Susan Rayment-McHugh

Biography

Dr Susan Rayment-McHugh is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Justice and Program Coordinator for the Bachelor of Criminology and Justice in the School of Law and Society. She is also a Co-Leader of the Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit at USC. She has a PhD in Criminology and a Masters Degree in Psychology (Forensic).

Susan is also a forensic practitioner with over 26 years' clinical and research experience in the sexual violence and abuse field. Prior to moving to an academic role, she held leadership positions at Griffith University's Griffith Youth Forensic Service, focused on assessing and treating youth sentenced for serious or violent sexual offences, and at the Neighbourhoods Project, a contextual prevention initiative in Far North Queensland.

Susan's current clinical and research interests include a focus on understanding and preventing endemic sexual violence and abuse, including in Australian First Nations communities and youth serving institutions; treatment programs for diverse populations; and on program evaluation using realist methods. She is widely consulted, and presents nationally and internationally, on prevention and intervention services. Susan is a member of USC’s Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and an Associate Editor for the Journal of Sexual Aggression.

Potential research projects for HDR and Honours students

• Understanding and preventing sexual violence and abuse
• Sexual and violent offending behaviour
• Program evaluation

Teaching areas

• Youth Justice
• Diversity, Crime and Justice
• Punishment and Corrections
• Professional Placement
• Professional Development
• Working with Victims and Offenders

Program coordinator

• Bachelor of Criminology and Justice

Board appointments

• Laurel Place, Board member (2019 - ongoing)
• Associate Editor, Journal of Sexual Aggression

Awards

• ANZSOC Award for Teaching Excellence 2020, awarded to the USC Criminology and Justice Teaching Team
• ANZSOC David Biles Correctional Research Award 2020, awarded to the Sexual Violence and Prevention Unit Research Team for research report: The effectiveness of sexual offender rehabilitation and reintegration programs: Integrating global and local perspectives.
• Fellow, Advance HE (Higher Education Academy), UK, 2019 - current
• Vice- Chancellor and President's Award for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, University of the Sunshine Coast, 2019
• Under Susan’s leadership, the Griffith Youth Forensic Service was the 2014 Australian Crime & Violence Prevention Award national winner.

Expert media commentary

Dr Susan Rayment-McHugh’s specialist areas of knowledge include understanding, preventing, and responding to sexual violence and abuse. Her research focuses on evidence-informed treatment interventions for youth and adults, primary and secondary prevention initiatives, with a particular interest in contextual prevention approaches, and on program evaluation using realist methods.