Dr Phillip James Wadds

Dr Phillip Wadds is Senior Lecturer in Criminology at UNSW, Sydney. His research is situated at the intersection of five interrelated themes: policing; nightlife and related leisure; alcohol and other drugs; violence; and harm reduction. 

Phillip has project managed a number of major research projects, including the NDLERF funded Patron Offending and Intoxication in Night-Time Entertainment Districts (POINTED) Project  and NSW Health funded Alcohol Combined with Energy Drinks (ACED) project, and has been Chief Investigator on a NSW Department of Justice funded research project evaluating the Take Kare Safe Space Program  and a project investigating the nature and extent of violence, sexual violence and issues of public safety at Australian music festivals. He is currently lead investigator on a number of funded projects examining best practice in harm reduction at music festival events and the regulation of licensed venues.

Dr Wadds is also a recognised expert around public safety and has worked on policy advisory committees around nightlife for the City of Sydney (2018-2022) and Randwick City Council (2018-2019) and is the inaugural lead assessor for the NSW government’s Purple Flag program.

Phillip is available for supervision of Honours, Masters by Research and PhD projects around topics including include the night-time economy, music festivals, alcohol and drug related harm and violence, crime prevention, policing policy and practice, plural policing, urban governance and the relationship between the media, crime and policing.