Adjunct Professor Debra Dunstan

- School of Psychology

Biography

Debra retired from UNE in June 2021 where she was Professor in Psychology and Director of Place-Based Education and Research. With professional qualifications in Clinical Psychology and Physiotherapy, Debra is equipped to be a cross-disciplinary leader and has held positions ranging from clinician and business owner to Head of School and Executive Strategy Advisor.

Debra’s knowledge and expertise in higher education has led to service with the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) in roles including assessor, team lead and member of the Accreditation Assessment Committee, and as an Appointed Specialist with the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ). Currently, Debra is a Member of the Panel of Experts for the Papua New Guinea Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (DHERST), and is an Appointed Specialist on the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) Register of Experts. She is also a Director on the Board of UNE Partnerships.

Although Debra has stepped back from a senior academic leadership appointment, she remains actively involved in the higher education sector. Her substantial experience in accreditation and quality assurance has led to a focus on assisting institutions to respond to accreditation requirements and the co-design of contemporary curricula. Debra also continues as a research consultant to the health and human services sector building aspiration in individuals, organisational groups, and communities.

As an Adjunction Professor at UNE, Debra supports staff and students in the School of Psychology through consultation, mentoring, research, and supervision.

Qualifications

B.Sc., University of New South Wales; Grad. Dip Phty., University of Sydney; M.Litt., University of New England; M.Psych. (Clinical), Charles Sturt University; M.B.A. (Ed Leadership), Charles Sturt University; Ph.D. (Psychology), Charles Sturt University

Awards

2019 Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT) - Award for Programs that Enhance Learning.

2019 UNE Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic Innovation) Award

2017 UNE School of Behavioural, Cognitive and Social Science - Excellence in Teaching Award

2013 Work Disability Prevention Program - Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) - Best Researchers Award

2007 The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust - Churchill Fellowship

Research Interests

Work disability prevention and management
Modes and models of mental health service delivery

Publications

Memberships

Fellow, Australian Psychological Society College of Clinical Psychologists (Membership No. 100787)

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency

Registered Psychologist (Registration No. PSY0001336338) Endorsed in Clinical Psychology
Registered Physiotherapist (Registration No. PHY0001336339)