Justin Barker

Dr Justin Barker is an urban anthropologist whose research has examined youth homelessness, homeless fathers, intergenerational drug use, alcohol related violence, normalisation of alcohol and other drug use amongst subcultures of young people, and tobacco management in the community sector. He has been the project manager and lead researcher on numerous research projects that have aimed to directly inform policy and practice.

Prior to his career as a researcher Justin was a youth worker in Adelaide and Canberra working with homeless young people. This experience led onto his PhD that examined the lives of homeless young people in Canberra, providing ethnographic insights into the conditions of youth homelessness. He has developed and implemented a range of qualitative research methodologies aimed at doing research with young people and vulnerable population groups. Justin has a strong background in social theory which he uses to add meaning and insight into his research and draws on research findings to contribute to social theory.