Our team is here to answer your questions and help you learn more about the Deakin Centre for Relationships, Trauma, Addiction and Aggression.
Deakin Centre for Relationships, Trauma, Addiction and Aggression
Working to strengthen relationships, prevent aggression, and support effective, trauma-informed responses across systems and communities
How we turn research into action for communities
The Deakin Centre for Relationships, Trauma, Addiction and Aggression encompasses fields including psychological, criminological, neurodevelopmental, biological, sociopolitical, commercial and clinical aspects of behaviour.
Together, we address pressing safety issues by identifying community needs, defining problems clearly, engaging in co-design for innovative solutions, testing them rigorously, and demonstrating their reliability and scalability. Our coalition of researchers ensures that research is translated into real-world solutions to:
- enhance understanding
- incorporate trauma-informed approaches
- reduce harm
- understand relational factors
- improve the quality of relationships
- trial local projects
- explore acquired brain injury and cognitive impairment
- improve prevention and treatment.
Our research streams
With a wealth of experience in federal and state-funded research, as well as a range of grants, funding and support programs, our specialists are at the forefront of investigating the impacts of trauma, shame, maltreatment and aggression across individual lives and broader systems. Our researchers work across the following streams:
Relationships
Understanding how life events, transitions and emerging social issues that can impact relationships.
Trauma
Examining how trauma, neurodiversity, and shame shape behaviour, health, and relational experiences across the lifespan.
Aggression
Exploring the nature, drivers and impacts of physical and non-physical aggression across diverse contexts.
Addiction
Working to prevent and address harm from alcohol and other drug use, gambling, gaming and other addictive behaviour.
Make a positive impact
Are you driven by a desire to confront significant health and community issues while enhancing the mental wellbeing and resilience of our communities, particularly our most vulnerable? Become a dedicated PhD candidate and contribute to cutting-edge research that makes a real difference.
Our greatest impact comes from bringing passionate people, rigorous research, and real‑world practice together to transform health and wellbeing through connection, collaboration and purpose.
Director of the Deakin Centre for Relationships, Trauma, Addiction and Aggression
Our training programs
Embark on a transformative learning journey where we empower practitioners, organisations, service providers and community members to cultivate safer and more resilient communities.
Flagship course
Our flagship course, Trauma, Neuro and Shame Awareness: Best Practice for Professionals, Organisations and Communities, equips participants with practical, evidence‑based insights to reduce conflict and strengthen relationships, and is tailored in partnership with organisations to meet their specific contexts and needs.
Tailored training
Our training extends to specialised programs tailored for law enforcement professionals, offering advanced approaches and techniques for interviewing vulnerable victims. Additionally, we provide dedicated relationship skills courses designed specifically for couples. Email us to learn more about training opportunities.
Our researchers
Led by our co-directors, the Centre brings together the expertise of 29 researchers who use innovative approaches to advancing understandings trauma, shame, addiction and anti-social behaviours.
Professor Peter Miller is professor of violence prevention and addiction studies and co-leads the the impact of trauma and shame research stream, and leads the policy, evaluation and monitoring group within Centre for Drug use, Alcohol and Addictive Behaviour Research.
Professor Gery Karantzas is the director of the Science of Adult Relationships Laboratory and a member of the Centre for Health and Risk Behaviours and Mental Wellbeing. His research interests centre around close personal relationships and personal and social development.
Contact us
Email the team
