Dr Koa Whittingham
Dr

Koa Whittingham

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 344 36398

Background

Dr Koa Whittingham is a clinical and educational/developmental psychologist with research interests across parenting, neurodevelopmental disabilities and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Koa began her career building key empirical support for the flagship UQ program Stepping Stones Triple P for specific neurodevelopmental disabilities including autism, acquired brain injury and cerebral palsy. She has since developed an international reputation as a leader in developing and testing novel acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) interventions to support parents, including using online/telehealth formats. Her contributions to the field of ACT-based parenting intervention were recognised by her election as a Fellow to the Assocaition for Contextual Beahvioural Science in 2023. Koa has a strong track record with over 100 papers and 6 book chapters and currently leads an MRFF testing her online intervention Parenting Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (PACT) with 300 families of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities or developmental delay. She has written a self-help book for the transition to motherhood, Becoming Mum, as well as the first clinical manual on applying ACT to parenting support, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy the Clinician's Guide for Supporting Parents.

Availability

Dr Koa Whittingham is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Psychology

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Arts, The University of Queensland
  • Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
  • Bachelor (Honours), The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

    Particularly applied to supporting parents or parenting including parents of children diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disability and during the perinatal period.

  • Mindfulness

    Particularly applied to supporting parents or parenting including parents of children diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disability and during the perinatal period.

  • Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

    Interested in neurodevelopmental disabilities, including autism and cerebral palsy and increased likelihood of neurodevelopmental disabilities. Particularly interested in the influence of parents and parenting, and supporting the family, but also in child wellbeing and school readiness.

  • Parenting

    Parenting and parenting intervention, including for parents of children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disabilities and during the perinatal period.

  • Autism

    Particularly interested in the influence of parents and parenting, and supporting the family, but also in child wellbeing and school readiness.

  • Cerebral Palsy

    Particularly interested in the influence of parents and parenting, and supporting the family, but also in child wellbeing and school readiness.

Research impacts

Dr Koa Whittingham played a key role in establishing the efficacy of Stepping Stones Triple P for specific neurodevelopmental disabilities including autism, acquired brain injury and cerebral palsy. She is a leader in the field of developing and testing parenting support grounded in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and was the lead author of the first RCT to directly rest the impact of ACT on parenting. She is the first author of the only clinical manual on using ACT with parents, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy the Clinician’s Guide for Supporting Parents, as well as an author of a self-help book for the transition to motherhood, Becoming Mum. Koa's work has been cited in policy documents including by WHO, the US CDC and UK NICE networks and, via national and international collaborations with PACT incorporated into clinical trials in Hong Kong with Prof Connie Chong, in Italy with Prof Andrea Guzzetta, and in Georgia, Sri Lanka and Australian Aboriginal communities as part of the LEAP Program.

Search Professor Koa Whittingham’s works on UQ eSpace

161 works between 2006 and 2025
All (161) Journal Article (122) Book Chapter (5) Conference Publication (32) Book (1) Other Outputs (1)

1 - 20 of 161 works

Featured

2023

Journal Article

“Their happiness, not neurotypical success”: autistic adults reflect on the parenting of autistic children

Lee, Jia Ying Sarah, Whittingham, Koa, Olson, Rebecca and Mitchell, Amy E. (2023). “Their happiness, not neurotypical success”: autistic adults reflect on the parenting of autistic children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 55 (1), 339-352. doi: 10.1007/s10803-023-06188-z

“Their happiness, not neurotypical success”: autistic adults reflect on the parenting of autistic children

Featured

2023

Journal Article

Predicting breastfeeding continuation to 6 and 12 months in an Australian context: a cross-sectional study

Mitchell, Amy E. and Whittingham, Koa (2023). Predicting breastfeeding continuation to 6 and 12 months in an Australian context: a cross-sectional study. Breastfeeding Review, 31 (2), 25-36.

Predicting breastfeeding continuation to 6 and 12 months in an Australian context: a cross-sectional study

Featured

2023

Journal Article

Postnatal traumatic symptoms and shame: a cross-sectional study examining the role of birth, breastfeeding, psychological flexibility and self-compassion

Whittingham, Koa and Mitchell, Amy E. (2023). Postnatal traumatic symptoms and shame: a cross-sectional study examining the role of birth, breastfeeding, psychological flexibility and self-compassion. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 28, 248-255. doi: 10.1016/j.jcbs.2023.04.004

Postnatal traumatic symptoms and shame: a cross-sectional study examining the role of birth, breastfeeding, psychological flexibility and self-compassion

Featured

2023

Journal Article

Executive function, attention and autism symptomatology in school-aged children with cerebral palsy

Wotherspoon, Jane, Whittingham, Koa, Sheffield, Jeanie and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2023). Executive function, attention and autism symptomatology in school-aged children with cerebral palsy. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 36 (1), 1-16. doi: 10.1007/s10882-023-09905-9

Executive function, attention and autism symptomatology in school-aged children with cerebral palsy

Featured

2022

Journal Article

Parenting Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: an RCT of an online course with families of children with CP

Whittingham, Koa, Sheffield, Jeanie, Mak, Catherine, Wright, Ashleigh and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2022). Parenting Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: an RCT of an online course with families of children with CP. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 155 104129, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2022.104129

Parenting Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: an RCT of an online course with families of children with CP

Featured

2021

Journal Article

Birth, breastfeeding, psychological flexibility and self‐compassion as predictors of mother–infant emotional availability in a cross‐sectional study

Whittingham, Koa and Mitchell, Amy E. (2021). Birth, breastfeeding, psychological flexibility and self‐compassion as predictors of mother–infant emotional availability in a cross‐sectional study. Infant Mental Health Journal, 42 (5) imhj.21935, 718-730. doi: 10.1002/imhj.21935

Birth, breastfeeding, psychological flexibility and self‐compassion as predictors of mother–infant emotional availability in a cross‐sectional study

Featured

2021

Journal Article

Randomized controlled trial of a brief online self‐compassion intervention for mothers of infants: effects on mental health outcomes

Lennard, Georgina R., Mitchell, Amy E. and Whittingham, Koa (2021). Randomized controlled trial of a brief online self‐compassion intervention for mothers of infants: effects on mental health outcomes. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 77 (3) jclp.23068, 473-487. doi: 10.1002/jclp.23068

Randomized controlled trial of a brief online self‐compassion intervention for mothers of infants: effects on mental health outcomes

Featured

2020

Journal Article

Six-month follow-up of a mindfulness yoga program, MiYoga, on attention, executive function, behaviour and physical outcomes in cerebral palsy

Mak, Catherine, Whittingham, Koa, Cunnington, Ross, Chatfield, Mark and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2020). Six-month follow-up of a mindfulness yoga program, MiYoga, on attention, executive function, behaviour and physical outcomes in cerebral palsy. Disability and Rehabilitation, 44 (6), 1-7. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2020.1783582

Six-month follow-up of a mindfulness yoga program, MiYoga, on attention, executive function, behaviour and physical outcomes in cerebral palsy

2025

Journal Article

AutInsight: a pilot Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) of a consumer-informed parent support program for parents of autistic children

Lee, Jia Ying Sarah, Whittingham, Koa and Mitchell, Amy E. (2025). AutInsight: a pilot Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) of a consumer-informed parent support program for parents of autistic children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 160783. doi: 10.1007/s10803-025-06764-5

AutInsight: a pilot Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) of a consumer-informed parent support program for parents of autistic children

2025

Journal Article

Telehealth Programme for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS) for adolescents with acquired and congenital brain injuries: a protocol for mixed-methods randomised trial

Sakzewski, Leanne, Gilmore, Rose, Hilton, Nicola, Goodman, Sarah, Whittingham, Koa, Barfoot, Jacqui, Thompson, Bianca, Keramat, Afroz and Boyd, Roslyn N (2025). Telehealth Programme for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS) for adolescents with acquired and congenital brain injuries: a protocol for mixed-methods randomised trial. BMJ Open, 15 (2) e081843, e081843. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-081843

Telehealth Programme for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS) for adolescents with acquired and congenital brain injuries: a protocol for mixed-methods randomised trial

2025

Journal Article

Randomized comparison trial of rehabilitation very early for infants with congenital hemiplegia

Boyd, Roslyn N., Greaves, Susan, Ziviani, Jenny, Novak, Iona, Badawi, Nadia, Pannek, Kerstin, Elliott, Catherine, Wallen, Margaret, Morgan, Catherine, Valentine, Jane, Findlay, Lisa, Guzzetta, Andrea, Whittingham, Koa, Ware, Robert S., Fiori, Simona, Maitre, Nathalie L., Heathcock, Jill, Scott, Kym, Eliasson, Ann-Christin and Sakzewski, Leanne (2025). Randomized comparison trial of rehabilitation very early for infants with congenital hemiplegia. The Journal of Pediatrics, 277 114381, 114381. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2024.114381

Randomized comparison trial of rehabilitation very early for infants with congenital hemiplegia

2025

Journal Article

Investigating a caregiver-assisted social skills group programme for primary and early high school-aged children with acquired brain injury or cerebral palsy: protocol for a pilot mixed-methods, two-group randomised trial of PEERS Plus

Thompson, Bianca, Gilmore, Rose, Hilton, Nicola, Barfoot, Jacqui, Moody, Christine T., Whittingham, Koa, Keramat, Afroz, Boyd, Roslyn N. and Sakzewski, Leanne (2025). Investigating a caregiver-assisted social skills group programme for primary and early high school-aged children with acquired brain injury or cerebral palsy: protocol for a pilot mixed-methods, two-group randomised trial of PEERS Plus. BMJ Open, 15 (1) e095354, 1-12. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-095354

Investigating a caregiver-assisted social skills group programme for primary and early high school-aged children with acquired brain injury or cerebral palsy: protocol for a pilot mixed-methods, two-group randomised trial of PEERS Plus

2024

Journal Article

Psychological flexibility, professional quality of life and psychological adjustment in workers in the disability sector

Mak, Catherine, Waller, Craig, Barfoot, Jacqui and Whittingham, Koa (2024). Psychological flexibility, professional quality of life and psychological adjustment in workers in the disability sector. Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health. doi: 10.1080/15555240.2024.2432334

Psychological flexibility, professional quality of life and psychological adjustment in workers in the disability sector

2024

Journal Article

A Randomized Trial of Baby Triple P for Preterm Infants: Child Outcomes at 2 Years of Corrected Age (vol 210, pg 48, 2019)

Colditz, Paul B., Boyd, Roslyn N., Winter, Leanne, Pritchard, Margo, Gray, Peter H., Whittingham, Koa, O'Callaghan, Michael, Jardine, Luke, O'Rourke, Peter, Marquart, Louise, Forrest, Kylee, Spry, Carmen and Sanders, Matthew R. (2024). A Randomized Trial of Baby Triple P for Preterm Infants: Child Outcomes at 2 Years of Corrected Age (vol 210, pg 48, 2019). Journal of Pediatrics, 275 114293.

A Randomized Trial of Baby Triple P for Preterm Infants: Child Outcomes at 2 Years of Corrected Age (vol 210, pg 48, 2019)

2024

Journal Article

Parents' experiences of early screening for cerebral palsy: A qualitative reflexive thematic analysis

Cameron, Kate L. I., Coulston, Free, Kwong, Amanda Ka‐Ling, Whittingham, Koa, Morgan, Catherine, Boyd, Roslyn N., Crowle, Cathryn, Sakakini, Hiam and Spittle, Alicia (2024). Parents' experiences of early screening for cerebral palsy: A qualitative reflexive thematic analysis. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.16190

Parents' experiences of early screening for cerebral palsy: A qualitative reflexive thematic analysis

2024

Journal Article

Parental Acceptance and Understanding of Autistic Children (PAUACS) – an Instrument Development Study

Lee, Jia Ying Sarah, Whittingham, Koa and Mitchell, Amy E. (2024). Parental Acceptance and Understanding of Autistic Children (PAUACS) – an Instrument Development Study. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. doi: 10.1007/s10803-024-06630-w

Parental Acceptance and Understanding of Autistic Children (PAUACS) – an Instrument Development Study

2024

Journal Article

Parental insightfulness, parental sensitivity, parent and child mental health, and attachment in autistic children: a systematic review

Lee, Jia Ying Sarah, Whittingham, Koa and Mitchell, Amy E. (2024). Parental insightfulness, parental sensitivity, parent and child mental health, and attachment in autistic children: a systematic review. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. doi: 10.1007/s40489-024-00482-x

Parental insightfulness, parental sensitivity, parent and child mental health, and attachment in autistic children: a systematic review

2024

Conference Publication

Tools for early detection of developmental concerns and/or disability in young children (aged birth–5 years 11 months): A scoping review

Burgess, A., Luke, C., Jackman, M., Wotherspoon, J., Whittingham, K., Benfer, K., Goodman, S., Caesar, R., Nesakumar, T., Bora, S., Honeyman, D., Copplin, D., Reedman, S., Cairney, J., Reid, N., Sakzewski, L. and Boyd, R. (2024). Tools for early detection of developmental concerns and/or disability in young children (aged birth–5 years 11 months): A scoping review. American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Quebec, QC Canada, 23-26 October 2024. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.

Tools for early detection of developmental concerns and/or disability in young children (aged birth–5 years 11 months): A scoping review

2024

Conference Publication

School readiness outcomes of children identified as high risk of cerebral palsy in infancy

Oftedal, S., Boyd, R., Novak, I., Badawi, N., Bora, S., Ware, R., Morgan, C., Whittingham, K., Hines, A., Elliott, C., Valentine, J., Fahey, M. and Sakzewski, L. (2024). School readiness outcomes of children identified as high risk of cerebral palsy in infancy. American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Quebec, QC Canada, 23-26 October 2024. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.

School readiness outcomes of children identified as high risk of cerebral palsy in infancy

2024

Journal Article

Corrigendum to “A Randomized Trial of Baby Triple P for Preterm Infants: Child Outcomes at 2 Years of Corrected Age”. J Pediatr. 2019;210:48-54

Colditz, Paul B., Boyd, Roslyn N., Winter, Leanne, Pritchard, Margo, Gray, Peter H., Whittingham, Koa, O’Callaghan, Michael, Jardine, Luke, O’Rourke, Peter, Marquart, Louise, Forrest, Kylee, Spry, Carmen and Sanders, Matthew R. (2024). Corrigendum to “A Randomized Trial of Baby Triple P for Preterm Infants: Child Outcomes at 2 Years of Corrected Age”. J Pediatr. 2019;210:48-54. The Journal of Pediatrics, 275 114293, 114293. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2024.114293

Corrigendum to “A Randomized Trial of Baby Triple P for Preterm Infants: Child Outcomes at 2 Years of Corrected Age”. J Pediatr. 2019;210:48-54

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2026
    A state-based Perinatal Family Mental Health Registry
    Queensland Mental Health Commission
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2027
    CP-KASP (Cerebral Palsy Knowledge, Advocacy Skills, and Support Program): co-designed with families to optimise evidence-based support through the NDIS
    NHMRC MRFF PPHR - Consumer Led Research
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2028
    First Peoples co-designed cohort to support improved perinatal and early childhood outcomes
    NHMRC Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Grants
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2027
    E-PACT: Randomised Trial of Parenting Acceptance and Commitment therapy for Parents of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities
    NHMRC MRFF Clinician Researchers: Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Grant
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2025
    School Readiness child outcomes of early neuroprotection/ early neurorehabilitation for infants at high risk of Cerebral Palsy- in the first 2,000 days
    NHMRC MRFF PPHR - Maternal Health and First 2000 Days, Early Childhood, and Exercise and Nutrition
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2019 - 2023
    Peer delivered early intervention for Indigenous Australian infants at high risk of cerebral palsy: an RCT study
    The Children's Hospital Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    ENACT101: A pre-emptive intervention for infants at familial risk of Autism
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2024
    Early diagnosis and early intervention for infants with cerebral palsy: implementation of international evidence-based .... (NHMRC Partnership Project administered by University of Melbourne)
    University of Melbourne
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2024
    Early Parenting Acceptance and Commitment Therapy 'Early PACT' for parents of infants with cerebral palsy
    Cerebral Palsy Alliance
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Community-based parent-delivered early detection and intervention for children at high risk of cerebral palsy in a low-resource setting: a randomised control trial
    Cerebral Palsy Alliance
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2023
    Harnessing Neuroplasticity to Improve Motor Performance in Infants with Cerebral palsy: a Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial (NHMRC Project Grant administered by the University of Sydney)
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Preparing Parents for paediatric Medical Procedures
    Brisbane Diamantina Health Partners - Queensland University of Technology
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2019
    Parenting Acceptance and Commitment Therapy 'PACT': innovative, web-based support for families of children with Cerebral Palsy
    Cerebral Palsy Alliance
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2021
    REACH: Randomised trial of EArly Rehabilitation in Congenital Hemiplegia
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2021
    PREDICT Outcomes to inform services for children with Cerebral Palsy
    NHMRC Partnership Projects
    Open grant
  • 2014
    Prem Baby Triple P: A RCT of Enhanced Parenting to Improve Developmental Outcomes in Preterm Infants
    Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2017
    A randomised controlled trial of enhanced parenting capacity to improve developmental outcomes in preterm infants
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2018
    NHMRC Training (Postdoctoral) Fellowship: Optimising outcomes for Cerebral Palsy: RCT of a parenting intervention.
    NHMRC Training (Postdoctoral) Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2010
    Piloting a parenting intervention with an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy adjunct for parents of children with Cerebral Palsy
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant

Availability

Dr Koa Whittingham is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    ENACT (ENvironmental enrichment for infants; parenting with ACT): A randomised controlled trial of an innovative intervention for infants at risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Roslyn Boyd

  • Doctor Philosophy

    ENACT (ENvironmental enrichment for infants; parenting with ACT): A randomised controlled trial of an innovative intervention for infants at risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Roslyn Boyd

  • Doctor Philosophy

    AutInsight: Development of a Consumer-Informed Parent Support Program for Parents of Autistic Children

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Amy Mitchell

  • Doctor Philosophy

    AutInsight: Development of a Consumer-Informed Parent Support Program for Parents of Autistic Children

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Amy Mitchell

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Dr Koa Whittingham directly for media enquiries about:

  • acceptance and commitment therapy
  • early motherhood
  • mindful parenting
  • parenting

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