Robyn Newitt

Robyn Newitt is a Lecturer in Criminology and a historian at Monash University, affiliated with the Department of Social Work within the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. As a proud Tharawal and Yorta Yorta woman, her work is grounded in Indigenous perspectives and social justice advocacy, particularly in the areas of criminal justice reform, prison abolition, and decolonization.

• Bachelor of Criminology (Honours), Monash University (2015)
• Bachelor of Criminology, Monash University (2013)
• Master of Criminology, Monash University (thesis on recidivism and overrepresentation of Aboriginal people)

Her research focuses on systemic racism, Indigenous sovereignty, family violence, and the impacts of colonial governance on Aboriginal communities. She critically examines policies such as income management and policing practices through a decolonial lens. Her work contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to social justice and equity.

Recent publications explore themes such as bordering technologies in welfare, lived experience in academia, and decolonial justice. Her scholarly output spans journals like Punishment & Society and Australian Social Work, as well as contributions to edited volumes on decolonizing justice.

Robyn is actively involved in public scholarship, contributing expert commentary on Indigenous deaths in custody, defunding the police, and prison abolition through podcasts, media articles, and public lectures. She is a Chief Investigator on an ongoing research project evaluating New Street Services, funded by NSW Health, reflecting her commitment to community-based, impact-driven research.

She has participated in numerous academic and community events, including panel discussions on defunding the police and Indigenous activism in research. Her work is widely shared on social media and has been referenced in Wikipedia, underscoring its public relevance.

Robyn Newitt is a key voice in contemporary Indigenous criminology and social justice scholarship in Australia, bridging academic rigor with community advocacy.