Dr Rachel Matthews is an acclaimed Australian author and lecturer, renowned for blending tragicomedy with powerful social commentary. Her debut, Vinyl Inside, was highly commended in the Australian Vogel Awards, while her PhD novel, Siren, tackled sexual violence in Australian football. Her third novel, Never Look Desperate, was named among 2023’s ‘Best New Australian Fiction’ by The Australian and The Guardian.
Rachel’s work has appeared in The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, and Women’s Agenda. A regular ABC radio contributor, she shares insights into writing and storytelling.
Enthusiastic about breaking barriers, Rachel leads ‘Readers Are Writers’ workshops across Australia and internationally. With over 20 years of award-winning teaching at RMIT and ACU, and experience supporting disengaged youth as a welfare coordinator, she empowers others to share their stories.
“Rachel Matthews is a vibrant communicator… we always have fun when she comes on.” — Michael Pavlich, ABC Radio.