Kay Pozzebon

Dr Kay Pozzebon is a Lecturer in Psychology at the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC), affiliated with the School of Health. She joined UniSC in 2002 and contributed to developing foundational psychology courses and programs. Her research focuses on social psychology, hope theory, emotion, and quality of life, with notable work on the multidimensional integrated Hope Scale and the Being Safety Smart child safety initiative. She co-investigated the award-winning Being Safety Smart project, which received the Queensland Police Service State Gold Award 2009.

Education: PhD (University of the Sunshine Coast), BSc(Hons) (S.Qld).

Research Interests: Explores how hope influences financial behavior, quality of life, and social interactions. Her work integrates cognitive, social, and cultural perspectives to understand hope’s role in decision-making and safety education.

Awards:

• Queensland Police Service State Gold Award 2009 (for Being Safety Smart)

Teaching & Grants: Developed core psychology courses including Introduction to Psychology and Social Psychology. Collaborated with Queensland Police Service, Education Queensland, and the Crime and Misconduct Commission on safety initiatives. Research has been presented at international conferences like the British HCI Conference.

Labs/Teams: Part of interdisciplinary teams advancing psychology education and child safety programs at UniSC.