Liz Boutros: The FINCH Study
A double degree graduate in Social Work and Social Science (Psychology) at RMIT University, Liz went onto study for her masters degree in Divinity at Whitley College where she gained experience in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). This inspired her passion for providing spiritual care in a clinical setting.
Hi, Liz! First of all, please tell us a bit about what your PhD research is focused on?
My PhD research is called the FINCH Study. It is focused on exploring how faith communities and health and wellbeing advocates work together to improve their communities. I am aiming to identify what kinds of projects these groups are working on together, and what makes their partnerships work or not work. I am looking at collaborations in Sheffield, UK, and in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia.
For my research, I aim to interview people involved in these kinds of collaborations and partnerships to hear about their experience of working together with others, as on-the-ground knowledge is vital to understanding what works and what doesn’t.
Why is it an important area of study?
Health and wellbeing are often created outside of the healthcare system. We know that faith communities and other individuals or groups work together to help make their communities healthier places. It is important to explore how these groups work together to understand when these partnerships work, who they work for, and why they work.
It is also important to understand why something they may not work well – what are the barriers and challenges that arise when faith communities and other health and wellbeing advocates look to work together. Getting insight into these working relationships can hopefully help current and future partnerships thrive.
Tell us about your career/academic journey so far
My academic journey has involved a few different avenues of study. I have a double degree in Social Work and Social Science (Psychology) from RMIT University and went on to study a Master of Divinity at Whitley College. As part of my theological studies, I decided to do a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), which is a practice-focused unit of study reflecting on the provision of spiritual care. I was based in a hospital in Melbourne during my CPE unit, and I discovered that I loved working providing spiritual care in a clinical setting. I went on to work for a few years providing spiritual care in a hospital in Melbourne, completing an advanced CPE unit in that time.
I have also worked as a casual academic in Melbourne for the last eight years, facilitating tutorials and workshops, and marking student work for subjects in practical theology, pastoral/spiritual care, and public health. My interest in health and wellbeing in faith communities has come about through a combination of experiences: my personal experiences as a person of faith, my academic studies, through my involvement in healthcare as a prior young cancer patient and as a former spiritual care practitioner.
What is it like studying in a joint PhD Programme?
It has been an enriching experience studying in the joint PhD Programme between Sheffield Hallam University and La Trobe University. I have supervisors from both Australia and the UK offering input into my research so I benefit greatly from the expertise of experienced public health researchers in both countries. It allows me to incorporate an international focus to this research on faith-health partnerships, as well as giving me the opportunity to live abroad in the UK with my family for 12 months.
It does come with its challenges: navigating two different university systems in two different countries can be difficult some days! However, studying under two universities expands my understanding of academia and research, and hopefully lends a different level of rigour to the research as I am required to meet the standards of an Australian and a UK university in my PhD studies.
What are you looking forward to most about coming to study in the UK and at the AWRC?
I am looking forward to meeting new people at SHU and at the AWRC and being immersed in a different country and culture. Developing new connections and being surrounded by other researchers is exciting. I am also looking forward to meeting a range of people from faith communities, and the health and wellbeing sectors. Hearing about the work that is taking place in these spaces is always interesting!
On a more personal level, my mother and her family are from Derbyshire, so I am looking forward to seeing where my family are from. My family and I are all looking forward to experiencing a cold, wintery Christmas, and I know my kids are hoping to see snow sometime while we are in the UK. We also looking forward to taking the opportunity to explore some of the UK, and I am excited to be so close to the beautiful Peak District. It looks like an ideal place to explore when I have a break from study and research.
What do you hope to do after your PhD?
I am still deciding what I would like to do after my PhD. There are so many exciting opportunities available – further research opportunities, post-doctoral positions, work in academic, or work in faith communities are all opportunities I would like to explore at some point. Whatever I do, I hope it will help me maintain my interest in faith and spirituality, health and wellbeing, and evidence-based practice.
To know more about the FINCH study please contact Liz at La Trobe University or Sheffield Hallam University.
At La Trobe University:
Ph: (03) 9479 5656
At Sheffield Hallam University:
Ph: 0114 255 4176
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