Nicole Peel is a health researcher, educator, and clinical recreational therapist whose work examines how everyday leisure, participation, and community connection can advance equity, wellbeing, and sustainable health outcomes. She is driven by a social justice commitment to improving the lives of individuals, families, and communities experiencing structural disadvantage, including foster carers, children in care, and others navigating complex systems of support.

Nicole holds a Ph.D. from Western Sydney University, along with postgraduate qualifications in Health Science and Business Administration, and an undergraduate degree in Leisure Studies. She is also trained in trauma‑informed practice and works from a positive, strengths‑based perspective that acknowledges both individual capabilities and the wider systems and environments that shape opportunities for wellbeing. With more than 30 years of experience, she is recognised for her leadership in therapeutic recreation and community‑engaged health research. Her practice spans work with people with intellectual and physical disabilities, older adults, children and adolescents, and diverse caregiving networks. She brings a systems‑based lens to her work, grounded in the belief that wellbeing emerges through meaningful engagement, supportive environments, and strong social connections.

Nicole’s research explores how inclusive leisure, participation, and community‑based programs can foster resilience, belonging, and improved health outcomes. She is particularly interested in intergenerational and strengths‑focused approaches that activate people’s capabilities and support their participation in everyday life. Her work also investigates the intersection of social isolation, health literacy, and access to resources, with a focus on making health information more equitable and responsive to the needs of marginalised families and caregivers, including those within the foster care system.

Her research sits at the intersection of public health, recreational therapy, and community development. She is currently Chief Investigator on a longitudinal study examining the health and wellbeing of foster carers and contributes to projects addressing systemic barriers to participation and wellbeing.

As a registered HDR supervisor, Nicole welcomes enquiries from prospective honours, master’s, and Ph.D. students who are passionate about community‑engaged, practice‑oriented research that advances equity and creates meaningful, sustainable change.