| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2018 | Cicognani, E., Sonn, C. C., Albanesi, C., & Zani, B. (180901). Acculturation, social exclusion and resistance: Experiences of young Moroccans in Italy. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 66 (108-118). |
| 2018 | Oke, N., Sonn, C. C., & McConville, C. (180504). Making a place in Footscray: everyday multiculturalism, ethnic hubs and segmented geography. Identities, 25(3), (320-338). |
| 2017 |
Sonn, C. C., Ivey, G., Baker, A., & Meyer, K. (170101). Post-Apartheid south african immigrants in Australia: Negotiating displacement, identity, and belonging. Qualitative Psychology, 4(1), (41-54). doi: 10.1037/qup0000039 |
| 2016 | Sonn, C., Quayle, A., & Van, den. (160101). Narrating the accumulation of dispossession: Stories of Aboriginal Elders. Community Psychology in Global Perspective, 2(2), (79-96). |
| 2016 | Sonn, C., Dutta, U., & Lykes, M. B. (160101). Situating and contesting structural violence in community-based research and action. Community Psychology in Global Perspective, 2(2), (1-20). |
| 2015 | Sonn, C. C., Quayle, A. F., & Kasat, P. (150301). Picturing the Wheatbelt: Exploring and Expressing Place Identity Through Photography. American Journal of Community Psychology, 55(1-2), (89-101). |
Key details
Areas of expertise
- Community and liberation psychologies
- Qualitative and post-qualitative research
- Racism and whiteness studies
- Migration and Settlement
Available to supervise research students
Not available for media queries
About Christopher Sonn
Christopher is a professor with the College of Health and Biomedicine and a fellow with the Institute for Health and Sport.
He is the course chair of the Master Applied Psychology (Community Psychology) and research leader for the Community Identity and Displacement research group.
His research involves understanding and elevating the voices of individuals and groups who are marginalised or excluded through forms of symbolic violence such as racism and sexism.
Christopher has expertise in community and liberation psychology and qualitative and creative methodologies.
He has over 100 publications in high-ranking journals and edited books.
Christopher is co-author of Social Psychology of Everyday Life (1st & 2nd ed.) and co-editor of Psychology of Liberation, Sense of Community: Research, Applications and Implications, and Places of Privilege.
He has supervised and co-supervised 15 PhD and DPsych students and is currently supervising six Higher Degree by Research students.
Christopher is currently working on three projects with community partners to explore how participatory, creative, and arts based methodologies can promote decoloniality, empowerment, and inclusion.
He is visiting professor at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, and the chair of the organising committee for the 8th International Conference of Community Psychology to be held in Melbourne in 26-28 June 2020.
Qualifications
- PhD, Victoria University, Australia, 1996
- Grad Dip Applied Psychology (Community), Victoria University, Australia
- Grad Dip Education, Deakin University, Australia
- BA, Monash University, Australia
Key publications
Christopher has over 153 publications, with a selection listed here.
A more comprehensive list of Christopher's publications is available in the VU Research Repository.
Book chapter (showing 4)
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2019 | O'Doherty, K. C., & Hodgetts, D. (190101). The SAGE Handbook of Applied Social Psychology SAGE Publications Ltd. |
| 2017 |
Montero, M., Sonn, C. C., & Burton, M. (170101). Community psychology and liberation psychology: A creative synergy for an ethical and transformative praxis. (pp. 149-167). American Psychological Association. doi: 10.1037/14953-007 |
| 2017 | Sonn, C. C., Kasat, P., & Quayle, A. F. (170101). Creative Responses to Social Suffering: Using Community Arts and Cultural Development to Foster Hope (pp. 91-105). Springer International Publishing. |
| 2015 | . (150101). Decolonizing Multicultural Counseling through Social Justice Springer New York. |
Journal article (showing 6 of 94)
Research funding for the past 5 years
Please note:
- Funding is ordered by the year the project commenced and may continue over several years.
- Funding amounts for contact research are not disclosed to maintain commercial confidentiality.
- The order of investigators is not indicative of the role they played in the research project.
2020
|
Evaluation of the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation's GOAL Mentoring Program 2020
From: Western Bulldogs Community Foundation
For period: 2020-2020
|
Not disclosed |
2019
|
Evaluation of the gender equality through the Arts Grants Program
From: VicHealth, VU Internal Funding
Other investigators: Dr Kim Shearson, Aspr Gavin Ivey, Prof Jenny Sharples
For period: 2019-2020
|
Not disclosed |
|
Capacity Building Grant - Participation in the Collaborative Centre of Excellence for Resilient Communities and Inclusive Societies (CERCIS) Think Tank
From: Dept of Premier and Cabinet (Vic)
Other investigators: Aspr Debra Smith, Prof Ramon Spaaij
For period: 2019-2023
|
Not disclosed |
2018
|
CBTL (Colour between the line): Creating Solidarities Across Communities of Difference through Arts and Activism
From: CoHealth
Other investigators: Dr Amy Quayle
For period: 2018-2020
|
Not disclosed |
2017
|
Retrospective evaluation of CoHealth Arts Generator 'Benchmark' program
From: CoHealth, College of Arts and Education
Other investigators: Dr Caroline Clark
For period: 2017-2018
|
Not disclosed |
|
Dialogues of Change - Youth Peer Education through Applied Theatre
From: Western Edge Youth Arts, The Victoria Institute
Other investigators: Aspr Julie White, Dr Alison Baker
For period: 2017-2017
|
Not disclosed |
|
An evaluation of the Horace Petty Education Engagement Initiative.
From: College of Health and Biomedicine, Stonnington City Council, College of Arts and Education
Other investigators: Dr Alison Baker
For period: 2017-2020
|
Not disclosed |
2016
|
African Australians negotiating belonging and Identity: Examining the role of participatory arts practice
From: College of Health and Biomedicine, CoHealth
For period: 2016-2018
|
Not disclosed |
Supervision of research students at VU
Available to supervise research students
Not available for media queries
Currently supervised research students at VU
| No. of students | Study level | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | PhD | Principal Supervisor supervisor |
| 1 | PhD | OSP/Leave supervisor |
| 1 | PhD | Withdrawn - Associate supervisor |
| 2 | PhD | Associate supervisor |
| 1 | Masters by Research | Principal Supervisor supervisor |
Currently supervised research students at VU
| Students & level | Role |
|---|---|
| PhD (3) | Principal Supervisor supervisor |
| PhD (1) | OSP/Leave supervisor |
| PhD (1) | Withdrawn - Associate supervisor |
| PhD (2) | Associate supervisor |
| Masters by Research (1) | Principal Supervisor supervisor |
Completed supervision of research students at VU
| No. of students | Study level | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | PhD | Principal Supervisor supervisor |
| 6 | PhD | Associate supervisor |
| 1 | PhD | Withdrawn supervisor |
| 1 | PhD | Acting supervisor |
| 1 | Masters by Research | Withdrawn supervisor |
| 1 | PhD by Publication | Withdrawn - Associate supervisor |
| 2 | PhD Integrated | Associate supervisor |
Completed supervision of research students at VU
| Students & level | Role |
|---|---|
| PhD (14) | Principal Supervisor supervisor |
| PhD (6) | Associate supervisor |
| PhD (1) | Withdrawn supervisor |
| PhD (1) | Acting supervisor |
| Masters by Research (1) | Withdrawn supervisor |
| PhD by Publication (1) | Withdrawn - Associate supervisor |
| PhD Integrated (2) | Associate supervisor |
Other supervision of research students
Christopher has co-supervised 2 PhD students at Curtin University, and 1 PhD at Edith Cowan University. He was on the PhD dissertation committee at the University of Miami and is currently co-supervising a PhD candidate at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.
Teaching activities & experience
Christopher is an Associate Professor with the College of Health and Biomedicine and Fellow with the Institute for Health and Sport.
He is the course chair of the Master Applied Psychology (Community Psychology). He coordinates and teaches the following units in this program:
- APM6010, Foundations of Community Psychology
- APM7004, Intercultural Approaches to Community Pscyhology
- APC6089, Research Methods.
He also supervises research thesis in the thesis units for this course.
Christopher also:
- teaches APH4018, Social Research Methods, in the fourth year program in Psychology
- supervises research thesis
- teaches in into the undergraduate research methods course, APS2030, Qualitative Social Research.
Professional memberships
- Fellow, Australian Psychological Society
- Member, Society for Community Research and Action
