| Creator: |
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| Date of birth: |
1925 |
| Date of death: |
1996 |
| Biography: |
Leonard J Tierney was born at Sea Lake Victoria on 5 May 1925. In 1947 he graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma of Social Studies. He then successfully attained his Master of Science in Social Work (1954) and Doctorate (1974) from New York’s Columbia University. He was appointed to The University of Melbourne in 1961 and became Reader in Charge in 1964. He remained with the University until his retirement in 1990 where he extended the School of Social Work’s curriculum to develop it into the first major post-graduate program in Australia. He was a leading practitioner and scholar and although his writing focused mostly on family and child welfare his research was spread across the diverse areas of social work. An inspirational mentor, Tierney was an active member of both government and non-government community organisations and held the position of Director of Social Work of the Citizen’s Welfare Service; which incorporated research work with the ‘Family Service Project’ (Camp Pell), and the Brotherhood of St Laurence (1950s-1960s). He also resided or advised on a number of Boards of Management including Honorary Consultant for The Christian Brothers Review Committee (1983), Member Advisory Group of Catholic Family Welfare Bureau and Catholic Welfare Services (1983-1984). In 1971 he received the Victorian Council of Social Service Award for services to the Victorian Community. He was made an Honorary Life Member of the Australian Association of Social Workers in 1976, and awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 1992. Dr Leonard James Tierney OAM died on 14 April 1996.
Reference: http://socialwork.unimelb.edu.au/_data/assets/pdf_file/0008/389852/Len_Tierney_bio.pdf |
| Activities/Occupation: |
Academics - Social work |
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