Richard Turner graduated as Doctor of Philosophy in History at La Trobe University in September 2019. He was also awarded the Nancy Millis Medal for producing a thesis of exceptional merit. Turner previously had a significant career as a filmmaker, with 21 credits to his name as a director, producer and writer. In the 1980s he was also an important contributor to the gay publications industry in Australia as a journalist, editor and publisher, for Campaign Magazine, Sydney Star, Star Observer and Outrage, and as a director of the Gay Publications Cooperative. He also contributed regularly to Sydney Morning Herald, SBS TV, TVNZ, Network Ten and ABC TV.