Dr Nikola Balvin
Associate Lecturer, Program Manager (Melbourne)
Qualifications
BA, (Hons in Psychology), University of Melbourne (2000)
Doctor of Psychology, University of Melbourne (2007)
Mediation Accreditation Course, Law School, University of Melbourne (2004)
Certificate IV in Mediation, Dispute Settlement Centre, Department of Justice (2005)
Background
Nikola Balvin is Associate Lecturer, Program Manager (Melbourne) with the Australian Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (ACPACS). She completed her doctorate thesis titled Influencing Prejudice and Stereotype Communication: The Case of Aboriginal Australians at the University of Melbourne in 2007. Prior to working with ACPACS, Nikola was the office manager at the International Conflict Resolution Centre at the University of Melbourne. She has extensive research experience and has worked in government, academia and the corporate sector. Specifically, she has worked with organizations such as the Department of Justice Victoria, Department of Treasury and Finance Victoria and UNICEF, where she conducted research into ADR, peace-building and knowledge management.
Nikola's main research interests include stereotypes of and attitudes towards Aboriginal Australians, refugee and asylum seeker issues, mediation, ADR and peace-building. Nikola is a committee member of Researchers for Asylum Seekers, where she works to spread knowledge and advocate for the fair and compassionate treatment of refugees and asylum seekers in Australia. She has developed teaching materials, lectured and presented at conferences in the areas of conflict management, conflict analysis and peace-building.
Research Interests
- Conflict resolution and peace-building
- Alternative dispute resolution
- Online dispute resolution
- Attitudes towards and stereotyping of Aboriginal Australians
- Asylum seeker issues in Australia
- Stress and management of humanitarian aid workers
Publications
Journal Articles
2006 Balvin. N. Working in Indigenous conflict resolution: Some considerations for non-Indigenous practitioners. Australian Journal of Peace Studies, 1(1), 100-108.
2006 Balvin, N., & Conley Tyler, M. Emotions in cyberspace: The advantages and disadvantages of online communication The Organisational Psychologist, September 2006, 5-8.
2005 Balvin, N., & Conley Tyler, M. More Effective than face to face? The pros and cons of online negotiation. Internet Law Bulletin, 7 (10), 142-145.
2004 Balvin, N. The Cultures of Peace News Network: Is there space for peace building in ODR? In Conley Tyler, M., Katsh, E., & Choi, D. (Eds) Proceedings of the Third Annual Forum on Online Dispute Resolution. www.odr.info 2002 Langan-Fox, J., Armstrong, K., Balvin, N., & Anglim, J. Process in skill acquisition: Motivation, interruptions, memory, affective states, and metacognition. Australian Psychologist, 37 (2), 104-117. (Refereed)
Book Chapters
2007 Lusher, D., Balvin, N., Nethery, A., Tropea, J. Australia's response to asylum seekers. In Lusher, D. & Haslam, N. (Eds). Yearning to Breathe Free: Seeking Asylum in Australia
Conference Presentations
2005 Conley Tyler, M., Balvin, N. Using online applications in your ADR practice. LEADR 8th International Conference, Sydney, Australia
2004 Balvin, N., Wayland, M. The Cultures of Peace News Network Third Annual UN Forum on Online Dispute Resolution, Melbourne Australia
2001 Langan-Fox, J., Anglim, J., Balvin. N. Moderating effects of memory and attention on skill acquisition The 4th Australian Industrial & Organisational Psychology Conference, Sydney, Australia Reports
2008 UNICEF Headquarters/ Balvin, N. UNICEF's understanding and engagement in peace-building: A review of emerging issues and related activities A report written for the Child Protection section, UNICEF Headquarters, NY in June 2007 - March 2008.
Submissions to the General Assembly
2007 UNICEF and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict (SRSG) Graca Machel ten-year strategic review on children affected by armed conflict. Submitted a five page input on peacebuilding and recommendations for peacebuilding policy
