Dr. Raquel Peel
PhD(Developmental and Social Psychology), BPsych(Hons), BA(ArtHist)(Mus), MAPS, FHEA
Head of Course - Domestic & Family Violence
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences
Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research
- r.peel@cqu.edu.au
- ORCID: 0000-0002-4909-9844
- (07) 4940 3402
-
Mackay City
6 - 1.05
My Networks
About Me
Dr Raquel Peel brings a decade of leadership in higher education, most of it spent coordinating honours-level and postgraduate programs in psychology, public health, and social sciences. Her consultative, student-centred approach to addressing structural barriers in learning and assessment has earned her award-winning recognition as an educator. At the Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research, she serves as Head of Course for Domestic and Family Violence.
Her research has drawn worldwide attention and award-winning recognition also, establishing her as an internationally respected expert in relationships, with her research adopted by practitioners and educators worldwide. This impact is also reflected in her membership on the editorial boards of international journals. She has given a TEDx Talk and TEDx Shorts on the foundations of her research into relationship sabotage, and her work is featured in one of the most popular episodes of “How to Be a Better Human”, a TED podcast and TED Ideas’ series. A prolific contributor to The Conversation and a frequent presence in Psychology Today, Raquel is also regularly sought out by national and international media for expert commentary on relationships. This body of public-facing work earned her the Australian Psychological Society Media Award for Public Engagement with Psychological Science, a major award recognising those who improve the mental health and wellbeing of Australians.
Her ability to operate at the intersection of education, policy, and system-level reform is also reflected in her work with the Queensland Government as an expert reviewer for cases of homicide and suicide among young people, and in developing a training package to improve integrated responses to domestic, family, and sexual violence-related suicide risk.
Today, her research program spans intimate relationships, interpersonal violence, mental health, suicide, and medical education; united by a single aim: promoting healthy, fulfilling intimate relationships and advocating for the prevention and reduction of intimate partner violence.
Originally from Brazil, Raquel has called Australia home for almost two decades, where she lives with her husband, son, and daughter.
General
Universities Studied At
- The University of Sydney
- James Cook University
Universities Worked At
- University of Technology Sydney
- The University of Notre Dame Australia
- Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
- Victoria University
- University of Southern Queensland
- James Cook University
Awards
- 2025 - Media Award for Public Engagement with Psychological Science (Australian Psychological Society Major Award)
- 2024 - Nominated: Vice Chancellor’s Promoting Excellence in Learning and Teaching (University of Notre Dame Australia)
- 2023 - Commendation for Excellence in Teaching (RMIT)
- 2022 - Fellowship (Advanced Higher Education)
- 2021 - Nominated: Rising Star – Science (Women in Technology Award)
- 2020 - Excellence Award for Early Career Education (University of Southern Queensland)
- 2020 - Commendation for Excellence in Teaching (University of Southern Queensland)
- 2018 - Inclusive Practice Award (Excellence in Teaching and Learning (James Cook University)
- 2017 - Best Student Paper (International Conference on Cognitive Behavioral Psychology)
Media Citations
Dr Raquel Peel has been cited in numerous media outputs, including tv, radio, print, and online articles in the following outlets (to name a few):
- TED (Talks, Shorts, Podcasts, and Ideas)
- The Conversation
- Australian Psychological Society - Insights
- Psychology Today
- Forbes
- The Project
- ABC News
- Win News, 9 News, 7 News
- The Guardian
- Nine Publishing (The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Brisbane Times, WA Today)
- News Corp Australia Publishing (The Courier-Mail, Queensland Times, Cairns Post, news.com.au)
- The Chronicle
- The Townsville Bulletin
- Triple J
- Australian Radio Network (Star Radio, 2NM Radio)
- RNZ (Radio New Zealand)
- Channels News Asia
- Deutsche Welle News (German Broadcaster)
- Zeit Magazin (German Publication)
- El País (Spanish Publication)
- Women's Health Interactive
- The House of Wellness
- Lifehacker
- Relationship Resolution
- Medical Republic
- Dateable Podcast
- SelfWork Podcast
- Émotions (French podcast produced by Louie Media)
- The Psychology of Relationships Podcast
- Relationships Australia Podcast
For a complete portfolio, please visit: www.RaquelPeel.com
Previous teaching
- Psychology Honours Program Coordinator (The University of Notre Dame Australia & University of Southern Queensland)
- Foundations of Health Program Coordinator (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology)
Professional Memberships
- 2013 – Member (Australian Psychological Society)
- 2015 – Honorary Member (Golden Key International Honour Society)
Industry Reports
- Peel, R. (2018). Mental Health Program for HDR Candidates. Produced for the Graduate Research School (James Cook University).
Editor
- Editorial Board: Interpersona: An International Journal on Personal Relationships
- Editorial Board: Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy
Consultancy Work
- Expert advice for the Domestic and Family Violence Death Review Unit (Coroners Court of Queensland)
Recent Research Projects
Developing a capability building training package to improve integrated service responses for people experiencing suicide risk impacted by domestic and family violence (DFV)
Grant: Government Tender
Funding Schemes: Developing a capability building training package to improve integrated service responses for people experiencing suicide risk impacted by domestic and family violence (DFV)
Total Funding: $213,509.29
Provision of Expert Advisory Services for Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) related Death Case Analysis CP27.2526
Grant: Contract Research (Category 2: Other Public Sector)
Funding Schemes: State of Queensland (acting through the Department of Justice) - Contract Research
Total Funding: $51,700.00
Research Supervision
Accreditation
I am currently accredited for supervision in the following:
- 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
- 5299 Other psychology
- 4404 Development studies
- 4405 Gender studies
- 4499 Other human society
Current Capacity
Current Supervision
Research Interests
Gender studies - Gender and crime
Gender studies - Women s studies (incl. girls studies)
Applied and developmental psychology - Applied and developmental psychology not elsewhere classified
Social and personality psychology - Social psychology
