Dr Harris lectures in the Master of Public Policy at RMIT University. She has a background as a human service practitioner in generalist crisis work and as a domestic violence specialist. Her work in human service organisations has included program evaluation, program design and practice exploration. She is interested in understanding the distance between policy maker’s intent, implementation and the implications for practice, practitioners and the people who access human services. Her work seeks to insert the client’s voice into the policy making process to insure that people’s lived experience informs policy maker’s as they continue the process of reform in the health and human services sector. She is interested in supporting practitioners in the development and use of  anti-oppressive practice theory and principles to inform their response to change in their sector.  

Research interests

Domestic violence, the relationship between policy and practice, change in human services, outcomes in human services.

Recent publications and reports

• Rowe, J., Harris, L. (2016). (In Press) ‘Get Up, Stand Up!’ Giving people the means of responding to opioid overdose. Evaluation of the first implementation of a peer education based ‘take home’ naloxone program in Victoria.
• Harris, L., Andrews, S. (2013) Implementing the Outcomes Star well in a multi-disciplinary environment, The Salvation Army, Melbourne. Available at: http://apo.org.au/node/35571

Current projects

Anastasia Powell and Lisa Harris (2016-17) Evaluation of Task force Alexis: Family Violence Component. The Salvation Army Crisis Services Network.

Lisa Harris and Sharon Andrews (2014-17) Making use of the Outcomes Star in a multidisciplinary case-management environment. The Salvation Army Crisis Services Network.