Barbara Spears

Barbara Spears AM serves as an Adjunct Professor of Education and Social Development at the University of South Australia's Education Futures school. With a PhD in Education from Flinders University (2005), she has established herself as a leading international researcher in educational psychology, specializing in bullying, cyberbullying, and student wellbeing.

Her research focuses on:

• Educational and developmental psychology
• Bullying and cyberbullying prevention
• Student wellbeing and mental health
• Peer relationship dynamics
• Technology's impact on educational settings

Dr. Spears has led major national initiatives including the Safe and Well Online project for the Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre and the review that transformed the National Safe Schools Framework into the Australian Student Wellbeing Framework. Her publication record shows a consistent evolution from traditional bullying research to contemporary cyberbullying studies, with increasing emphasis on technology's role in both creating risks and providing solutions for youth wellbeing.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
• May Mills Scholarship for Women (1994)

She has secured significant research funding through multiple Australian Research Council Linkage grants and Cooperative Research Centre projects. Dr. Spears previously directed the Wellbeing Research Group at UniSA School of Education (2009-2017) and currently chairs The Australian Universities' Anti-bullying Research Alliance (AUARA). She actively contributes to policy development through memberships on The SA Attorney General's Roundtable on Bullying and The National Technology and Wellbeing Roundtable, while also participating in international collaborations through The Cooperation of Science and Technology (COST) Action on Cyberbullying involving 28 European countries.