Dr Gill Kirkman

Assistant Professor in Social Work

Expertise: Child abuse and neglect, working with families, gender-based violence. A former social worker of 14 years, she pioneered a project that used computer games (immersive technology) to try to better understand domestic abuse among young people.

Gill says: "I have always had a passionate desire to look at social issues and to try to find ways to make a difference to the lives of marginalized and vulnerable groups, particularly children. I started my career as a social worker in child protection for about 14 years, then I went into safeguarding training before starting my academic career in 2007 at Huddersfield University. 

"I led the UK interdisciplinary research team at the None in Three Centre (Ni3) looking at adolescent dating violence and abuse, which has reached epidemic proportions. We interviewed survivors and perpetrators and surveyed almost 3,000 young people on their attitudes towards adolescent dating abuse and their experiences of violence and abuse both inside and outside the family home. Our findings and new knowledge enabled us to work with our Ni3 Games Team (who came from the commercial world) to develop an immersive educational computer game. The game enables young people, in a safe environment, to explore and understand the extensive abusive dating behaviours involved, their impact, and where to seek help."

---

View all experts in: Social work and domestic abuse.