Griffith University

B Soc Sci, MA (Research), PhD AAG Fellow

Lecturer, School of Human Services and Social Work
Convenor Graduate Certificate in Social Gerontology
School of Human Services and Social Work Honours Advisor

Sandra Woodbridge, is a lecturer within the School of Human Service and Social Work at Griffith University and convenes a number of courses which prepare students for working with older people in the community. She has extensive experience in the Aged Care Industry, including working in aged care facilities, in community organisations such as Council on the Ageing Qld and as a consultant to both private and public organisations.
She has developed expertise in the planning and development of housing choices for older people in particular relocatable/ manufactured home parks.  Her Masters thesis was entitled - When is a home not a home - the Health and Financial Implications for Older People moving to a Relocatable Home.  Sandra has presented her work in this area at conferences both here in Australia and overseas.Her PHD study explored the relationships of grandparents with their grandchildren particularly when the grandchild has a disability and has presented the results of this work both locally and internationally.  Sandra herself has 3 children and 5 grandchildren. Sandra is a Past President of the Qld Division of the Australian Association of Gerontology and a previous member of the National Council of Australian Association of Gerontology. She is Vice President of Flexicare Inc a not for profit community service which delivers services to older people and people with disabilities in their own homes.

Contact details for Dr Sandra Woodbridge

Research expertise

• Housing choices for older people
• Intergenerational relationships
• Ageing and disability
• Grandparents
  

Current teaching areas

• 2021HSV Health, ageing and disability
• 3024HSV Contemporary issues in ageing
• 2031HSV Working in organisations
  
• 7008HSV Working in organisations
• 7009HSV Health, ageing and disability
• 7028HSV Policy and practice in an ageing society
  
• School of Human Services and Social Work Honours Advisor
  

Publications

• Woodbridge, S., Buys, L., Miller, E. (In Press) My Grandchild has a disability: Impact on grandparenting identity, roles and relationships. Journal of Aging Studies.
• Miller, E., Buys, L., Woodbridge, S., (In Press)  Impact of Disability on families: grandparents’ perspectives. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research. 
• Woodbridge, S., Osmond, J., (2009). Transition and Retention in Human Services: An Exploratory Study of the First Year. Journal of the Australia and New Zealand Student Services Association. No 33. pp.4-26
• Woodbridge, S., (2008) Sustaining Families in the 21st Century: The Role of Grandparents. International Journal of Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability, 4 (2), 61 - 68.
• Woodbridge, S., Buys, L., Miller, E. (2009). Grandparenting a child with a disability: An emotional roller coaster. Australasian Journal on Ageing. Vol 28.No1.pp 37-40
• Lane,S. and Woodbridge, S. (2005). Working in Organisations: A case Study of a Text Based Simulative Construct. Referred Papers 2nd Annual Conference on Online Simulation role Playing and Virtual Worlds. Melbourne: League of Worlds, International Conference on Exploring Virtuality (Eds). 
• Selzer, D. and Woodbridge, S. (2004). Collaborative Learning: Building Bridges to Lifelong Learning. In Danaher, P. A., McPherson, C., Nouwens, F., and Orr, D. (Eds), Lifelong Learning: Whose responsibility and what is your contribution. Referred Papers 3rd International Life Long Learning Conference, Yeppoon, 2004.

• Presentations
  

• 25th September, 2009.  Speaker  Positive Ageing Journey and Symposium –  Paper : Grandparenting A Magical Mystery Journey
• 12th October  2010. Key Note Speaker: Inclusive Ageing Conference – Paper: The Future of Ageing: What does it mean for you, me and the people we work with?