Natalie Love
Natalie is an experienced social worker with 20 years of experience supporting children, adults, families, and communities across homelessness, mental health, child safety, disability, justice, and correctional settings. Her practice is informed by her diverse work experience, for instance, across prisons in South East Queensland, as well as university, government, and non-government settings. Natalie is deeply committed to supporting people whilst acknowledging the complexity in their experience, and values working together with individuals, families, teams, and communities to create meaningful and sustainable change.
Natalie has completed a Bachelor of Social Work (JCU Cairns) and then a Master of Social Work by Research (UniSC), where she explored the role of animals in social work practice, reflecting her commitment to nature-based, relational ways of being and working. Natalie is a co-author of Towards a Critical Posthumanist Social Work (Ross, Bennett & Menyweather, 2020), contributing to evolving perspectives within the profession.
For the past decade, Natalie has worked as an Equine Assisted Therapist, completing training in both Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Animal Assisted Psychotherapy with the Equine and Animal Assisted Psychotherapy Institute (EEPI). Natalie has trained internationally, completing a certificate in Animal Assisted Therapy, Activities and Learning through the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work.
In 2026, Natalie completed the Foundation Diploma in Developmental Coaching with the Vertical Development Institute (VDI), further extending her work in her current role as Director, Social Worker, and Behaviour Support Practitioner.
Natalie enjoys bringing together practical, relatable and on-the-ground work with the people and teams she supports, alongside up-to-date research, evidence, and academic knowledge across her fields of practice. She values translating theory and research into approaches that make sense in the real world and can be meaningfully applied by individuals, teams, and organisations. This was exemplified when she served on the board of a large Australia-wide NDIS organisation, bringing together her multidisciplinary approach to professional practice.
Natalie is passionate about supporting emerging and experienced social workers, as well as other allied health professionals. With experience at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Field Education supporting social work students throughout their professional placements, Natalie continues to support professionals with a focus on career direction, reflective practice, and professional growth while developing sustainable, heart-led ways of working.
Websites