Nadine McKillop
Associate Professor in Criminology and Justice., School of Law and Society
Leadership Team, Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit
Email: nmckillo@usc.edu.au
Telephone: +61 7 5456 3536
Location: Sunshine Coast, SD-D-G-G.16
Nadine McKillop, PhD is Associate Professor in Criminology and Justice and Co-Leader of the Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit at the University of the Sunshine Coast. Also a psychologist, Nadine worked within criminal justice and not-for-profit organisations prior to entering academia. With two decades of research, practice and teaching expertise in criminology and psychology, Associate Professor McKillop brings with her a suite of skills in the design, facilitation, and evaluation of offending and community prevention programs. Her international research profile demonstrates expertise in understanding and preventing the onset of sexual violence and abuse, and the assessment and treatment of youth and adults who have committed sexual offences to reduce the extent and impacts of sexual violence and abuse in the community. She is the current Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Sexual Aggression: An international, interdisciplinary forum for research, theory and practice.
Research
Publications
Journal article | Peer reviewed
Factors That Influence Technology-Facilitated Intimate Partner Violence: A Scoping Review Using Systems Thinking ↗
by Gemma Read, Nicole T Liddell, Nadine McKillop and Paul Salmon
13 August 2026
Trauma, Violence & Abuse
Technology-facilitated intimate partner violence (TFIPV) is increasingly featured in cases of intimate partner violence and intimate partner homicide. There is emerging recognition of the use of technology to abuse and control intimate partners in domestic abuse research and the inherent complexity of TFIPV is evident. As such, a better understanding of the factors that influence TFIPV is necessary. This scoping review aimed to synthesise extant literature on factors known to influence TFIPV. The review included 84 peer-reviewed primary sources that focused on adult intimate relationships (at least 18 years of age), had full-text versions in English, and included individual, situational, environmental, technological, and systemic factors found to increase the likelihood of TFIPV. The influencing factors were extracted and mapped onto a systems-thinking-based framework, Rasmussen's Risk Management Framework. This synthesis identified 28 higher-order themes across the TFIPV system hierarchy. Most of the factors within these themes related to lower levels of the system (e.g. perpetrators, victim-survivors, social environment, device and software capabilities), with limited consideration of broader systemic factors that influence TFIPV. Of the broader systemic factors that were identified, most related to inadequate responses to TFIPV by government, judicial system, technology industry regulators, and police. Future research should consider the use of systems-thinking-based frameworks and methods in understanding and addressing this complex and pervasive problem from a whole-of-system perspective.
Journal article | Peer reviewed
Safety First? Parental Concerns, Communication Preferences, and Perceived Adequacy of Safeguarding in Early Childhood Education and Care ↗
by Bricklyn Priebe, Nadine McKillop, Larissa Christensen and Susan Rayment-McHugh
31 July 2026
Australasian Journal of Early Childhood
Safeguarding in early childhood education and care (ECEC) in Australia has gained increasing public and policy attention, particularly after widely reported abuse cases. Yet less is known about how parents and carers understand safety within ECEC services. Using quantitative survey data from 303 Australian parents and carers of young children, this exploratory study examines enrolment decision-making alongside perceptions of safeguarding risks, confidence in current practices, and expectations about communication. Comparative analysis explores differences between families with and without current experience of formal care. Findings show safety is a central factor in parental engagement with ECEC, alongside practical considerations such as location and proximity to services. Concerns focus mainly on supervision and staff conduct, while access to safeguarding information and confidence in services' ability to prevent and respond to harm vary. The study offers insight into parental perspectives and implications for improving communication and safeguarding visibility across the sector.
Journal article | Peer reviewed
Client and Practitioner Insights into Treatment for Women Convicted of Child Sexual Abuse: A Qualitative Study Informing Gender-Responsive Practice ↗
by Bricklyn Priebe, Nadine McKillop, Susan Rayment-McHugh and Larissa S Christensen
22 July 2026
Sexual Abuse
Gender-responsive programming has emerged as a pivotal force behind improved therapeutic outcomes for women in the criminal justice system. Enhancing relevance of treatment provided to women sentenced for child sexual abuse (CSA) is necessary given the proposed gender-based pathways and motivations linked with this crime. This research incorporates the views of women sentenced for CSA (n = 18) and practitioners (n = 25) and aims to determine the key treatment targets for women sentenced for CSA, and how these might be similar or different to the needs of men sentenced for this offending. Results indicate that despite some overlap of treatment targets, there are gendered nuances in how some core topics should be addressed when delivering offense-specific correctional programming to women. Five key targets emerged that indicate notable differences warranting tailored intervention, including: the effects of past trauma, relationship toxicity, (un)healthy sexuality, lowered self-concepts, and parenting challenges. These nuances align with strengths-based and trauma-informed approaches advocated for this population, helping to guide future program development and implementation. Recommendations for practice are included.
Journal article | Peer reviewed
De Facto Mental Health Responders: A Contemporary Systematic Literature Review of Police Encounters with Persons Experiencing Mental Illness ↗
by Kelly Hine, Nadine McKillop, Tyson Alker and Tim Prenzler
1 July 2026
Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology
Police are often becoming primary responders to people experiencing mental illness (PMI), frequently managing crises that fall outside traditional law enforcement roles. Police-PMI encounters are complex, resource-intensive, and often associated with adverse outcomes. Yet the evidence base on how such interactions occur and what influences their outcomes lacks a comprehensive understanding. To address this gap, a systematic literature review was conducted to synthesise the contemporary research on police interactions with PMI within Commonwealth countries over the past decade. Literature searches were conducted across eight databases using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. This process resulted in a final sample of 20 peer-reviewed empirical studies. Data were extracted on interaction dynamics, characteristics and experiences of the key parties involved, theoretical perspectives used, methodological approaches employed, and the effectiveness of different response models. The reviewed studies indicate that police-PMI interactions were most commonly crisis-driven, frequently involved individuals with prior police contact, and often resulted in arrest with the use of force or involuntary transport. Across the included literature, police officers commonly reported limited mental health training and unclear operational guidance, while PMI frequently described fear, distrust, and misinterpretation of crisis-related behaviours. Findings related to specialist response models such as co-response and Crises Intervention Teams (CIT) were mixed, with some studies reporting reductions in use of force but limited evidence of reduced arrest or transport rates. Overall, the review identified persistent systemic gaps remain, strained frontline responses, and a limited evidence base, indicating the need for improved training, stronger cross-sector collaboration, and broader, more inclusive research to inform safe and more effective police-PMI interactions.
Journal article | Peer reviewed
Exploring the Utility of an Anonymous Harm Reporting Tool for Adolescents: Educators' Experiences of Stymie ↗
by Susan Rayment-McHugh, Amanda Boyes, Rachel Downie, Stephanie Price, Madeline Lee, Nadine McKillop and Andrew Allen
24 June 2026
International Journal of Bullying Prevention
Peer-to-peer bullying is a widespread, persistent form of harm among young people with profound and lasting impacts on their development and wellbeing. Anonymous harm reporting tools, like Stymie, offer a valuable response to known help-seeking barriers, enabling earlier identification and intervention to prevent or limit these harms. This paper reports on findings from a foundational study exploring educators' (n = 14) experiences of Stymie in Australian schools. Semantic thematic analysis identified five overarching themes, demonstrating the utility and positive impact of Stymie in creating safer school environments. Specifically, the results showed that Stymie addressed an identified need and pathway for reporting concerns within schools, with anonymity a core feature. Educators suggested Stymie had helped to facilitate early intervention and deterrence, while creating positive shifts in school safety culture. However, the results also suggested that scaffolded implementation and integration is essential to ensure active engagement with the tool and to maxi-mise outcomes.
Showing the five most recent publications. Explore all Nadine McKillop's publications in UniSC Research Bank
Grants
30 June 2025 - 30 June 2026
Scoping Project for The Salvation Army: Evidence and considerations in the removal of uniforms during the investigation of historical child sexual abuse allegations
Salvation Army (Australia, Melbourne)
Grant no. 0980030880.
Dimity Adams, Nadine McKillop, Stephanie Price and Susan Rayment-McHugh
5 January 2026 - 26 June 2026
From Knowing to Doing: Building Safeguarding Capability in Community Youth-Serving Organisations
Queensland Family and Child Commission (Australia)
Grant no. 0980031288.
Susan Rayment-McHugh, Laura Dodds, Lisa Fraser, Sarah Walker and Nadine McKillop
20 March 2025 - 31 May 2026
Accessibility of Child Sexual Abuse Prevention in Australia
National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse (Australia)
Grant no. 0980030218.
Nadine McKillop, Dimity Adams, Stephanie Price and Susan Rayment-McHugh
24 March 2025 - 31 December 2025
Investigating the utility of Stymie as a harm reduction tool in schools
University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia, Sunshine Coast) - UniSC
Grant no. 0980030030.
Stephanie Price, Andrew Allen, Rachel Downie, Susan Rayment-McHugh, Danielle Cathcart, Amanda Boyes and Nadine McKillop
7 November 2025
Review of the Youth Sexual Violence and Abuse (YSVA) Service Model
Queensland Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety
Grant no. 0980031351.
Andrew Allen, Bricklyn Priebe, Laura Dodds, Susan Rayment-McHugh, Lara Christensen, Stephanie Price, Dimity Adams and Nadine McKillop
Showing the five most recent grants. Explore all Nadine McKillop's grants in UniSC Research Bank
Teaching and supervision
Teaching
Course leader
Supervision
Doctoral Thesis Supervision - Completed
Disrupting the Cycle of Hostility: Exploring the Nature and Consequences of Anti-Police Sentiment towards Police Officers
Students: Katelyn Davenport-Klunder
Principal Supervisor: Kelly Hine
Co-Supervisor: Nadine McKillop
2022 - 18 August 2026
Doctoral Thesis Supervision - Completed
Gender-responsive treatment for women who have perpetrated child sexual abuse: The value of client and practitioner voices in the pursuit of best-practice
Students: Priebe, Bricklyn
Principal Supervisor: Nadine McKillop
Co-Supervisors: Lara Christensen and Susan Rayment-McHugh
2021 - 2025
Doctoral Thesis Supervision - Completed
Sexual Violence and Fantasy: Investigating the Utility of Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy
Students: Andrew Allen
Principal Supervisor: Prudence Millear
Co-Supervisor: Nadine McKillop
2017 - 2023
Doctoral Thesis Supervision - Completed
History and Critique of Restorative Justice Policy and Practice in the Queensland Criminal Justice System
Students: Stephanie Price
Principal Supervisor: Nadine McKillop
Co-Supervisors: Susan Rayment-McHugh and Tim Prenzler
2017 - 2023
Doctoral Thesis Supervision - Completed
Use of Alternative Dispute Resolution and Civilian-Led Mediation in the Resolution of Complaints Against Police: Analysis of Case Studies
Students: Mary Riley
Principal Supervisor: Tim Prenzler
Co-Supervisor: Nadine McKillop
2016 - 2021
Student research opportunities
Potential research projects for HDR and Honours students
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Youth and adult sexual offending
- Offender rehabilitation and re-entry
- Program evaluation
- Prevention of sexual violence and abuse
Professional
Professional activity
Professional Membership
Registered Psychologist - Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency ↗
Nadine McKillop
2002 - 2026
Professional Membership
Fellow - Higher Education Academy (UK) ↗
Nadine McKillop
2019 - 2026
Professional Membership
Member - Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology ↗
Nadine McKillop
2016 - 2026
Professional Membership
Advisory Board member - CSAM Deterrence Centre ↗
Nadine McKillop
2025 - 2026
Professional Membership
Member - Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council, Research Consultative Forum ↗
Nadine McKillop
2024 - 2026
Showing the five most recent activities. Explore all Nadine McKillop's activities in UniSC Research Bank
Awards and memberships
2025
Vice-Chancellor and President's Award for Excellence in Research Impact
University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia, Sunshine Coast) - UniSC
2023
Commissioner’s Award for Excellence in Corrections (Collaboration Category), Queensland Corrective Services, awarded to Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit for the Strong & Solid Spirit Program
Queensland Corrective Services
2020
David Biles Correctional Research Award, Outstanding Research Report in the Field of Correctional Administration, Policy or Reform
Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology (Australia)
2020
Award for Excellence and Innovation in Teaching, for Outstanding and Innovative Teaching in Australian and New Zealand Criminology
Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology (Australia)
2019
Fellow, Advance HE (higher Education Academy)
Higher Education Academy (United Kingdom, York)
2019
Vice-Chancellor and President's Award for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia, Sunshine Coast) - UniSC
2017
Advancing the Blended Learning Environment Teaching Award
University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia, Sunshine Coast) - UniSC
2016
Academic Lead, Australian Awards Fellowship Scheme, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trading and Minister for Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (Indonesia)
University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia, Sunshine Coast) - UniSC
2002
University Medal
Griffith University (Australia, Brisbane)
Education
2006 - 2012
Doctor of Philosophy
Criminology
Griffith University (Australia, Brisbane)
2002 - 2002
Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)
Griffith University (Australia, Brisbane)
1997 - 2001
Bachelor of Behavioural Science
Griffith University (Australia, Brisbane)
1997 - 2001
Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Griffith University (Australia, Brisbane)
Media
Nadine McKillop's specialist areas of knowledge include:
- Sexual violence prevention
- Contextual prevention
- Youth sexual violence and abuse
- Program evaluation
- Onset and progression of sexual offending
