He holds Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws degrees, an Advanced Diploma of Investigative Practice and a Diploma of Policing. As a result of his law studies, he was admitted to the bar in the Queensland and Federal Courts as a barrister in 1999. Dr Goldsworthy also received Master of Criminology and PhD degrees from Bond University, with the latter focusing on the concept of evil and its relevance from a criminological and sociological viewpoint. He teaches in areas such as criminal investigations, genocide, transnational crime, drugs and crime, victimology and miscarriages of justice. He has published a number book chapters, journal and general articles, and is an avid commentator in the media on social justice issues.