Susan Rayment-McHugh is a core member of the Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre (ITRC) at the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC), and Associate Professor in Criminology & Justice in the School of Law and Society. She also co-leads the Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit (SVRPU) at UniSC.
Research Focus
Her research focuses on understanding, preventing, and responding to sexual violence and abuse. Core areas include contextual and place-based prevention models of sexual violence and abuse (including in remote and Indigenous communities), treatment and rehabilitation of youth and adult perpetrators, and program evaluation to strengthen institutional and community responses to sexual violence and exploitation. Her background combines over two decades of clinical and forensic practice with academic training, supporting strong evidence-based impact.
Key Research Impact
Associate Professor Rayment-McHugh has helped shift the conversation away from individual-based prevention and intervention models toward contextualised, community-engaged, and culturally informed approaches. Her leadership in the SVRPU fosters collaboration across researchers, practitioners and policy bodies, linking academic insight with practical prevention programs. Her recent publications, including work on treatment dosage and gender- and culturally- responsive interventions, continue to shape contemporary debates on “what works, for whom, and under what circumstances.”
Recent Publications (2024–2025)
- Rayment-McHugh, S. (2025). ‘Just’ prevention of child sexual abuse: A critique and call to action. Child Abuse & Neglect. Vol.163, pp.1-9
- McKillop, N. & Rayment-McHugh, S. (2025). What Works, for Whom? Sexual Offence Treatment Dosage, Duration, Sequence, and Composition. Current Psychiatry Reports, 27, 58–65.
- Priebe, B., Rayment-McHugh, S. & McKillop, N. (2025). Offence-Specific Interventions for Women Convicted of Child Sexual Abuse: Barriers for Program Implementation in Australia. The Prison Journal, Vol.105(2), pp.152-173.
- Rayment-McHugh, S., Adams, D., McKillop, N., Hanley, C., & Walker, C. (2025). Strong & Solid Spirit: design & development of a treatment programme for First Nations men incarcerated for sexual offences. Journal of Sexual Aggression, 1–19.
Recent Grants and Projects
Her recent funded work includes a national project (2024–2026) examining accessibility of child sexual abuse prevention services across diverse populations, funded by the National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse. She is also contracted by the Queensland Government to develop a treatment module on domestic and family violence, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men incarcerated for sexual offences, and to deliver training to correctional staff on program delivery. She has also led contracted evaluations for the Name.Narrate.Navigate program and Queensland Police Service.
Translation to Practice and Policy
Her research informs child-safe organisational policy, rehabilitation programs for people who commit sexual offences, and evidence-based tools for frontline practitioners and community organisations. She contributes to public discourse and policy debates on sexual-violence prevention and the structural drivers of abuse.
Recognition and Significance
Her national profile is underpinned by extensive professional and research experience, strong funding success, and leadership of collaborative prevention initiatives. Her work aligns closely with the ITRC’s mission of culturally responsive, community-centred, and socially impactful research, helping to build safer and more just communities.
