Project advisors

Dr. Barbara Spears

Barbara SpearsAssociate Professor Barbara Spears, School of Education University of South Australia is recognised nationally and internationally for her work on youth/student voice, cyber/bullying, sexting, mental health, wellbeing, and the role of technology in young people’s social relationships. She is a founding member and inaugural Chair of AUARA: the Australian Universities Anti-Bullying Research Alliance. With interests in pre-service teacher education; knowledge mobilisation and the translation of research to policy and practice, she has led the following national projects employing participatory design approaches: the review of the National Safe Schools Framework (the overarching wellbeing policy framework for all Australian schools); A Public Health Approach to Sexting; Youth Exposure to and Management of Cyber-Bullying Incidents in Australia; and the five year Safe and Well Online Study: exploring the use of technology to support young people’s mental health (Young and Well CRC). She has published: 3 edited books; and over 100 peer reviewed chapters; journal articles; and commissioned reports to advise government and industry. She is an inaugural Board Member of the Child Development Council of South Australia, whose charter is to prepare an Outcomes Framework for Children and Young People in South Australia, with objectives in the areas of health, safety, wellbeing, education and preparedness for adulthood.
http://people.unisa.edu.au/Barbara.Spears