In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Damien Stewart about the impact of intergenerational trauma, how traumatic experiences can influence subsequent generations, and what this means for mental health and wellbeing.
As well as an elite level athlete, Damien resigned from a 20-year career as a police Officer in 2012 to pursue a career in psychology. Damien completed two master’s degrees at the University of Queensland: A Master of Philosophy researching the effect of Social Identity Theory on alcohol use within male team sport athletes, and a Master of Applied Psychology in Sport & Exercise Psychology.
After graduating in 2014, Damien entered private practice in which he is highly focused on assisting current and previous serving Police and Military personnel suffering from mental health issues as a result of their career (e.g., depression, anxiety, and trauma). Damien also has a special interest in working with clients suffering from chronic pain and injury as well as athletes seeking to enhance performance and gain assistance for mental health and other issues.
Damien is a previous National Chair of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) College of Sport & Exercise Psychologists and a previous National Convenor of the APS Military and Emergency Services Interest Group. Damien has lectured in Psychology at the Institute for Social Neuroscience in Melbourne, Australia, as well as at the University of Warsaw. Damien completed a PhD in November 2025 through La Trobe University, in conjunction with the University of Warsaw, on Intergenerational Trauma in Poland following WWII.
Damien will soon continue with post-doctoral research at the Centre for Research on Prejudice under Associate Professor Michal Bilewicz at the University of Warsaw, focusing on the effect of trauma on conspiracy thinking. Damien combines his research on intergenerational trauma in Poland following WWII with being the Director of a Polish registered business, Poland at War Tours, a collection of tours designed to educate people on the occupation of Poland, The Holocaust, and Polish resistance during WWII. Damien was also recently appointed Head of Poland for the Polish Australian Chamber of Commerce.
