Leanne O'Neill

PhD Candidate and Tutor

Leanne O’Neill is a PhD candidate at Griffith University with academic training in Behavioural Science, Criminology, and Education. Her research explores homicide, police investigations, parapsychology, trauma, grief, and justice system navigation. She has presented her work at international conferences, public forums, and media platforms, including podcasts, radio, television and the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition.

Leanne has convened and taught both undergraduate and postgraduate courses within the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, including subjects such as Homicide, Qualitative Methods, and Research and Evaluation. She previously served as Program Coordinator at Griffith College, where she led curriculum development and promoted excellence in teaching and student-centred learning.

As a trauma-informed counsellor, Leanne creates safe, culturally grounded spaces for survivors of homicide-related grief. Her lived experience supporting a family member through homicide loss drives her advocacy work and fuels her commitment to ensuring that every story behind the statistics is seen and heard. She regularly speaks on the homicide, unsolved cases, parapsychology and the challenges faced by survivors including the long-term impact of homicide on families and communities.

Leanne also contributes to research leadership as a mentor in the HDR Buddy Program, supporting PhD candidates in navigating their research journey, building networks, and growing professionally. Her work reflects a deep commitment to inclusive education, survivor advocacy, and bridging academic research with real-world impact.