Doctor Nicole Peel

Director of Academic Program, Undergraduate Health Sciences,
Undergraduate Health Science

Senior Lecturer - Therapeutic Recreation,
Undergraduate Health Science

Biography
Contact
Publications
Projects
Supervision
Teaching

Biography

Nicole Peel is a senior lecturer in Recreational Therapy at Western Sydney University's School of Health Sciences. Her research is motivated by the belief that we are all interconnected within a dynamic living system.

Having earned her Ph.D. from Western Sydney University, Nicole holds degrees in B. Leisure Studies, M. Health Science, and M. Business Administration. With a wealth of experience exceeding 30 years, she is a well-established clinical recreational therapist and health educator, specialising in working with individuals with intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, older people, children and adolescents, and marginalized populations. Above all, she approaches her work as a scientist, driven by curiosity to explore innovative solutions and identify opportunities for positive change within our environment.

Nicole's research is centered on enhancing health and well-being through play and recreation, particularly for marginalised individuals and their families. Her goal is to make resources accessible and beneficial to a broad spectrum of lay practitioners, including foster parents, family caregivers, friends, and staff.

Actively involved in projects addressing issues within complex systems, Nicole is notably the chief investigator in a longitudinal study examining the health and well-being of Foster Carers. As a registered HDR supervisor, she encourages inquiries from prospective honors, master, and Ph.D. students.

Beyond academia, Nicole actively engages with the community, collaborating with professionals, non-government organizations, and private providers across NSW Area Health, disability services, children services, and aged care providers.

Chair of Western Sydney University Children in Out-of-Home care Steering Committee
World Leisure Organisation Journal (Regional Editor)
Australian representative on the International Therapeutic Recreation Coalition
Myrtle Cottage (not for profit service provider to the elderly and marginalised individuals) (board member)
Cycling Without Age Parramatta (executive board member)
International Foster Care Organisation (board member)

This information has been contributed by Doctor Peel.

Qualifications

PhD Western Sydney University
C4TA Competency Training Institute of Australia
GradCertResSt University of Western Sydney
MBA University of Western Sydney
Master of Health Science University of Sydney
Blest University of New South Wales

Professional Memberships

World Leisure Organisation (2015)
The Australian Sociolological Association (2019)
Outdoor NSW and ACT (2023 - 2025)
Outdoor Health (2019)
ANZALS (2015)

Awards

WSU Vice-Chancellor Award for Excellence in University Engagement and Sustainability 2017-12-12
School of Health Science Teaching Excellence Award 2020-12-01
School of Health Science Engagement Excellence Award 2020-12-01

Interests

Creativity

Organisational Unit (School / Division)

Undergraduate Health Science
Undergraduate Health Science

Committees

Disability Advisor

Contact

Email:	N.Peel@westernsydney.edu.au
Phone:	(02) 4620 3232
Mobile:
Location:	24.2.10 Campbelltown22.2.17 Campbelltown

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Teaching

Previous Teaching Areas

400252 Workplace Learning 2 (Community Placement), 2019
400254 Therapeutic Recreation Professional Project, 2018
400786 Professional Transition Project, 2018
400789 Leisure Education Programming and Mental Health, 2019

Publications

Books

Maxwell, H., Maxwell, H., McGrath, R., Peel, N. and Young, J. (2022), 'Exploring the Leisure: Health Nexus Pushing Global Boundaries', : CABI 9781789248142.

Chapters in Books

Peel, N., O'Shea, M., Maxwell, H. and Cheng, J. (2023), 'Challenging color blindness in sport : women deconstructing whiteness', Handbook of Critical Whiteness: Deconstructing Dominant Discourses across Disciplines, Springer 9789811916120.
O'Shea, M., Maxwell, H., Peel, N. and Duffy, S. (2023), 'Tackling gender inequality and promoting a healthy lifestyle : the women in sport roadshow', Social Marketing: Principles and Practice for Delivering Global Change, Routledge 9781032059662.
Peel, N. and Bowen, H. (2022), 'Intersection between art and health evolution', Exploring the Leisure-Health Nexus: Pushing Global Boundaries, CABI 9781789248142.
Peel, N., Gray, T. and Reis, A. (2022), 'Climate change, leisure and health : the double-edged sword of leisure and the environment', Exploring the Leisure-Health Nexus: Pushing Global Boundaries, CABI 9781789248142.
Young, J., Peel, N., McGrath, R., Maxwell, H. and Maxwell, H. (2022), 'Conclusion : the pandemic and future directions', Exploring the Leisure-Health Nexus: Pushing Global Boundaries, CABI 9781789248142.
McGrath, R., Maxwell, H., Maxwell, H., Young, J. and Peel, N. (2022), 'Introduction', Exploring the Leisure-Health Nexus: Pushing Global Boundaries, CABI 9781789248142.
O'Shea, M., Maxwell, H., Maxwell, H., Duffy, S. and Peel, N. (2020), 'One step forward and two steps back? : pandemic effects and women's sport in Australia', Impacts and Implications for the Sports Industry in the Post-COVID-19 Era, IGI Global 9781799867807.
Peel, N. (2015), 'Robotics programming kids for leisure', Innovative Leisure Practices: Cases as Conduits Between Theory and Practice, World Leisure Center of Excellence 9781928172031.

Journal Articles

Peel, N. and Davison, G. (2023), 'Using leisure in foster care to generate advantage', Journal of Public Child Welfare, vol 17, no 5 , pp 1058 - 1085.
Tang, C., Thyer, L., Bye, R., Kenny, B., Tulliani, N., Peel, N., Gordon, R., Penkala, S., Tannous, C., Sun, Y. and Dark, L. (2023), 'Impact of online learning on sense of belonging among first year clinical health students during COVID-19 : student and academic perspectives', BMC Medical Education, vol 23, no 1 .
Peel, N., Nguyen, K. and Tannous, C. (2023), 'The impact of campus-based therapy dogs on the mood and affect of university students', International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol 20, no 6 .
Tulliani, N., Mills, C., Collison, L., Peel, N., Fahey, P. and Liu, K. (2023), 'Protocol : The effectiveness of sensory interventions targeted at improving occupational outcomes, quality of life, well-being and behavioural and psychological symptoms for older adults living with dementia : a systematic review and meta-analysis', Campbell Systematic Reviews, vol 19, no 2 .
Gowan, M., Peel, N., Elcombe, E. and Blythe, S. (2023), 'An exploration of the self-care practices of foster carers in Australia', Adoption and Fostering, vol 47, no 2 , pp 192 - 210.
Reis, A., Gray, T., Mann, J., Mallinson, J., Katnoria, M., Seach, W. and Peel, N. (2023), '[In Press] Measuring nature-based health interventions : a rapid review of instrumentation and outcomes', Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education, .
Yang, G., Li, X., Peel, N., Klupp, N., Liu, J., Bensoussan, A., Kiat, H. and Chang, D. (2022), 'Perceptions of participants on trial participation and adherence to Tai Chi : a qualitative study', Patient Preference and Adherence, vol 16 , pp 2695 - 2707.
Peel, N., Maxwell, H., Maxwell, H. and McGrath, R. (2021), 'Leisure and health: conjoined and contested concepts', Annals of Leisure Research, vol 24, no 3 , pp 295 - 309.
Young, J., Maxwell, H., Maxwell, H. and Peel, N. (2021), 'Book review : Leisure, health and well-being: a holistic approach', Annals of Leisure Research, vol 24, no 3 , pp 445 - 447.
Young, J., Maxwell, H., Maxwell, H. and Peel, N. (2021), 'Leisure meets health : important intersections and alternative discourses', Annals of Leisure, vol 24, no 3 , pp 275 - 282.
Peel, N. and Robinson, D. (2019), 'Therapeutic recreation in Australia', Therapeutic Recreation Journal, vol 53, no 3 , pp 264 - 267.
Tower, J., McGrath, R., Sibson, R., Adair, D., Bevan, N., Brown, G., Foley, G., Fullagar, S., Gray, L., Hawkins, C., Jeanes, R., Kerr, R., Martin, K., Maxwell, H., Maxwell, H., McDonald, K., Peel, N., Reis, A., Xing, T., Yerbury, R. and Zimmerman, J. (2018), 'State of leisure studies in Australia and New Zealand', World Leisure Journal, vol 60, no 1 , pp 58 - 66.
Peel, N. (2016), 'Navigating opportunities for young people in care', Developing Practice, vol 46 , pp 20 - 28.
Peel, N. and Beckley, A. (2015), 'Children in out of home care : should we give them a fair go?', Children Australia, vol 40, no Special Issue 4 , pp 372 - 378.

Conference Papers

Peel, N. and Reis, A. (2024), 'Embedding leisure into law enforcement practices', Trauma Informed Policing and Law Enforcement Conference, Melbourne, Australia.
Maxwell, H., O'Shea, M., Peel, N. and Cheng, J. (2023), 'Culturally diverse and First Nations women demolishing white colonial hierarchies and challenging discrimination in Australian sport by creating spaces of belonging', International Sport and Discrimination Conference, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Hilaney, N., Peel, N. and Reis, A. (2023), 'Representations of the right to leisure and wellbeing for children and young people in out-of home care', World Leisure Congress , Dunedin, N.Z..
Brown, L., Peel, N. and Young, J. (2023), 'Seeking to un-entangle the entangled : a multispecies perspective on leisure for therapy interactions', World Leisure Congress , Dunedin, N.Z..
Audet, Y., Burns, D. and Peel, N. (2023), 'Breaking down barriers : collective leisure's commitment to access and inclusion for a more equitable society as a social enterprise', World Leisure Congress , Dunedin, N.Z..
Cheng, J., Maxwell, H., O'Shea, M. and Peel, N. (2022), 'Deconstructing white colonial legacies in sport and leisure in Australia', Playing with/as the Political: Sport as a Field for Politics, Power, Difference, and Resistance, virtual.
Tang, C., Thyer, E., Bye, R., Tannous, C., Kenny, B., Penkala, S., Tulliani, N., Peel, N., Sun, Y., Zhu, X., Dark, L. and Gordon, R. (2021), 'The impact of COVID online learning on first year clinical health students' sense of belonging : student and academic perspectives', Students Transitions Achievement Retention and Success Conference, online.
Grashorn, J., Peel, N. and Alford, S. (2021), 'Recreation therapy in the time of Covid-19, a multi-faceted rapid knowledge synthesis on the implications and opportunities of telehealth for recreation therapy practice', Diversional and Recreation Therapy Australia. Conference, online.
O'Shea, M., Maxwell, H. and Peel, N. (2021), 'Inclusion for girls in sports across a triad of schools, community organizations and local government : a social network approach', International Association of Physical Education and Sport for Girls and Women. Congress, Tianjin, China.
O'Shea, M., Maxwell, H., Maxwell, H. and Peel, N. (2020), '"Women in Sport Roadshow" : exploring partnership approaches to creating sport opportunities for girls and emerging women', Sport Management Association of Australia and New Zealand. Conference, online.
Truong, S. and Peel, N. (2019), 'Australian professional identity in therapeutic recreation : exploring perspectives from the field', Canadian Therapeutic Recreation Association. Annual Conference, Quebec, Canada.
McGrath, R., Maxwell, H., Maxwell, H. and Peel, N. (2019), 'Unravelling linkages between leisure and health discourses', Leisure Studies Association. Annual Conference, Dundee, Scotland.
Peel, N. (2019), 'Leisure education within a health framework', Australia and New Zealand Association for Leisure Studies. Conference, Queenstown, N.Z..
Peel, N. (2019), 'Young people in foster care and their leisure : tools for living independently', Australian and New Zealand Association for Leisure Studies. Conference, Queenstown, N.Z..
Zimmerman, J., Peel, N. and Thomas, K. (2018), 'Study abroad partnerships : costs and benefits for host universities', World Leisure Congress, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Peel, N., Maxwell, H. and Maxwell, H. (2017), 'Leisure "either biomedical or salutogenic"', Australia and New Zealand Association for Leisure Studies. Conference, Hobart, Tas..
Peel, N. (2017), 'Navigating to greater opportunity', Australia and New Zealand Association for Leisure Studies. Conference, Hobart, Tas..
Beckley, A., Peel, N. and Pourau, R. (2015), 'Ensuring equal opportunities for Children in Out of Home Care : what is being done?', National Association of Enabling Educators of Australia. Conference, Western Sydney University, Parramatta Campus.
Matheson, I., Fernandez, E., McNamara, P. and Peel, N. (2015), 'Slipping down ladders and climbing up snakes : the experiences of university students who were formerly in OOHC, and research challenges to current policy and practice', , .

Other Publications

2023, 'Co-Design of an Integrated Intergenerational Model: Uniting Generations Through Shared Spaces', Report
2022, 'Everyday Leisure', Published Work
2019, 'Sounding Out: Music for Health and Wellbeing', Report

Nicole's overall research interest is in understanding how health and leisure link to improve the lives of marginalised individuals.

Research interests

Social Prescribing

Recreation & Health Literacy

Trauma Informed Care

Children. Adolescents and Family Health, People with disabilities, Foster care, Ageing, Healthy Ageing

Health & Recreation Therapy

Outdoor Recreation, Nature Therapy, Aquatic Therapy

Projects

2021

Exploring the experiences of female consumers of alcohol and other drugs services of an arts-based support program in Western Sydney Health, Reis & Peel

2017

School of Education Partnership Grant: Australian professional identity in Therapeutic Recreation: Exploring Perspectives from the Field, Truong & Peel