The introduction of the PhD Mobility Grant program aligns with both universities' commitment to academic excellence and innovation. The grant involves a visit to Queens University Belfast, for a two-week period at the time of the year when Hayley will be able to attend as many relevant training/research activities as possible. The visit will be supported by QUB Innovation Zones Team and will also possibly include seminar presentations, publications and future grant applications.

Hayley’s commitment to community engagement extends beyond research; her work at the University of the Witwatersrand involves teaching community psychology and supervising students in their community work placements. Her role involves developing relationships with NGOs, school communities and other stakeholders involved in community engagement and finding ways to encourage research input in informing and developing community initiatives.

As a registered educational psychologist the scope of Hayley’s work involves advocating for children’s learning and development on an individual, community and societal level to influence policies that impact on children, youth and their families.

Moreover, as a member of the Community Engagement Committee at the School of Human and Community Development at the university, Hayley is committed to fostering meaningful partnerships between academia and communities and ensuring that community engagement encourages collaboration and a commitment to acknowledging and celebrating indigenous knowledge.

In 2015, she co-founded a youth initiative in an attempt to understand and explore the voices of marginalised youth in Johannesburg, South Africa. From this very organic and slow process Youth of the South (YOTS) has evolved into the organisation that it is today. YOTS creates and holds a space that allows for the move between personal experiences and the broader social context that impacts on individual lives. The aim of YOTS is to explore the lived experiences of young people with the hope of understanding and supporting development, through a process that is informed by(through incorporating a constant collaborative research process), with (through building meaningful relationships) and for youth (offering ways to exercise agency, encourage personal development and be involved in multiple forms of action to transform societies). Furthermore, Hayley’s experience as a co-founder of YOTS underscores her dedication to bridging the gap between theory and practice in community engagement.

Hayley’s research is focused on the emotional interactions of community members involved in community work, with a special focus on the concept of contact zones. She believes that the dynamic environment provided by Queen's University Belfast will offer invaluable insights and resources to enhance her exploration of this critical area.

Hayley is incredibly enthusiastic about participating in the PhD Mobility Grant program and is eager to utilise the opportunities presented by the PhD Mobility Grant to advance her research agenda, contribute to the vibrant academic community at Queen's University Belfast, and ultimately make tangible contributions to the field of community engagement.