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Dr Rachel Morley is an award-winning academic, creative industries leader, and community-engaged educator at Western Sydney University. Currently Area Convenor for Creative Industries and First Year Program Advisor, Rachel has held senior roles including Associate Dean (Engagement) and Director of Academic Program (Communication | Screen Media | Creative Industries). Her research is grounded in practice-led inquiry and explores themes of identity, creative care, memory, and social justice across disciplines and platforms, and her work is animated by a belief in the transformative power of story—for individuals, institutions, and communities. Rachel has published in journals such as Journal of Applied Youth Studies, Life Writing, New Writing, Meanjin, Global Media Journal, and The Sydney Review of Books, and she has collaborated on interdisciplinary research in areas that include ageing and creativity, identity and belonging in out-of-home-care, and digital storytelling in remote communities. Creative outputs include the internationally screened documentary Belonging and co-curated public programs such as Radical Accessibility and the Research Creation Showcase, which was awarded the 2023 University Industry Innovation Network (UIIN) prize for Excellence in Regional Engagement award.

Rachel's teaching is grounded in co-created, industry-engaged curricula initiatives that draw on her deep connection to Western Sydney's dynamic arts and cultural communities, and an entrepreneurial approach to building impactful learning experiences. This work has been recognised with multiple teaching awards including 6 Vice Chancellor Awards and 1 local award. An experienced HDR supervisor, mentor and examiner, Rachel has supervised 15+ PhD and DCA completions across creative writing, autobiography, cultural studies, and digital media. She has particular expertise with non-traditional projects and in research that uses experimental qualitative methods. Rachel is a certified LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® facilitator and she is known for her inclusive, values-led approach to leadership, curriculum design, and collaborative research.