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Associate Professor Abner Weng Cheong Poon

Associate Professor Abner Weng Cheong Poon

Associate Professor

BA (Singapore), MSW Mental Health (Melbourne, Australia), PhD (Melbourne, Australia)

Arts, Design & Architecture
School of Social Sciences

Abner Poon is Associate Professor of Social Work at the School of Social Sciences.ÌýAbner has experience as a social worker in mental health. His research focuses on social work practice in mental health, impact of mental illness on families and caregivers, family intervention in mental health, children of parents with mental illness, health and wellbeing of migrants facing mental health problems, recovery and community mental health teams. He has published articles in high-ranking journals focusingÌýon Assertive Community Treatment Program, caregivers of people with psychosis, carers ofÌýpeople with mental illness from ethnic minority groups and parents with mental illness.

Phone
+61 2 9065 2315
Location
169 Morven Brown
  • Book Chapters | 2020
    Campbell L; Poon AWC, 2020, 'Parenting Challenges for Persons with a Serious Mental Illness', in Mental Health and Social Work, Springer Singapore, pp. 457 - 474,
    Book Chapters | 2020
    Campbell L; Poon AWC, 2020, 'Parenting Challenges for Persons with a Serious Mental Illness', in Ow R; Poon AWC (ed.), Mental Health and Social Work, Springer Nature, Singapore,
    Book Chapters | 2020
    O'Hanlon B; Harvey C; Poon AWC; Cuff R; McKenzie P; Young J, 2020, 'Working with families', in Mental Health and Collaborative Community Practice: An Australian Perspective
    Book Chapters | 2020
    Ow R; Poon AWC, 2020, 'Theories on Mental Health, Illness and Intervention', in Mental Health and Social Work, Springer Singapore, pp. 3 - 21,
    Book Chapters | 2020
    Poon AWC; Curtis J; Ward P, 2020, 'Using Standardized Questionnaires and Anthropometric Instruments in Measuring Health and Well-Being of Caregivers of Young People With Early Psychosis', in ,
    Book Chapters | 2020
    Poon AWC; Kung WW, 2020, 'An Overview of Social Work Approaches in Working with Families of People with Serious Mental Illness', in Mental Health and Social Work, Springer Singapore, pp. 199 - 217,
    Book Chapters | 2020
    Poon AWC; Kung WW, 2020, 'An Overview of Social Work Approaches in Working with Families of People with Serious Mental Illness', in Ow R; Poon AWC (ed.), Mental Health and Social Work, Springer, Singapore,
    Book Chapters | 2020
    Poon AWC; Ow R, 2020, 'Reflection of Future Social Work Practice in Mental Health', in Mental Health and Social Work, Springer Singapore, pp. 541 - 554,
    Book Chapters | 2020
    Poon AWC; Ow R, 2020, 'Reflection of Future Social Work Practice in Mental Health', in Ow R; Poon AWC (ed.), Mental Health and Social Work, Springer Nature, Singapore,
    Book Chapters | 2019
    Higgins M, 2019, 'Social work with refugees and migrants', in Poon AWC; Ow R (ed.), Mental Health and Social Work, Springer, Singapore, pp. 1 - 22,
    Book Chapters | 2019
    Ow R; Poon AWC, 2019, 'Theories on Mental Health, Illness and Intervention', in Ow R; Poon AWC (ed.), Mental Health and Social Work, Springer Nature, Singapore,
  • Edited Books | 2020
    Poon AWC; Ow R, (ed.), 2020, Mental Health and Social Work, Springer Nature, Singapore,
  • Journal articles | 2025
    Poon AWC; Hofstaetter L; Judd-Lam S, 2025, 'Experiences of Mental Health Carers Examined Using a Recovery Framework', Australian Social Work, 78, pp. 43 - 57,
    Journal articles | 2024
    Aadam B; Poon AWC; Fernandez E, 2024, 'Listening in Mental Health Clinical Practice', British Journal of Social Work, 54, pp. 246 - 266,
    Journal articles | 2024
    Addo IY; Aguilar S; Judd-Lam S; Hofstaetter L; Poon AWC, 2024, 'Young Carers in Australia: Understanding Experiences of Caring and Support-Seeking Behaviour', Australian Social Work, 77, pp. 60 - 73,
    Journal articles | 2024
    Fang Q; Poon AWC; Fisher KR; Duong J; Lee JS, 2024, 'Coproduction with peer support groups: A new approach to culturally responsive social services', American Journal of Community Psychology, 73, pp. 515 - 525,
    Journal articles | 2024
    Guan Z; Zwi AB; Sun M; Poon AWC, 2024, 'Validation and reliability of the Chinese version of the Friendship Scale (FS-C) in family caregivers of people with severe mental illnes', Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 53, pp. 95 - 101,
    Journal articles | 2024
    Iwuagwu AO; Poon AWC; Fernandez E, 2024, 'A scoping review of barriers to accessing aged care services for older adults from culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Australia', BMC Geriatrics, 24,
    Journal articles | 2023
    Guan Z; Poon AWC; Zwi A, 2023, 'Social isolation and loneliness in family caregivers of people with severe mental illness: A scoping review', American Journal of Community Psychology, 72, pp. 443 - 463,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Poon AWC; Cassaniti M; Karan P; Ow R, 2022, 'Perceived Needs and Wellbeing of Vietnamese Parents Caring for Children with Disability', Children and Youth Services Review, pp. 106433 - 106433,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Poon AWC; Cassidy A, 2022, 'A scoping review of Chinese families caring for a relative with mental illness', Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 31, pp. 1 - 15,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Poon AWC; Hofstaetter L; Judd-Lam S, 2022, 'Social connectedness of carers: An Australian national survey of carers', Health and Social Care in the Community, 30, pp. e5612 - e5623,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Poon AWC; Abdul Wahab N; Salim R; Ow R, 2021, 'Well-being and needs of Malay carers of people with mental illness in Singapore', Health and Social Care in the Community, 29, pp. 164 - 174,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Poon AWC; Cassaniti M; Sapucci M; Ow R, 2021, 'Wellbeing and experiences of Chinese and Vietnamese carers of people with mental illness in Australia', Transcultural Psychiatry, 58, pp. 351 - 364,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Poon AWC; Lappin JM; Cassidy A; Breckenridge J, 2021, 'Scoping Review of Family Interventions That Support the Physical Health of Caregivers', Research on Social Work Practice, 31, pp. 234 - 243,
    Journal articles | 2020
    Poon AWC; Cassaniti M; Sapucci M; Ow R, 2020, 'Wellbeing and experiences of Chinese and Vietnamese carers of people with mental illness', Transcultural Psychiatry,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Breckenridge J; Yang T; Poon AWC, 2019, 'Is gender important? Victimisation and perpetration of intimate partner violence in mainland China', Health and Social Care in the Community, 27, pp. 31 - 42,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Cassidy A; Poon AWC, 2019, 'A Scoping Review of Family-Based Interventions in Drug and Alcohol Services: Implications for Social Work Practice', Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 19, pp. 345 - 367,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Poon AWC; Curtis J; Howard A; Ward PB; Lappin JM, 2019, 'Health of Carers of Young People with Early Psychosis: A Biopsychosocial Approach', Australian Social Work, 72, pp. 260 - 273,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Poon AWC; Hayes L; Harvey C, 2019, 'Care-giving by people with psychotic disorders in the second Australian prevalence study of psychosis', Health and Social Care in the Community, 27, pp. 1042 - 1052,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Poon AWC; Lee JS, 2019, 'Carers of People with Mental Illness from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities', Australian Social Work, 72, pp. 312 - 324,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Yang T; Poon AWC; Breckenridge J, 2019, 'Estimating the Prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence in Mainland China – Insights and Challenges', Journal of Family Violence, 34, pp. 93 - 105,
    Journal articles | 2018
    Poon AWC; Curtis J; Ward P; Loneragan C; Lappin J, 2018, 'Physical and psychological health of carers of young people with first episode psychosis', Australasian Psychiatry, 26, pp. 184 - 188,
    Journal articles | 2018
    Poon AWC; Joubert L; Harvey C, 2018, 'Perceived needs of carers of people with psychosis: An Australian longitudinal population-based study of caregivers of people with psychotic disorders', Health and Social Care in the Community, 26, pp. 412 - 422,
    Journal articles | 2018
    Poon AWC; Joubert L; Mackinnon A; Harvey C, 2018, 'Changes in health and wellbeing of carers of people with psychosis overtime', newparadigm, pp. 54 - 55,
    Journal articles | 2017
    Poon AC; Harvey C; Fuzzard S; O'Hanlon B, 2017, 'Implementing a Family Inclusive Practice Model in Youth Mental Health Services in Australia', Early Intervention in Psychiatry,
    Journal articles | 2017
    Poon AC; Joubert L; Mackinnon A; Harvey C, 2017, 'Recovery for Carers of People with Psychosis: A Longitudinal Population-Based Study with Implications for Social Work', British Journal of Social Work,
    Journal articles | 2016
    Poon AWC; Harvey C; Mackinnon A; Joubert L, 2016, 'A longitudinal population-based study of carers of people with psychosis', Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, pp. 1 - 11,
    Journal articles | 2015
    Poon WC; Joubert L; Harvey C, 2015, 'A longitudinal study of the health and wellbeing of culturally and linguistically diverse caregivers of people with psychosis in Australia', International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 61, pp. 743 - 753,
    Journal articles | 2014
    Poon WC; Lee C; Mark L, 2014, 'An Exploratory Study of the Profile and Perceived Needs of People With Mental Illness Who Are Caring for Young Children in Singapore', Social Work in Mental Health, 12, pp. 174 - 193,
    Journal articles | 2013
    Low L; Tan YY; Lim BY; Poon WC; Lee C, 2013, 'Effectiveness of Assertive Community Management in Singapore', Annals Academy of Medicine, 42, pp. 125 - 132,
    Journal articles | 2013
    Poon WC; Joubert L; Harvey C, 2013, 'Experiences of Chinese Migrants Caring for Family Members With Schizophrenia in Australia', Social Work in Health Care, 52, pp. 144 - 165,
    Journal articles | 2012
    Campbell L; Hanlon MC; Poon AWC; Paolini S; Stone M; Galletly C; Stain HJ; Cohen M, 2012, 'The experiences of Australian parents with psychosis: The second Australian national survey of psychosis', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 46, pp. 890 - 900,
    Journal articles | 2005
    Lim CG; Koh CW; Lee C; Poon WC, 2005, 'Community Psychiatry in Singapore: A Pilot Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Programme', Annals Academy of Medicine, 34, pp. 100 - 104,
  • Reports | 2022
    Fang Q; Fisher K; Poon A; Duong J; Lee J; Li B, 2022, Australian Chinese Disability Peer Support Groups in Sydney, Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW Sydney,

Bruce Lord Award for Excellence in Research Methodology, Australian Social Work (2020)

Best Oral Presentation, 8th International Conference on Social Work in Health and Mental HealthÌý(2016)

Australian Postgraduate Award (2011 – 2014)

Melbourne Abroad Travelling Scholarship (2013)

Health Manpower Development Plan Fellowship, Singapore National Healthcare Group (2005)

Research Areas

Social work practice in mental health, families of people with mental illness, psychosocial rehabilitation, caregiving in culturally and linguistically diverse communities, caregiving in Chinese families, family intervention in mental health, community mental health teams and recovery

Past Research Projects

headspace Family Inclusive Practice Model

The headspace Family Inclusive Practice Model project was funded by headspace Service Innovation Project Grant (2014-2015). The service development project evaluated an innovative Single Session Family Consultation Model for families of young persons with emerging mental health problems.

Non-English Speaking Caregivers of People with Psychosis

The research project was funded by William Buckland Foundation Grant (2011-2013). The study was conducted to identify the health and wellbeing of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) caregivers of people with psychotic disorders in Australia.

Profile and perceived needs of people with mental illness who are caring for young children

The project was an exploratory study of the profile and perceived needs of people with mental illness who were caring for young children in Singapore. The study was funded by the National Medical Research Council of Singapore (2008).

  • Australian Social Work
    • Associate Editor
  • Research on Social Work Practice
    • Editorial Board Member

My Research Supervision

PhD: Mr Bani Aadam - Virtuous listening in mental health clinical practice

PhD: Ms Ziyao Guan -ÌýSocial isolation and lonelinessÌýamong family caregivers of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia in China

PhD: Mr AnthonyÌýIwuagwu -ÌýPerceptions of African migrant families experience of caregiving for older people in the Australian context

PhD: Richard Knight - Men and eating disorders: An invisible and silent population

PhD: Ms Ziyan Zhou -ÌýSchool-91³ÉÈ˰涶Òô Partnership, Supportive Training, and School Counsellors’ Self-Efficacy

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My Teaching

My practice-basedÌýteaching focuses on social work practice in mental health and trauma, evidence-based practice,Ìýand counselling and groupwork.

SOCW2009 Social Work Counselling with Individuals, Families andÌýGroups

SOCW4011 Evidence and Practice-based Research

SOCW4012 Social Work Practice in Mental Health and Trauma

SOCW4016 Social Work Honours Advanced Practice PortfolioÌý