Dr Patricia Cullen
Doctor of Philosophy,聽Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, 2013-2017
Master of Clinical Psychology, School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, 2021-2022
Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) Honours (Class 1),聽School of Psychology, Charles Sturt University, 2009-2012
My research program focuses on strengthening how health and social systems prevent and respond to violence, abuse and early life adversity. As a public health researcher, clinical psychology registrar and educator, I bring research and practice together to embed trauma- and violence-informed care in the everyday work of health, education and community services.
Using implementation science, co-design, cohort studies and intervention trials, my research develops and tests approaches that build evidence for prevention, early intervention, and recovery models of care. Recently, my work has focused on supporting organisations to build supportive cultures through workforce development, peer-support and peer-led initiatives, and approaches that promote collective care for safer, more inclusive workplaces and communities.
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
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Distinguished Dozen for the Journal of Adolescent Health (2024)
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Centre of Research Excellence for Driving Global Investment in Adolescent Health Emerging Leader Publication Award (2024)
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School of Population Health Early Career Teaching Award (2024)
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Faculty Educational Excellence Award, Early Career (2024)
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Faculty Education Innovation Team Award (2022)
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Research Action Award winner, Sax Institute (2017)聽
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Australian Injury Prevention Network: Award for best student abstract (2015)
Current projects include:
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RESTORE Centre of Research Excellence (NHMRC, 2024-29):聽National research collaboration transforming how health systems respond to trauma and sexual violence through trauma- and violence-informed, lived experience-led research. As CI and Lived Experience Co-Lead, I am responsible for strategic planning and embedding lived experience across research, governance and capacity development聽
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Trauma- and Violence-Informed Care PREM (2024-2026):聽Development of patient-reported experience measure聽to assess the quality and safety of trauma- and violence-informed care for use in domestic, family and sexual violence services.
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笔别别谤-蝉耻辫辫辞谤迟:听Suite of projects evaluating peer-led support models to identify principles, structures and enabling conditions for safe, ethical, and effective peer support across community and health settings.
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MANTRA Measuring the benefits of trauma-sensitive yoga (NHMRC, 2025-28):聽Randomised controlled trial led by the University of Melbourne testing trauma-sensitive yoga against cognitive processing therapy to support recovery following sexual violence聽
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Child to Adult Transition Study (NHMRC, 2023-27):聽Longitudinal study examining how early life adversity influences mental health trajectories from adolescence into adulthood, identifying early intervention points using longitudinal data and participatory methods
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Perpetrator Study (ANROWS, 2024-27):聽Identifying opportunities for prevention by understanding pathways, risk and protective factors for people who use violence
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WEB Project (MRFF, 2024-29):聽Cluster randomised trial testing a multicomponent trauma- and violence-informed care model in primary care聽
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School-based Prevention Trials (MRFF &聽SPA, 2024-29):聽Led by the Black Dog Institute in partnership with NSW Department of Education, a series of large-scale studies implementing trauma-informed and co-designed prevention initiatives in primary schools, including the Good Behaviour Game and the U&I self-harm prevention programme.聽
My Teaching
Convenor of two postgraduate electives (PHCM9761 Public Health Aspects of Mental Health, PHCM9793 Public Health Advocacy & Communication), with course design explicitly grounded in mutual and skills-based learning within real world tasks, and building graduate capabilities aligned with students' professional goals.
Recognised by three 黑料网大事记 Education Awards: Faculty Education Innovation Team Award (2022); School of Population Health Early Career Teaching Award (2024); Faculty Educational Excellence Award, Early Career (2024).