Associate Professor Kyllie Cripps

Associate Professor Kyllie Cripps, a proud Palawa woman, is a Scientia fellow in the Faculty of Law and Justice and a Co-Convenor of the Gendered Violence Research Network at University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney.

Associate Professor Cripps is one of Australia’s leading researchers on Indigenous family violence, child abuse and sexual assault.

Having worked extensively with Indigenous communities for over 20 years, she has contributed to the field through empirical studies.

These studies have defined violence on Indigenous terms, identified the factors contributing to violence, and examined the access and availability of services to Indigenous peoples in the aftermath of violence.

Her work has also provided critical solutions to support policy and practice change that is responsive to the identified needs of Indigenous communities.

Associate Professor Cripps’s research and engagement on solutions draw on the strength of her interdisciplinary experience and the value of using an intersectional lens for appreciating the context of violence. In the ‘doing of research’, Associate Professor Cripps is focussed on creating safe places for community members to talk about topics that are often shrouded in silence.

She finds it a great privilege to meet and work with Indigenous communities, to hear their stories, particularly those working at the coal face, providing care and shelter to those in need.

Associate Professor Cripps’s work has focused on providing communities with resources to support their work, networking with individuals and community organisations and connecting others in similar circumstances in other parts of Australia and the world so as to create a network of care and safety that is empowering for all involved.

In everything she does, Associate Professor Cripps is committed to mentoring and supporting the next generation of Indigenous and non-Indigenous professionals, academics and scholars so that they too may be inspired and motivated by the grounded experiences of working with and for community.

In true style, she would like this biography to acknowledge her wonderfully supportive network of family, especially her parents, friends, mentors, colleagues and community. All of whom have been part of her journey and have encouraged and guided her to be the leader she is today.

She gives special thanks to her husband John her biggest supporter, who adds value to her work by asking questions, being her sounding board, encouraging her to dream big and making sacrifices knowing that her work is not only her passion it is central to who she is.

Associate Professor Cripps holds a Bachelor of Arts (Aboriginal Affairs Administration) (1998) Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours (Aboriginal Studies) both from University of South Australia (1999), a Doctor of Philosophy in Arts from Monash University (2005), a Masters in Criminology from University of Sydney (2020), and a Certificate in Management Excellence from Harvard University (2021).