DoctorSarah Whitcombe-Dobbs

Sarah Whitcombe-Dobbs is a senior lecturer and psychologist at the University of Canterbury, and the Programme Director for the child and family psychology postgraduate training programme. Her enduring interests are child maltreatment and the intergenerational transmission of trauma, with her research focusing on ‘what works’ for families involved with Oranga Tamariki.  She has a pragmatic approach, and is deeply interested in interventions that reduce harm within families, and support children to develop according to their potential. Current research projects include:

(1) Effectiveness of supplemented higher-intensity interventions for parents who have involvement with child protection services;

(2) Roles and processes for specialist assessors for the Family Court; and 

(3) Using linked administrative data to explore trajectories of children who have contact with child protection services. 

Sarah also practises, primarily undertaking ACC service provision and assessments for the Family Court. She has worked in a range of roles and sectors with children, young people and whānau for more than 20 years.