Gemma McKibbin

Dr Gemma McKibbin is Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Social Work at the University of Melbourne, working with Prof Cathy Humphreys in the Violence Against Women and Children research team. Gemma has a background in gender studies and a PhD focused on the prevention of harmful sexual behaviour carried out by children and young people. Along with an interest in harmful sexual behaviour, Gemma’s research focuses on preventing child sexual exploitation and dating violence, as well as on adult perpetration-focused prevention. She leads a number of child sexual abuse prevention and response action research projects, including Power to Kids with MacKillop Family Services and the Worried About Sex and Pornography project with Jesuit Social Services. Gemma specialises in trauma-informed, child-focused research interviews with vulnerable children and young people. She is passionate about supporting children and young people and providing them with a voice to government.