Dr Barbara Spears 

Welcome to my homepage. Please feel free to contact me anytime via my email on barbara.spears@unisa.edu.au

NEW PUBLICATIONS

Campbell, M.A., Slee, P.T., Spears, B.A., Butler, D. & Kift, S. (2013) Do cyberbullies suffer too? Cyberbullies’ perceptions of the harm they cause to others and to their own mental health. School Psychology International Prepublished May 8, 2013. doi: 10.1177/0143034313479698

Spears,B. A.,Costabile, A., Brighi,A., Del Rey,R., Pörhölä, M., Sanchez, V., Spiel, C., & Thompson, F. (In Press). Positive uses of new technologies, in relationships in educational settings. In P.K. Smith & G. Steffgen (Eds)Cyberbullying through the new media: Findings from an international network.. London: Psychology Press.

Spears, B. & Kofoed, J. (in press). Transgressing research binaries: Youth as knowledge brokers in cyberbullying research. In P.Smith and G. Steffgen (Eds.) Cyberbullying through the new media: Findings from an international network. London: Psychology Press.

Campbell, M., Spears, B., Slee, P., Butler, D., & Kift, S. (2012) Victims’ perceptions of traditional and cyberbullying, and the psychosocial correlates of their victimisation. Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties Volume 17, Issue 3-4, September-December 2012, pp389-401 DOI: 10.1080/13632752.2012.704316

Costabile , A. & Spears, B.A. (Eds)(2012) The Impact of Technology on Relationships in Educational Settings Routledge Impact of Technology on Relationships in Educational Settings

Slee, P.T., Campbell, M. & Spears, B. (2012) Child, Adolescent & Family Development . Cambridge University Press: Cambridge

Spears, B.A. (2012) Conflict Resolution in Schools, In D.J. Christie (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Peace Psychology. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley-Blackwell

Spears, B.A. (2012). Sexual Harassment. In D. J. Christie (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Peace Psychology. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley-Blackwell.

Spears, B.A., Jennifer, D. and Williams, S. (2011). Girls, Verbal Sexual Harassment and Sexual Bullying: Implications for Wellbeing. In R Shute (Ed) International perspectives on mental health and wellbeing in education. Shannon Research Press: Adelaide

Butler, D., Kift, S., Campbell, M., Slee, P & Spears, B. (2011). School policy responses to cyberbullying: An Australian Legal Perspective. International Journal of Law & Education, 16 (2), 7-28.

Spears, B., Slee, P., Campbell, M., and Cross, D. (2011, September) Educational Change and Youth Voice: Informing School Action on Cyberbullying. Seminar Series #208: Centre for Strategic Education: Victoria

Slee, P., Spears., B., Campbell, M., & Cross, D. (2011) Addressing bullying and cyberbullying in schools: Translating theory into practice. Occasional Paper #123. Centre for Strategic Education. Melbourne, Vicotria

Cross, D., Monks, H., Campbell, M., Spears, B., & Slee, P (2011) School-based strategies to address cyberbullying. Occasional Papers #119. Centre for Strategic Education. Victoria.

CyberChat Articles Please read these short articles (1 page), written for Education Technology Solutions, and which now appear on the DECS website, with permission. Topics include: Cyber Relationships; Cyber Safety; Cyberbullying; Cyber Savvy Tots; Protecting Teachers Online.

CURRENT RESEARCH

Young and Well:COOPERATIVE RESEARCH CENTRE Young and Well CRC This CRC has recently been awarded $27 million from the Australian Government and will study how technology can help prevent and treat mental illness in our youth. July 2011- June 2015.

I am research leader for the lead project for Research Program One: Safe and Supportive of the Smart Online, Safe Offline (SOSO) project in the Young and Well CRC (YAWCRC) This project will investigate the capacity of social marketing strategies to change the beliefs and attitudes of young people, to ensure that the online community is a safe and supportive environment within which young people can interact. This project is in partnership with young people; the National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and neglect (NAPCAN); the Butterfly Foundation; ZUNI, a digital strategies company and the Queensland University of Technology. It will focus on 4 key challenges: digital citizenship and safety; respectful relationships; participation and help-seeking

Australian Research Council Linkage (LP110200330) : 3 yrs (2011 – 2013) $ 143,226 A legally-informed intervention for schools to prevent and intervene in cases of Cyberbullying (QUT)

PREVIOUS RESEARCH

AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH TRAINING SCHOOL: CYBERBULLYING: From Research to Policy and Practice. In April, 2010, the inaugural COST/AUSTRALIAN research training school was held. See video below. This brought approximately 60 emerging researchers and research mentors together for a weeklong intensive. I was involved with the organisation and as a Faculty, and worked with the role that YOUTH VOICE plays in understanding cyberbullying.

Australian Research Council Linkage LP882087 : 3 yrs (2008-2010): $187,000 Cyber bullying: an evidence-based approach to the application and reform of law, policy and practice in schools. Dr M Campbell (QUT)

Australia Trip from James Watterston on Vimeo.

http://vimeo.com/11961563

Cyberbullying and the Role of the Bystander: Divisional Research Performance Fund $13, 000. This pilot study examines the role of the bystander in cyberbullying. Focus group trials have been completed and main data is currently being collected.

Australian Research Council Linkage grant , led by Dr Marilyn Campbell of QUT. 'Cyber bullying: an evidence-based approach to the application and reform of law, policy and practice in schools'

Covert Bullying: It's Nature and Prevalence in Australian schools COVERT BULLYING REPORT Insights into the Human Dimension of Covert Bullying research project funded by DEEWR as part of the larger initiative: Covert Bullying: Its nature and Prevalence in Australian Schools) ‘Insights into the Human Dimension of Covert Bullying’ is an innovative technology project to record ‘spoken stories’ from students, parents and teachers, showing the very human face of bullying – real people, real stories and practical solutions.

KIDSMATTER Primary KidsMatter Evaluation KidsMatter is a primary school mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention initiative developed for Australian primary schools APAPDC KidsMatter

INVITED MEMBERSHIP

The Management Committee of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST ACTION IS0801)Cyberbullying: coping with negative and enhancing positive uses of new technologies, in relationships in educational settings.

The National Centre Against Bullying Advisory Board.

The National Technology and Wellbeing Roundtable. This Roundtable brings together Australia’s leading government and non-government organisations, as a Thinktank around emerging issues in cybersafety and wellbeing: viz the Australian Communications and Media Authority; Google; Boystown; Livewire; Foundation of Young Australians; Telstra Foundation; Alannah and Madeline Foundation; SuperclubsPLUS; and KidsHelpline.

The Coalition to Decrease Bullying, Harassment and Violence in South Australian schools. This committee is the first to bring together representatives from all systems: Universities, DECS; Catholic Education and the Independent Schools Association to devise unified strategic approaches for schools in South Australia.

CONSULTANCIES

Consultancies have ranged across all providers in the Education sector: State, Catholic and Independent, as well as providers in the private sector both in South Australia and interstate. Other areas include: Negotiation; Conflict Management; Group Dynamics

As well as teaching and research at the University of South Australia, I am committed to ensuring that my research informs practice.

Should you be interested in the Staff/Professional Development consultancy service which I offer in the field of Girls' Peer Relationships, Friendships and Bullying Behaviours, or Cyber Bullying and Cyber Relationships please contact me at barbara.spears@unisa.edu.au

BACKGROUND

Initially trained as a primary teacher, my combined teaching skills and business experience led to teaching in the Business Faculty of the University of South Australia, in the Elton Mayo School of Marketing during 1994 & 1995. Key areas were: Business Communication and Negotiation and Administrative Management:Management Principles

I joined the School of Education in 1996, however, in order to pursue my specific interest in Education.

In 1994, I was awarded the May Mills Scholarship for Women from Flinders University in order to pursue my PhD in the field of Girls' Peer Relationships and Bullying Behaviours. My thesis is entitled: South Australian Middle-School Girls' Perceptions, Understandings and Experiences of Peer Relationships, Bullying and Aggression in Single-sex and Co-educational Settings

Young and Well CRC

COST ACTION ISO801: Cyberbullying: coping with negative and enhancing positive uses of new technologies, in relationships in educational settings.

Centre for Research in Education

Citizenship and Wellbeing Research Group

Centre for Peace, Conflict and Mediation

The Double Edged Sword: paper from AARE 1997

International Observatory on Violence in schools

Society for Research in Child Development

Australian Association for Research in Education

International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development

International Society for Research on Aggression

National Centre Against Bullying

• Interpersonal Relations
• Educational Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Conflict Management
• Research Methods

Centre for Research in Education (CREd)

Co-Director: Citizenship and Wellbeing Research Group (CREd)

Registered Teacher in South Australia

COST Action ISO801: Cyberbullying: Coping with negative and Enhancing Positive Uses of Technology in Relationships in Educational Settings

Coalition to Decrease Bullying, Harassment and Violence in SA Schools

International Society for the Research in Aggression

Society For Research in Child Development

National Centre Against Bullying

National Technology and Wellbeing Roundtable

PhD. (Flinders)Middle-School Girls' Perceptions, Understandings and Experiences of Peer Relationships, Bullying and Aggression in Single-sex and Co-educational Settings

M. ED. ST. (Flinders)

B. ED. (UNISA)

Dip. T. (MPCAE)

• Cyber Bullying; Covert Bullying;Bullying Behaviours;
• Girls' Friendships and Peer Relationships
• Friendship
• Conflict Management
• Negotiation
• Wellbeing

Campbell, M.A., Slee, P.T., Spears, B.A., Butler, D. & Kift, S. Do cyberbullies suffer too? Cyberbullies’ perceptions of the harm they cause to others and to their own mental health. School Psychology International Prepublished May 8, 2013. doi: 10.1177/0143034313479698

Campbell, M., Spears, B., Slee, P., Butler, D., & Kift, S. (2012). Victims’ perceptions of traditional and cyberbullying, and the psychosocial correlates of their victimisation. Special Edition: Journal of Emotional and behavioural Difficulties .

Spears, B.A.& Zeederberg, M. (2012). Emerging Methodological Strategies to Address Cyberbullying: Online Social Marketing and Young People as Co-Researchers In S. Bauman. Principles of Cyberbullying Research: Definitions, Measures & Method . Routledge

Spears, B.A. (2012) Conflict Resolution in Schools, In D.J. Christie (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Peace Psychology. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley-Blackwell

Spears, B.A. (2012). Sexual Harassment. In D. J. Christie (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Peace Psychology. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley-Blackwell.

Costabile, A. & Spears, B.A., (Eds) (2012) The Impact of Technology on Relationships in Educational Settings. Routledge: London

Spears, B.A., Kofoed, J., Bartolo, M.G., Palermiti, A. & Costabile, A. (2012) Positive Uses of Social networking Sites: Youth Voice Perspectives. In A. Costabile & B. A. Spears (Eds) The Impact of Technology on Relationships in Educational Settings. Routledge: London

Spears, B.A. (2012) A review of initiatives using technology to promote cyber-safety and digital citizenship. In A. Costabile & B. A. Spears (Eds) The Impact of Technology on Relationships in Educational Settings. Routledge: London

Butler, D., Kift, S., Campbell, M., Slee, P & Spears, B. (2011). School policy responses to cyberbullying: An Australian Legal Perspective. International Journal of Law & Education, 16 (2), 7-28.

Spears, B., Slee, P., Campbell, M., and Cross, D. (2011, September) Educational Change and Youth Voice: Informing School Action on Cyberbullying. Seminar Series #208: Centre for Strategic Education: Victoria.

Slee, P., Spears., B., Campbell, M., & Cross, D. (2011) Addressing bullying and cyberbullying in schools: Translating theory into practice. Occasional Paper #123. Centre for Strategic Education. Melbourne, Vicotria.

Spears, B.A., Jennifer, D. and Williams, S. (2011). Girls, Verbal Sexual Harassment and Sexual Bullying: Implications for Wellbeing. In R Shute (Ed) International perspectives on mental health and wellbeing in education . Shannon Research Press: Adelaide

Cross, D., Monks, H., Campbell, M., Spears, B., & Slee, P (2011) School-based strategies to address cyberbullying Occasional Papers #119. Centre for Strategic Education. Victoria.

Campbell, M., Spears, B., Cross, D., & Slee, P. (2010). Cyberbullying in Australia. In J.A. Mora-Merchán, & T. Jäger, T. (Eds.) Cyberbullying: A cross-national comparison (pp. 232-244). Landau: Verlag Empirische Pädagogik.

Campbell, M., Cross, D., Spears, B. & Slee, P. (2010, November) Cyberbullying - Legal implications for schools . Occasional Paper 118, Centre for Strategic Education, Melbourne, Victoria.

Slee, P.T. & Spears, B.A. (2010) Submission to the Joint Select Committee on Cybersafety. Submission #62 AUCRA Submission to Joint Select Committee

Spears, B., Slee, P., Owens, L., & Johnson, B. (2009). Behind the scenes and screens: Insights into the human dimension of covert and cyberbullying. Zeitschrift für Psychologie / Journal of Psychology, 217, 189–196.

Spears, B.A. (2009) International perspectives on cyberbullying.Part 1. Education Technology Solutions. Issue 33, pp 80-82. Invited Report of the COST Action ISO801 Cyberbullying Workshop: Vilnuis, Lithuania: August 22-23.

Spears, B.A.(2009) Cyber relationships: The new challenge for educators. Educational Technology Solutions (31) pp 48-5. Invited paper.

Askell-Williams,H.,Russell, A., Dix,K.L., Slee,P.T., Spears, B.A., Lawson, M.J., Owens,L.D., & Gregory, K. (2008) Early challenges in evaluating the KidsMatter national mental health promotion initiative in Australian primary schools. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion. (10) May, pps 35-44 http://www.ijmhp.co.uk/2008.htm

Spears, B.A., Slee, P.T., Owens, L. & Johnson, B. (2008) Behind the Scenes: Insights into the Human Dimension of Covert Bullying. Report prepared for DEEWR: Canberra

COVERT BULLYING REPORT

Green, D., Oswald, M. & Spears, B. (2007) Teachers’ (mis)understandings of resilience. International Education Journal, 2007, 8(2), 133-144.

Leckie, B A. (1996) Sugar and spice and all things not necessarily nice: Girls, peer relationships and bullying behaviors. In J.Gill and M.Dyer (eds) School Days: Past, Present and Future: Education of Girls in 20th Century Australia Research Centre for Gender Studies: Magill

Refereed Conference Presentations and Keynote Addresses

Spears, B.A. (2012) What teachers need to know about cyber-bystanders. Paper presented at the National Centre Against Bullying conference, Melbourne Convention centre, Melbourne: June 15-16, 2012.

Spears, B. & Campbell, M. (2012). Students' perceptions of adults' awareness and actions in relation to traditional bullying and cyberbullying. . Paper presented at the National Centre Against Bullying conference, Melbourne Convention centre, Melbourne: June 15-16, 2012.

Waters, S., Pearce, N., & Spears, B. (2012). Exploring the role of early career teachers in a whole school approach to bullying. Paper presented at the National Centre Against Bullying conference, Melbourne Convention centre, Melbourne: June 15-16, 2012.

Costabile, A., Spears, B.A., Palermiti, A.L., Bartolo, M.G., Kofoed, J. (2011) Positive Uses of ICT. In A. Costabile (Chair) The Impact of Technology on Relationships In Educational Settings: Some Best Practices. Symposium presented at the 15th European Conference on Developmental Psychology, Bergen, Norway: August 23-27, 2011.

Spears, B.A., Johnson, B., Johnson, A.,Scrimgeour, M., Price, D; Geer, R., Green, D. (2010) Cyberbullying and Bystanders: Using Digital Animations to Access Young People's Perspectives. Symposium presented at the Australian Association for Research in Education Conference: Melbourne, November 29-Dec 2nd.

Spears, B.A., Johnson, B., Johnson, A.,Scrimgeour, M., Price, D; Geer, R., Green, D. (2010) Cyberbullying and Bystanders: Using Digital Animations to Access Attitudes and Beliefs about cyberbullying and bystander behaviour. Paper presented at the Australian Association for Research in Education Conference: Melbourne, November 29-Dec 2nd.

Spears, B.A., Campbell, M., Slee, P.T.; Tangen, D. (2010) The net gen: Pre-service teachers’ understanding of face-to-face and cyberbullying. Presented at the National Centre Against Bullying Conference: Navigating the Maze: Cybersafety and Wellbeing solutions for schools: April 8-10, 2010 Melbourne.

Lawson, M., Slee, P.T., Russell., A., Askell-Williams, H., Dix, K., Skrzypiec, G & Spears, B.A. (2009) Impementing a new initiative in mental in Australian primary schools. Presented as part of the KidsMatter Symposium: AARE, Canberra,December.

Spears, B.A. (2009) Cyber Relationships: What we Need to Know. Invited Keynote. Australian Government Quality Teacher Project: Safe Schools: Making The Links. November 6, Sydney.

Campbell,M., Cross,D., Slee,P.T.,Spears, B.A. & Wotherspoon, A. (2009) Cyberbullying and Social media in Australia: Students Leading the Way. Paper presented at the COST Action ISO801 First Dissemination Conference: Social Media For Children: Cyberbullying and Media Literacy: University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria, October 21-23.

Spears, B.A. (2009) Bullying and Peer Relationships: What we need to know Invited Keynote: Sticks and Stones and Mobile Phones: Bullying in the New Millenium. Youth Affairs Council of Victoria. August 2009. STICKS AND STONES AND MOBILE PHONES REPORT

Slee, P.T & Spears, B.A. (2009) Defining cyberbullying: Insights from an Australian qualitative study. Invited Keynote. COST Action ISO801, Vilnius,Lithuania, August 22-23

Spears, B.A. (2009) The Newest Challenge for Peer Relationships: Cyber Bullying. Invited Theme Paper presented at the 1st National Primary years Conference, 23-24 May, Hilton Hotel, Adelaide.

Spears, B.A. & Dix, K.L. (2008) Project Officers Facilitating Change in Schools. Symposium: Evaluating Whole School Approaches to Mental Health Promotion: Transferring Learning to Practice at the From Margins to Mainstream: 5th World Conference on the Promotion of Mental Health and the Prevention of Mental and Behavioural Disorders, 10-12 September, Melbourne.

Spears, B.A., Slee, P.T., Owens, L. & Johnson, B. (2008) Covert and Cyber Bullying: The Pod Casting Project. Symposium: Bullying and Aggression Research in Australian schools: New Frontiers and Directions for Intervention , XVIII World Meeting of the International Society for Research on Aggression, July 8-13, Budapest

Spears, B.A., Slee, P.T., Owens, L. & Johnson, B. (2008) Insights Into the Human Dimension of Covert Bullying. Invited Symposium: School Bullying the Australian Community Context 4th World Conference on Violence at School and Public Policies, 23-25 June, Lisbon, Portugal.

Spears, B.A. & Owens, L. (2007) Cyberbullying: Students and Teachers Tell their Stories. Paper presented at Educational Research Conference, flinders University, 22nd November 2007.

Clark, L. & Spears, B.A. (2007) Cyberbullying: Year 7s experiences, knowledge and attitudes towards reporting . Paper presented at Educational Research Conference, Flinders University 22nd November 2007.

Spears, B.A. (2006) “You Do, You Don't, You're Gay!”: Same-Sex Sexualised Bullying Amongst Girls. Presented in the Symposium: School Context Through the Looking Glass: Who Bullies? Who Witnesses? Who Copes? Who Cares? Who’s Gay? Presented at the ISSBD Biennial Meeting, Melbourne, July 2006.

Spears, B.A. (2006) Succession Planning in Bullying Prevention Programs: Maintaining the Momentum with Pre-Service Teachers. Presented in the Symposium: Evidence Based Bullying Interventions. Paper presented at the ISSBD Biennial Meeting, Melbourne, July 2006.

Spears, B.A. (2005) Understanding the Tensions in Girls’ Peer Relationships:The Weft & Warp of Girls’ Friendships and Bullying. Keynote: Women and Psychology Conference, Brisbane, November 26-27, 2005

Spears, B.A. (2005) The Weft and Warp of Girls' Friendships and Bullying Invited paper National Coalition Against Bullying conference, Melbourne, 29-30 October:

Spears, B.A. (2005) Cultures of Femaleness, Power and Single-Sex School Settings: South Australian Perspectives on Girls’ Aggression and Bullying. Symposium: Girls and Aggression: Cultural, Contextual and Psychological Mechanisms Paper presented at the Society for Research in Child Development: Atlanta, Georgia, April, 2005.

Spears, B.A., Heading, D., McVeity, M., Webber, J. Harris, P. & Ormond, B. (2004) Yards Ahead For Boys: A Lunch-time intervention to Reduce Aggression and Bullying International Society for research on Aggression, Santorini, Greece, September 2004

Spears, B.A. (2004) Aggressive-Victims Amongst Girls: An Exploratory Study. Symposium: Bullying Interventions in South Australian Schools International Society for research on Aggression, Santorini, Greece, September 2004

Spears, B.A. (2003) You Do, You Don't, You're Gay Paper presented at the Australian Family Therapy Conference, Adeladie, 22-23 October, 2003

Spears, B.A. (2003) Girls, Bullying and same-gender verbal sexual harassment: A developmental perspective. Paper presented at the XIth European Conference on Developmental Psychology: Catholic University, Milan, Italy August 27-31

Spears, B.A. (2002) Same-gender Verbal Sexual Harassment: A Sub-Set of Girls' Bullying and Aggression. Paper Symposium: Girls' Peer Conflict and Victimization. Presented at the International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development: 17th Biennial Meeting: Ottawa August 2-6th.

Spears, B.A. (2002) Indirect Aggression As Bullying? A precursor to Girls' Suicide Attempts. Paper Symposium: Bullying and Victimization in Young People: Current Directions in Research. Presented at the International Society for Research on Aggression XV World Meeting. Montreal July 28-31.

Spears, B.A. (2001) Social Relationships in Schools Keynote Address: Australian Guidance and Counselling Association National Conference: Promoting Wellbeing: September 2001, Brisbane.

Please note: As of January 2001, I am using my Family Name: Spears

Leckie, B.A. (2000)Verbal sexual harassment in schools: It's not just the boys Paper presented at the International Network of Personal Relationships International Conference,Brisbane: June 27 - July 2, 2000

Leckie, B.A. (1999) Girls' perceptions of two sub-types of aggression: Are there differences and does sociometric status play a mediating role? Poster Symposium: Subtypes of Aggression and Victimization: Current Issues and Controversies. Presented at the Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting April 15th-18th, 1999, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Leckie, B.A. (1999) She Likes Me A Lot, She Dislikes Me A Lot: Controversial Girls, Peer Relationships, Bullying and Indirect Aggression. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting April 15th-18th, 1999, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Leckie, B.A. (1997b) Girls, Bullying Behaviors and Peer Relations: The Double Edged Sword of Exclusion and Rejection. Paper presented at the Australian Association for Research in Education Conference: 30th November - 4th December 1997: Brisbane, Queensland

Spears, Double Edged Sword paper

Leckie, B. A.(1997a) Girls, Peer Relationships and Bullying Behaviors. Paper presented at the Australasian Human Development Conference: 10-12 July: 1997: Adelaide

I am able to provide media comment in the following areas of expertise:

Discipline: Educational Psychology

• Girls' Peer Relationships and Bullying Behaviours
• Behaviour Management in Schools
• Conflict Management
• Negotiation
• Friendship
• Covert and Cyber Bullying