Sebastian Cordoba

Sebastian Cordoba is a social worker, academic, policy advocate, and researcher at RMIT University.

He is a Lecturer, Course Coordinator, and Program Manager in Social Work at RMIT, where he contributes to teaching, curriculum development, and program leadership. Alongside his academic role, Sebastian is a policy advisor and human rights advocate, working with the Australian Association of Social Workers and the International Federation of Social Workers, including engagement at the United Nations level.

His research explores the relationship between large-scale policy reform and the social work profession, with a focus on implications for direct practice, education, and professional identity. In his policy work, he has advocated against government approaches that risk breaching Australia’s human rights commitments, with particular attention to the Sustainable Development Goals, social support systems, and the rights of children.

Industry experience:

As a qualified social worker, Sebastian has several years of direct practice experience working with children, young people, and families, specialising in trauma-informed and crisis interventions across education and healthcare settings, including working as a school social worker and hospital social worker.

Sebastian currently serves as the United Nations Regional Commissioner for the International Federation of Social Workers, where he advocates for more inclusive and socially just policies.