Dr Vikki Schaffer
PhD Sunshine Coast, BA(Hons) Sunshine Coast, BSustTour Sunshine Coast
Senior Lecturer, Tourism, Leisure and Events
School of Business and Creative Industries
Email: vschaffe@usc.edu.au
Telephone: +61 7 5459 4705
Location: Sunshine Coast, SD-K-2-2.43
Dr Vikki Schaffer began working at UniSC in 2005. She is a proud UniSC graduate who completed an undergraduate degree in Sustainable Tourism, BA Honours (Class 1) and Doctorate in Philosophy. Vikki has a strong interest in adventure and conservation with a particular passion for the marine environment (SDG13, SDG14).
With a transdisciplinary approach aimed at increasing theoretical and practical outcomes, Vikki takes a highly collaborative approach, in both teaching and research, working with industry, government, and community at all levels (SDG17). Sustainability, innovation and design thinking-based solutions underpin her work, reflected in her role as the School of Business and Creative Industries Sustainability Champion. Vikki is a passionate scholar and researcher, community member and volunteer who enthusiastically strives to develop and share her knowledge and expertise to support aspiring tourism professionals in an inclusive industry that values people, places and environments.
Research
Publications
Research Summary
Research Grants and Funding
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2023 |
Diverse participation in citizen science by people with disability. Engaging science grant. Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science. |
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2022 |
Engaging for inclusivity: Citizen science as a conduit for diverse participation. Funding: UniSC. |
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2022 |
Communication for Conservation: Evaluation of Sunshine Coast Councils Regional Flying-fox Management Plan - communication and education. A Sunshine Coast Regional Council funded project. |
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2022 |
Soundscapes and tourist engagement. Funding: UniSC. |
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2021 |
Understanding the impact of community-based citizen science programs: The volunteer experience in Clean-up for Hatchlings. A Sunshine Coast Regional Council funded project. |
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2020 |
Evaluation of visitors’ cognitive appraisal and emotional responses associated with immersive tourism and leisure experiences: real and virtual. A Regional Partners co-funded project: USC/Sunshine Coast Council. |
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2018 |
Evaluation of the Sunshine Coast TurtleCare program – stakeholder perceptions. A Sunshine Coast Regional Council funded project. |
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2018 |
Citizen Science for monitoring beaches – Coastsnap. An examination of social media as a means to collect images to monitor a Sunshine Coast beach. A Sunshine Coast Regional Council funded project. |
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2015 |
New Colombo Plan funded project leader on two undergraduate, teaching and research based tours to Vava’u, Kingdom of Tonga. Funding: Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. |
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2016 |
Immersive Media: Bringing learning to life to stimulate authentic student engagement. Funding: UniSC |
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2013 |
Seafood extension research. Postdoctoral Scholarship. SCRC, FDRC, ACPF, UniSC. |
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2012 |
Identification of the core leadership group and network structure of East Coast Trawl to develop, implement and evaluate strategic opportunities. Funding: SCRC, FDRC, ACPF, UniSC |
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2011 |
Improving learning experiences by building collaborative and cooperative networks between undergraduate students, local communities and academics through the integration of work integrated learning (WIL) and social media technologies in assessment tasks. Funding: UniSC |
Teaching and supervision
Professional
Awards and memberships
Professional Awards
- 2019 AUSTRALIAN AWARDS FOR UNIVERSITY TEACHING CITATIONS FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO STUDENT for innovative, experiential learning approaches that create stimulating, immersive experiences to engage, motivate and inspire tourism student learning.
- 2019 HIGHER EDUCATION ACADEMY (HEA) SENIOR FELLOW for effective approaches to teaching and learning contributing to high quality student learning and leadership.
- 2018 ADVANCE TEAM AWARD for advancing the student experience
- 2017 ADVANCED AWARD for Advancing Quality Teaching