His undergraduate studies at the University of Queensland included a major in political science and at Boston University he studied under the noted theologian Reinhold Neibuhr,[1] eventually submitting a doctoral thesis entitled "A Christian ethical analysis of Australia's policies of Immigration Restriction and Development Partnership.
[citation needed] From 1987 to 2001 Preston held senior academic positions at Queensland University of Technology in applied and professional ethics.
Nonetheless, while valuing the Judaeo-Christian heritage, he rejects traditional theism and challenges claims about the uniqueness of Christian Ethics.
[10] Noel Preston has also served on several government committees: In 2004 he was appointed Member of the Order of Australia "for service to the community by raising public awareness of issues involving public sector ethics and governance, as an advocate for accountability and reforms, and as an academic and researcher in the field".
[citation needed] In 2013 the Queensland State Library announced that it was archiving papers belonging to Preston, giving a history of the social causes in which he was active.