Kimberley Banfield, Criminology Graduate

"I am employed as a Research Officer for the Centre for Youth Drug Studies (CYDS) at the Australian Drug Foundation (ADF). I am currently involved in a pilot project entitled 'Pubs and Clubs'. The project is primarily concerned with reducing the risk and/or likelihood of alcohol and drug-related harms occurring to people in licensed venues.

"Through studying Criminology at Melbourne I became very interested in the Drugs and Alcohol field. This led to me completing my Honours year and getting a job through my student placement at the ADF. As a Researcher, the Criminology Department at Melbourne Uni prepared me for my job through teaching me valuable research skills and theories and the importance of gaining an understanding of your whole area of research and applying this to a community setting in a practical sense.

"Through my job I have been attending conferences, the most recent being the 5th Drugs and Young People Conference in Sydney. At this conference I spoke on a youth panel, chaired a session about online strategies - websites for young people and presented my own research. Little things like oral presentations helped to prepare me and give me the confidence to speak in front of an audience, network and cold-call. The staff in the Crim department also assisted with the transition from uni to work during my Honours year with regular contact and support."

Kimberley Banfield completed Honours in Criminology in 2005.