Rachel Stevens

Dr. Rachel Stevens is a Lecturer in History and Politics at the Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University (ACU), where she also serves as course coordinator for the Bachelor of Global Studies program. She joined ACU in 2020, bringing extensive academic experience from prior roles at the University of Melbourne and Monash University. Her research focuses on modern Australian history, particularly immigration and refugee policy, humanitarianism, and Australia’s diplomatic relations with South Asia, with a special emphasis on the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.

Her educational and professional background includes a PhD from Monash University, supported by the Monash Graduate Research Scholarship, and postdoctoral research on the ARC Laureate Project ‘Child Refugees and Australian Internationalism’ at the University of Melbourne. She has also held visiting fellowships at NYU, UC San Diego, and the University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Stevens’ research interests span:

• Australian immigration and refugee policies
• Citizen-driven humanitarianism
• Diplomatic history of Australia-South Asia relations
• Postcolonial conflicts and humanitarian intervention
• Community health and multiculturalism

Her recent and forthcoming publications, including the monographs Citizen-driven Humanitarianism and the Bangladeshi Liberation War (2024) and Immigration Policy from 1970 to the Present (2016), reflect a consistent scholarly focus on refugee crises, humanitarian activism, and policy evolution. Her articles reveal a strong engagement with transnational movements, grassroots mobilization, and the role of civil society in shaping humanitarian responses, particularly during the 1971 Bangladesh crisis and post-Vietnam migration.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• National Library of Australia Fellowship (2018)
• US Department of State Fellowship (2013)
• Vice Chancellor’s Teaching Citation (2013)
• Multiple competitive research grants from ACU, Public Records Office Victoria, and IHSS

Dr. Stevens is actively involved in public scholarship, frequently contributing expert commentary to media outlets such as The Conversation, The Age, SBS News, and The Daily Star (Bangladesh). She has presented at the National Library of Australia and Clunes Book Festival, and advised the Joint Standing Committee on Migration. She supervises HDR students on a provisional basis and is engaged in multiple funded research projects exploring Australian diplomatic history, community health, and refugee resettlement.

She is affiliated with the Centre for Refugees, Migration and Humanitarian Studies and collaborates with the University of Melbourne’s Institute for Peace Building. Her current projects include studies on Australian recognition of Bangladesh’s independence, rural refugee settlement, and Australia’s role in the Afghanistan conflict (2001–2021).