Krystal Schaffer

Dr. Krystal Schaffer is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work and Human Services at the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ), affiliated with the School of Psychology and Wellbeing. She serves as Director of Field Education and Networking, overseeing practical training for social work students. Her career spans over a decade in tertiary and secondary child protection and domestic/family violence (DFV) services.

• Education: PhD (UniSQ, 2024), Master of Social Work (Griffith University, 2019), Bachelor of Arts in Criminology/Sociology (University of Queensland, 2009), and two Graduate Certificates in Community Services Practice.

Research interests focus on DFV prevention, virtual reality (VR) simulations in social work training, childhood abuse and neglect, and innovation in higher education. Her work emphasizes praxis—integrating theory, practice, and technology to enhance student preparedness. She has secured competitive grants for VR-based DFV training and work-integrated learning strategies.

Recent publications address DFV education, AI in social work, graduate readiness, and systemic challenges in family court and school systems. Themes include technological integration, ethical practice, and structural critiques of social work contexts.

Scientific awards include:

• USQ Early Career Teaching Award (2021)
• USQ Excellence Award for University Teaching (2021)
• Editor’s Choice Award for her 2025 article on VR in DFV education
• People’s Choice Award at the 2024 ANZSWWER Symposium

Teaching includes courses like SWK1400 Working in partnership with children, youth and families, SWK2200 Intersectionality as a critical practice tool, and SWK3200 Contemporary Pressures: Navigating Domestic and Family Violence. She supervises doctoral students on topics such as First Nations well-being practices and AI applications in social work.

Research affiliations include the Centre for Health Research (CHR) and Institute for Resilient Regions. She also holds leadership roles in the Child Protection Practitioners Association Queensland (CPPAQ) and Family Law Pathways (FLP) steering committee.