Dr Mayio Konidaris-kozirakis

Mayio Konidaris is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work and researcher at Victoria University. She is also an experienced Mental Health Clinical Social Worker/Supervisor and Family Therapist.

Prior to Mayio’s current role at VU, she was employed as a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Bedfordshire in the United Kingdom. Mayio also completed her PhD in Social Work at Monash University.

Within her academic teaching roles Mayio coordinated units in Mental Health, Social Policy, Reflective Practice and Research Skills while also undertaking research, and teaching in other areas. Other employment entailed Clinical Supervisor in Community Health, Clinical Research Assistant at Swinburne University.

Mayio’s research interests relate to second and subsequent generations acculturative experiences. Mayio’s PhD studies introduced and evaluated Cultural Humility Training principles in Mental Health Service Provision, as an avenue to address: negative cultural stereotypes, racial bias, racism and structural inequalities in practice. She is particularly committed to the needs of families of CALD backgrounds living with mental illness.

More recently, Mayio is also exploring the role of creative arts based methods in research and in her teaching. For over 30 years as a mental health social worker, Mayio has worked extensively in the public mental health field in a range of clinical and senior roles, with people across the developmental age spectrum.