Dr Deborah Keys, BA Deakin PhD La Trobe
 |
|
Background
Deborah is a sociologist specialising in qualitative research. She completed a PhD in sociology at La Trobe University in 2002, where she received the Jean Martin Award and the Deans Medal. Her most recent work has been in the field of young people’s health. She was a research fellow on Project i, Australia’s largest longitudinal study of youth homelessness. She has since conducted studies in youth homelessness and service exclusion, fostering the wellbeing and mental health of young mothers through parents groups and young motherhood and homelessness.
Deborah is an investigator on a number of projects including ‘Making it real: Relevant sexual health communication strategies for young people’, a Department of Human Services Public Health Research Grant, and ‘Mother centres, feminist pedagogy and young motherhood: creating empowerment programming for young mothers’, an international collaboration funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Her next project will investigate young children’s experiences of homelessness.
Research Interests
- Sexuality
- Gender and identity
- Sexual health of young people
- Homelessness. This research has contributed to debate on service provision, education and policy
Key Publications
Keys D. (2008). Optimizing wellbeing: Young mothers participation in Parents groups. Windermere Report, The University of Melbourne [pdf 1.44MB].
Keys D. (2007). ‘Complex lives: Young motherhood, homelessness and partner relationships’ Journal of the Association for Research on Mothering. 9 (1):101-110, York University, Canada.
Keys D. (2007). Opportunity for Change: Young motherhood and homelessness, The Key Centre for Women’s Health in Society, University of Melbourne: Melbourne, Australia.
Keys D, Mayes C. (2007). Becoming a Mum: Just the whole world changes, The Key Centre for Women’s Health in Society, University of Melbourne: Melbourne, Australia (resource for young women).
Keys D, Mallett, S and Rosenthal D. (2006). Giving up on drugs: Homeless young people and self-reported problematic drug use. Contemporary Drug Problems Spring 33 (1): 123-142.
Couch M, Dowsett G.W, Dutertre S, Keys D & Pitts M. (2006). Looking for More: A review of social and contextual factors affecting young people’s sexual health, Monograph series No. 61. Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia (commissioned by WHO).
Mallett S, Rosenthal D, Keys D & Myers P. (2006). Moving out, Moving on: Young People’s Pathways in and Through Homelessness. Youth Homelessness Action Plan: Second Stage Report. Victorian Homelessness Strategy, Office of Housing, Department of Human Services, Victoria.
Mallett S, Rosenthal D, and Keys D. (2005). 'Young people, drug use and family conflict: Pathways into homelessness.' Journal of Adolescence 28 (2): 185-189.
Keys D, Rosenthal D, and Pitts M. (2005). 'Young people, sexuality and sexual behaviour.' In Aggleton, P., Ball, A. and Mane, P. (Eds.) Sex Drugs and Young People: International Perspectives. New York and London, Routledge.
Keys D, Mallett S. & Marven M. (2005). Making a Place to Belong: Homeless Young People, Support, Accommodation and Exclusion. Project i. The Key Centre for Women’s Health in Society, University of Melbourne: Melbourne, Australia.
Keys D, Edwards J, and Mallet S. (2004). Who Can Help Me? Homeless Young People's Perceptions of Services. Melbourne, Project i, The Key Centre for Women's Health in Society.