Rate My Professor Gavin Hazel

Dr. Gavin Hazel is a Lecturer in the Macquarie School of Education at Macquarie University, with a conjoint appointment in the School of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Newcastle. He earned his PhD in Educational Psychology from the University of Newcastle in 2013, a Master of Educational Studies from the same university in 2001, a Bachelor of Education (Honours) in 1994, and a Graduate Certificate in Clinical Epidemiology from the University of Newcastle in 2015. His extensive career spans academia, research, and mental health program management. Prior to his current role, he served as Program Manager for Mental Health and Research at Everymind from 2017 to 2020, Program Manager for Child, Youth, and Wellbeing at Everymind from 2011 to 2016, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the School of Psychological Sciences at Macquarie University, Senior Research Scientist in the Defence Science and Technology Organization from 2006 to 2007, Research Academic in the Justice Policy Research Centre at the University of Newcastle from 2004 to 2005, and various positions including Senior Project Officer at the Hunter Institute of Mental Health and contract researcher and lecturer at the University of Newcastle from 1994 to 2004. Dr. Hazel has led several Commonwealth and State initiatives supporting the mental health and wellbeing of young Australians, securing over $6.5 million in funding for multidisciplinary projects.

Dr. Hazel's research centers on the intersections of sociology, psychology, and philosophy within education, exploring meaningful knowledge sharing, understanding, and application through metacognitive skills, particularly in the humanities. His specializations include mental health promotion, psycho-social aspects of stress in educational settings, children and young people, mental health and illness, interventions, and the influences of workplaces, mental health services, education, and communities on mental health outcomes. He excels in managing multidisciplinary teams, developing ethics submissions, conducting complex analyses, and leading strategic initiatives that translate research into practical applications. Key publications include 'A qualitative investigation of demands, resources and self-regulation during Navy deployment' (2025, Military Psychology, with Gucciardi, D. F., et al.), 'An exploratory domain analysis of deployment risks and protective features and their association to mental health, cognitive functioning and job performance in military personnel' (2024, Anxiety, Stress and Coping, with Crane, M. F., et al.), 'Implementation of a supervisor-led resilience training extension in the Royal Military College' (2024, Military Behavioral Health, with Kho, M., et al.), 'A meta-analytic test of trust formation and development in swift starting action teams' (2022, Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, with Lines, R. L. J., et al.), and 'Australian family day care educators’ experiences of supporting children’s mental health, and their own mental health and wellbeing' (2022, Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, with McGuffog, R., et al.). With 12 research outputs comprising articles, book chapters, and conference contributions, Dr. Hazel's work advances social and emotional wellbeing in education and mental health fields.