Carmen Yau

Ms Carmen Yau BSocSc, PD, MSW, PhD Candidate

Lecturer in Social Work

Ms Carmen Yau is currently a Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Greenwich. As a multi-award-winning Disability x Gender advocate in Asia, Carmen is dedicated to enhancing equality and inclusion for people with disabilities and intersectional women. She touches a range of topics from accessibility and universal design, sexuality and LGBTQ, interpersonal violence, physical and mental health.

As a social work practitioner, Carmen is interested in narrative practice and digital storytelling. She commits to bridge social work theories and practice to the digital era. She explores potential social work practice in the information communication technology context.

Previously held positions
  • 2017-2018: Research Associate / 2016-2017: Project Associate, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University
  • 2015-2016: Part-time Business Manager, Direction Association for the Handicapped
  • 2013-2015: Executive Assistant, UNESCO Arts in Education Observatory for Research in Local Cultures & Creativity in Education, The Hong Kong University of Education
  • 2009-2013: Project & Marketing Manager / 2005-2008: Public Relations Officer, Families of SMA Charitable Trust
  • 2008-2009: Project Officer, Sheltered Workshop & Hostel for People with Intellectual Challenges, Wai Ji Christian Service

Social work

Responsibilities within the university
  • Module Leader for Level 5 and 7 Modules:  SOCW 1181, SOCW 1183, SOCW 1209, PSYH 1044.
  • Supervision of Social Work Placements;
  • Admission Lead

Recognition
  • 2020-Present: Co-founder, Carers Alliance (Hong Kong)/ Regional Member of International Alliance of Carer Organization
  • 2019-Present: Executive Committee Member, Rehabilitation Alliance Hong Kong
  • 2018 – Present: Co-opt Committee Member, Community Participation and Publicity Committee, Equal Opportunities Commission, Hong Kong SAR
  • 2018 – Present: Chairperson, Association of Women with Disabilities Hong Kong
  • 2018 - Present: Committee Member, Submission of NGO Shadow Report on UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS) / The Hong Kong Joint Council for People with Disabilities
  • 2018-Present: Committee Member, Submission of NGO Shadow Report on UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), Hong Kong Women's Coalition on Equal Opportunities
  • 2016-2021: Radio Program Host, Care for Disabled, Radio & Television Hong Kong
  • 2016 – 2018: Executive Committee Member, Forget Thee Not/ Social Enterprise (For green funerals and advance decisions (Living Wills))
  • 2014- Present: Co-Founder, Death Café Hong Kong /A Global Social Franchise (For the purpose of talking about death over food and beverage)

Research / Scholarly interests
  • Topics related to disability: independent living, proactive health management, rare disease, mental health, queer and LGBT+, gender and sexuality
  • Social work research and practice methodology: narrative practice, digital storytelling, application of information communication technology (ICT).

Key funded projects

  • 2021: Convener & Chair, Asia Pacific Women Caregivers with Disabilities Conference 2021, Funding Source: Equal Opportunity Commission, Hong Kong SAR
  • 2020: Principal Investigator, The PhotoVoice of Caregivers with Disabilities. Funding Source: Women's Commission, Hong Kong SAR
  • 2019: Principal Investigator, Health Equality & Management of Women with Disabilities. Funding Source: Women's Commission, Hong Kong SAR

Recent publications