Cassandra Sundaraja

Dr. Cassandra Sundaraja is a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at the University of New England (UNE), within the Faculty of Medicine and Health and the School of Psychology. An experienced clinical psychologist, neuropsychologist, and Board-Approved Supervisor, she maintains an active balance between academic responsibilities and clinical practice while contributing to regional mental health initiatives in New South Wales.

Her academic qualifications include:

• Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Madras, India
• Master of Science in Psychology (Clinical) from CHRIST University, India
• Master of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology from the National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS), India
• Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology from the University of New England, Australia (2021)

Dr. Sundaraja's research critically examines intersections between psychological well-being and contemporary global challenges. Her primary focus areas include perinatal mental health with emphasis on traumatic birth experiences, climate change impacts on mental health (particularly eco-anxiety and eco-grief), and evidence-based psychological interventions for diverse populations. Her work consistently addresses vulnerable groups including expectant parents, indigenous communities, and consumers navigating sustainability dilemmas, with strong translational potential for clinical practice and policy development.

Analysis of her 11 publications (2015-2025) reveals a significant research evolution from family therapy foundations toward environmental psychology applications. While early work explored fatherhood transitions and sibling dynamics, her recent output (2020-2025) demonstrates concentrated expertise in sustainable consumption behaviors (particularly palm oil) and climate-mental health linkages. Current research integrates perinatal psychology with climate impacts, examines eco-grief in indigenous Fijian communities, and develops consumer interventions for sustainable food systems - reflecting a strategic pivot toward planetary health psychology.

Scientific Awards:

• No specific scientific awards, fellowships, or medals are documented in the provided materials

Dr. Sundaraja actively supervises PhD, Master of Psychology (Clinical), and honours students, with demonstrated capacity to secure competitive research funding including a 2024 Peregrine Centre Small Project Grant ($26,707.68) for "Supporting Mothers in Regional NSW: Decreasing the impacts of birth trauma" (a Rural Mental Health Partnership with NSW Health). She explicitly welcomes supervision opportunities in perinatal mental health, climate change impacts, and psychological intervention development, indicating strong commitment to training next-generation researchers in these critical areas.

No dedicated research laboratories or formal team structures are specified in the available information, though her collaborative publications indicate established partnerships with researchers across environmental psychology and public health domains.