Craig Cumming completed a PhD in Public Health at the School of Population and Global Health at the University of Western Australia in 2024. He also holds a Bachelor of Laws with first class honours and a Bachelor of Criminology and Justice from Edith Cowan University. With a focus on policy and health systems, his research primarily focuses on addressing mental health and substance use problems among marginalised groups, such as people who move through the justice system, and those experiencing homelessness. Using a combination of face-to-face survey, and linked administrative data, his PhD investigated whether the WHO's Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) could easily be used during incarceration to identify who may be the greatest risk of drug-related harm after release from prison.

Craig's current work investigates the drivers of poor mental health and related outcomes such as self-harm, and where there may be missed opportunities across multiple sectors to identify people most at risk of these problems, intervene early in the life-course to reduce these risks, and improve the mental health and wellbeing of this group.

Craig has also recently started investigating the patterns of melanoma incidence across Western Australia.

Previously Craig has consulted to the West Australian Department of Justice to advise on the evaluation of prison health interventions, and has collaborated with the Cancer Council of Western Australia investigate the excess surgery costs associated with smoking.

Craig has  provided evidence to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for their work on "Treatment as an Alternative to Conviction or Punishment for People with Drug Use Disorders in Contact with the Criminal Justice System: Post-Trial Stage Diversion Options".  Craig was also invited to give evidence at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement’s Inquiry into Crystal Methamphetamine. Craig has also made written submissions to the West Australian Methamphetamine Action Plan Taskforce, and the West Australian Government's "Inquiry into Alternative Approaches to Reducing Illicit Drug Use and its Effects on the Community".