Joanne McNamara
(She / her )
Specialist Counsellor, Gender Based Violence
Organisation unit
Student Experience and Success
Student Success
Student Wellbeing and Safety
Contact
About me
Joanne (B.A. Hons. Psych, B.S.W.) | Specialist Counsellor (Gender-Based
Violence)
Jo combines
30+ years of clinical experience with a passion for social justice to support
the University of Adelaide community. An expert in trauma-informed care, she
has spent her career at the intersection of sexual health, interpersonal
violence and cultural change.
Since 2018, Jo has played a pivotal role in
shaping a safer university culture through training and prevention initiatives.
In sessions, she is known for her client-centered approach, skillfully weaving
together ACT, Trauma Processing/ body-inclusive approaches, as well as others
(such as Narrative Therapy) to help clients reclaim their agency, wellbeing and
navigate complex dynamics of power and gender.
In her element: Having fun with friends, riding her bike, or thrifting a hidden gem.
Jo works Monday-Thursday.
Last updated
on 05/02/2026
by Joanne McNamara