Education & Social Work.

Rebecca is a pioneer of Veterinary Social Work in the UK, a growing and emerging branch of social work globally that is, ‘an area of social work practice that supports and strengthens interdisciplinary partnerships that attend to the interaction of humans and animals’ (International Association of Veterinary Social Workers, 2024). She is the Director of Education with the International Association of Veterinary Social Work and Trustee with The Links Group UK and Our Special Friends, UK. Rebecca is actively developing inter-disciplinary partnerships across social work, veterinary and animal-welfare practice settings to influence knowledge exchange, curriculum development, and education and training opportunities.

Rebecca is a qualified Veterinary Social Worker, the first for the UK, and is currently undertaking a PhD exploring the role and place of veterinary social work in the UK and in particular, how social workers and veterinarians can work together to safeguard humans and animals.

Awards and Nominations:
2024: Social Work University Lecturer of the Year, Social Work Awards, England (Finalist)
2024: International Association of Veterinary Social Workers Member of the Year (Awarded)
2024: ‘Sussex Spirit’ Education Award, University of Sussex, UK (Nominated)
2023: ‘Sussex Spirit’ Education Award, University of Sussex, UK (Nominated)
2022: ‘Sussex Spirit’ Education Award, University of Sussex, UK (Nominated)
2021: ‘Extra Mile’ Education Award, University of Sussex, UK (Nominated)
2020: ‘Sussex Spirit’ Education Award, University of Sussex, UK (Nominated)
2019: ‘Sussex Spirit’ Education Award, University of Sussex, UK (Nominated)
2017: Student Led Teaching Award; ‘Outstanding Support for the Learning Experience of Students,’ University of Sussex, UK (Awarded)
2016: University Teaching Award; ‘Most Inspiring Tutor of the Year,’ Bucks New University, UK (Awarded)
2006: South-West London National Health Service Excellence Award for Staff Development (Awarded)

Registrations and Memberships:
– Social Work England Registered (SW63190)
– Director of Education, International Association of Veterinary Social Workers
– Trustee, The Links Group, UK
– Trustee, Our Special Friends, UK
– Member of the National Organisation of Practice Teachers
– Member of the Humane Society International
– Co-Founder of the National HEI Step Up Course Leaders Network

ACADEMIC POSITIONS
Lecturer in Social Work
University of Sussex, Education & Social Work, Brighton, England 2018