In this state representative spotlight, we spoke with the New South Wales (NSW) Representative for ANZSOC, Dr Justin Ellis from the University of Newcastle School of Law and Justice, to learn more about his professional background, his vision for criminology in the state, and the work he is doing to support members across the region. With a research profile spanning policing, digital and media criminology, and the evolving field of digiqueer criminology, he brings both disciplinary depth and a strong commitment to fostering an inclusive and connected criminological community.
Justin reflects on the richness of NSW’s academic, policy and professional landscape, emerging legislative and justice trends, and the important role ANZSOC plays in amplifying member contributions and strengthening collaboration.
Could you share a little about your professional background and your involvement with ANZSOC?
I have been a member of ANZSOC since 2014, and which was also the first year that I attended the ANZSOC conference and presented. I have presented at the conference almost every year since then. The ANZSOC conference is the most collegiate conference I attend regularly, which also prompted me to nominate in 2024 for the NSW representative position on the ANZSOC committee of management. My main areas of research are policing, digital and media criminology, and space and place, with an overarching objective of increasing social inclusion. I often bring these strands of research together under the auspices of digiqueer criminology, which examines the relationship between digital media, identity, and justice. This is a topic that requires continued scrutiny, especially in the current geopolitical climate. In terms of what criminology can do to continue to evolve and adapt to changing demands of research, practice and social issues – the main thing is to stay relevant. As such, the integration of communication systems globally, and the harms and opportunities therein, requires interdisciplinary crime and justice research.
What does your role as NSW representative involve?
The NSW representative role involves making any relevant NSW issues known to the ANZSOC Committee of Management, and fielding any queries from NSW members. This is in addition to a range of ANZSOC sub-committee work, and generally keeping abreast of issues in the discipline and sector and providing expertise where relevant, which for me is often related to my editorial and publishing experience, and in my role as deputy editor of Current Issues in Criminal Justice. Involvement can include assisting in either supporting the development of NSW events, and/or hosting them. 2025 has been a hectic year for many, and having settled into the two-year Committee of Management role as the NSW representative, I am preparing to plan ahead for 2026. So do get in touch with any suggestions about how we can make more visible the contribution of criminology in NSW to ANZSOC, and to the discipline of criminology.
How would you describe the criminology and criminal justice research and practice community in NSW?
From a research and teaching and learning point of view, NSW has some of the newest criminology degrees in Australia (School of Law and Justice at the University of Newcastle, and University of Wollongong), in addition to the well-established criminology program at UNSW, at Western Sydney University, Charles Sturt University, and the University of New England, Macquarie, and UTS, as well as the criminology major within the bachelor of arts at the University of Sydney, and the Masters in criminology at the University of Sydney. If I have omitted your NSW university’s criminology offer please get in touch so I can update the list. NSW has also been a leader in establishing criminology as a discipline in Australia. The Sydney Institute of Criminology was established in 1966, and the Institute’s journal Current Issues in Criminal Justice was established in 1989 (current CiteScore 3.8). As such, NSW continues to make a major contribution to sustaining and furthering criminology as a discipline locally and globally.
What are some of the key issues, trends, or opportunities for criminology in NSW right now?
We are in the monitoring phase of the recent enactment of coercive control legislation (2022 (commenced 2024)) and affirmative consent legislation (2022). In 2022-2023 NSW held a landmark Special Commission of Inquiry into LGBTIQ Hate Crimes in NSW (1970-2010). In 2024, I was appointed to the community consultative committee of Task Force Atlas, part of the NSW Police Force response to the Special Commission of Inquiry into LGBTIQ Hate Crimes in NSW (1970-2010). In that role, I have contributed recorded commentary to the NSW Police Force Commissioner’s mandated LGBTIQA+ Hate Crimes Directive Training Package. These are just some of the criminal justice issues that are taking prominence at the moment.
How do you see ANZSOC’s role in supporting members in your region?
First and foremost I see ANZSOC’s role as a connecting one. It is a collegiate membership organisation, that in addition to that spirit provides financial support to host events, in addition to the funds available through ANZSOC thematic groups. So in NSW, there is plenty of criminological research and teaching and learning going on. There is also opportunity to promote this through ANZSOC channels such as PacifiCrim, to let interested people know what problems you are trying to solve and to establish interdisciplinary collaborations. The ANZSOC annual conference is a great way to showcase research in a supportive and constructive environment for academics, pracademics who work across academia and policy, and industry partners and to also discuss opportunities for collaboration at social events. Please do get in touch via email or through LinkedIn if you have any questions or suggestions about how to take ANZSOC and criminology further through promoting criminological study, research and practice in the region and bringing together people engaged in all aspects of the field.
