Overview
Background
Karen Thorpe is Australian Research Council, Laureate Professor and Group Leader in Child Development, Education and Care at the Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland. Her research is grounded in the understanding that early learning experiences shape brain development and are critical in establishing trajectories of health, social inclusion and learning across the lifespan. A particular focus of her work is early care and education environments including parenting, parent work, quality of care and education, and the early years workforce.
Karen leads a multi-disciplinary team of developmental scientists undertaking large scale longitudinal studies with embedded studies to explicate mechanisms that enable or limit children’s life chances. She was Foundation Psychologist on the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children at the University of Bristol, UK; led the evaluation of the Preparing School Trial for Queensland Government; led the Queensland team of the E4Kids study of quality in Australian Early Education and Care and a recent data linkage project with Queensland Government to track participants through their school journey. In partnership with Queensland Government, Goodstart Early Learning and the Creche and Kindergarten Association she led a large population study of the Australian ECEC workforce (ARC Linkage). Her current research, as a chief investigator on the ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families across the life course, and through an ARC Laureate fellowship, is to examine barriers to providing high quality early learning services in developmentally vulnerable communities.
In 2013 and again in 2019 Karen was named by the Australian Financial Review as among Australia's 100 Women of Influence for the impacts of her research on educational and family policy. In 2020 she was recognised by Australian Government, Advance Global Awards for her international contribution to education. Karen chairs the Australian Early Years Reference Council for Evidence for Learning, Australia whose remit is to build a strong evidence-base in early childhood education and care with focus on translation into policy and practice. She is also director on the board of the Australian Research Council for Children and Youth and advisor to the national board of Beyond Blue – Be You.
Availability
- Professor Karen Thorpe is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Bristol
Research interests
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Effects of experiences in the early years of life
Karen Thorpe is Australian Research Council, Laureate Professor and Group Leader in Child Development, Education and Care at the Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland. Her research is grounded in the understanding that early learning experiences shape brain development and are critical in establishing trajectories of health, social inclusion and learning across the lifespan. A particular focus of her work is early care and education environments including parenting, parent work, quality of care and education, and the early years workforce.
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Longitudinal studies
Karen was the Foundation Psychologist on the British Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children - a study of 14,000 children tracked from pregnancy in 1991 until the present day. This unique study was the first to combine genetic, biological and social data collections to understand the influences on children' s life course development. She continues to analyse data from this study and collaborate with colleagues in at the University of Bristol where these data are housed. Since returning to Australia in 2002 Karen has applied her expertise in longitudinal studies to create longitudinal data sets focused on early education and care experiences. She has established 4 large Australian data sets focussed on ECEC and in 2023 will commence another longitudinal study focused of ECEC in disadvantaged Australian communities funded by an Australian Laureate fellowship.
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Early Childhood Education and Care
Karen's work focuses on 4 domains that influence children's experiences in their early childhood learning environments - Policy - the funding mechanisms and social and educational policies directed towards access and quality of ECEC Provider - the effects of the mixed market of provision and enablers and constraints that influence allocation of available funds and types of provision Place - the social setting and circumstances that enter the ECEC service and room that can affect children's needs and everyday experiences People - the ECEC workforce and their capacity to support children and families given the resources within their setting A key focus is the potential of ECEC to redress social inequities and identifying ways to remove barriers to this aim
Works
Search Professor Karen Thorpe’s works on UQ eSpace
2014
Book Chapter
Friendships
Theobald, Maryanne, Danby, Susan, Thompson, Catherine and Thorpe, Karen (2014). Friendships. Health and wellbeing in childhood. (pp. 114-132) edited by Susanne Garvis and Donna Pendergast. Port Melbourne, Vic, Australia: Cambridge University Press.
2014
Conference Publication
Medicalising, Moralizing or Mentoring: Child health nurses response to mother's request support of breastfeeding through a parenting helpline
Thorpe, K., Kernke, C. and Gallegos, D. (2014). Medicalising, Moralizing or Mentoring: Child health nurses response to mother's request support of breastfeeding through a parenting helpline. SRCD conference: Connecting policy Practice and Research, Alexandria Old Town, VA, United States, 2014.
2014
Journal Article
Impact of sleep practices in childcare on child well being
Thorpe, K., Staton, S., Pattinson, C. and Smith, S. (2014). Impact of sleep practices in childcare on child well being. Sleep, 37, A304.
2014
Conference Publication
Teachers’ questioning students about technology: Making digital literacy relevant in preschool classrooms
Ekberg, S., Houen, S., Danby, S., Davidson, C. and Thorpe, K. (2014). Teachers’ questioning students about technology: Making digital literacy relevant in preschool classrooms. International Communication Association Regional Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 1-3 October 2014.
2014
Conference Publication
Are sleep policies and practices in childcare a cause for concern?
Thorpe, K., Staton, S., Smith, S. and Pattinson, C. (2014). Are sleep policies and practices in childcare a cause for concern?. SRCD conference: Connecting policy Practice and Research, Alexandria Old Town, VA, United States, 2014.
2013
Journal Article
Talk in activity during young children's use of digital technologies at home
Danby, Susan, Davidson, Christina, Theobald, Maryanne, Scriven, Brooke, Cobb-Moore, Charlotte, Houen, Sandra, Grant, Sandra, Given, Lisa M. and Thorpe, Karen (2013). Talk in activity during young children's use of digital technologies at home. Australian Journal of Communication, 40 (2), 83-100.
2013
Conference Publication
Day-time sleep patterns of Australian Preschool aged children
Thorpe, Karen, Staton, Sally , Pattinson, Cassandra and Smith, Simon (2013). Day-time sleep patterns of Australian Preschool aged children. 25th ASM of Australasian Sleep Association and Australasian Sleep Technologists Association, Brisbane, Queensland, 17-19 October 2013. London, United Kingdom: Springer . doi: 10.1111/sbr.12028
2013
Conference Publication
Problem nappers: are they really a problem?
Neil, E., Staton, S., Smith, S., Pattinson, C. and Thorpe, K. (2013). Problem nappers: are they really a problem?. Sleep DownUnder 2013, River of Dreams, 25th ASM of Australasian Sleep Association and Australasian Sleep Technologists Association, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 17–19 October 2013. London, United Kingdom: Springer. doi: 10.1111/sbr.12028
2013
Conference Publication
Observing emotional climate of sleep time in early childhood education and care settings
Pattinson, C., Staton, S., Smith, S. and Thorpe, K. (2013). Observing emotional climate of sleep time in early childhood education and care settings. Sleep DownUnder 2013, River of Dreams, 25th ASM of Australasian Sleep Association and Australasian Sleep Technologists Association, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 17–19 October 2013. London, United Kingdom: Springer. doi: 10.1111/sbr.12028
2013
Conference Publication
Group differences in diurnal salivary cortisol patterns in relation to sleep practices in childcare
Staton, S., Smith, S., Pattinson, C. and Thorpe, K. (2013). Group differences in diurnal salivary cortisol patterns in relation to sleep practices in childcare. Sleep DownUnder 2013, River of Dreams, 25th ASM of Australasian Sleep Association and Australasian Sleep Technologists Association, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 17–19 October 2013. London, United Kingdom: Springer. doi: 10.1111/sbr.12028
2013
Conference Publication
It takes the whole community: exploring community values of raising children in a remote town
Leske, R., Samardin, D. and Thorpe, Karen (2013). It takes the whole community: exploring community values of raising children in a remote town. Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth: Infant & Early Childhood Social & Emotional Wellbeing Conference, Canberra, Australia, October 2013. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth.
2013
Journal Article
Bonding and bridging: transition to school and social capital formation among a community of Indigenous Australian children
Thorpe, Karen, Bell-Booth, Rachel, Staton, Sally and Thompson, Catherine (2013). Bonding and bridging: transition to school and social capital formation among a community of Indigenous Australian children. Journal of Community Psychology, 41 (7), 827-843. doi: 10.1002/jcop.21576
2013
Journal Article
Choosing work and care: Four australian women negotiating return to paid work in the first year of motherhood
Boyd, Wendy, Walker, Susan and Thorpe, Karen (2013). Choosing work and care: Four australian women negotiating return to paid work in the first year of motherhood. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, 14 (2), 168-178. doi: 10.2304/ciec.2013.14.2.168
2013
Journal Article
The quality of early childhood education and care services in Australia
Tayler, Collette, Ishimine, Karin, Cloney, Dan, Cleveland, Gordon and Thorpe, Karen (2013). The quality of early childhood education and care services in Australia. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 38 (2), 13-21. doi: 10.1177/183693911303800203
2013
Journal Article
What if you're really different?: case studies of children with high functioning Autism participating in the Get REAL programme who had atypical learning trajectories
Kemp, Steven, Petriwskyj, Anne, Shakespeare-Finch, Jane and Thorpe, Karen (2013). What if you're really different?: case studies of children with high functioning Autism participating in the Get REAL programme who had atypical learning trajectories. European Journal of Special Needs Education, 28 (1), 91-108. doi: 10.1080/08856257.2012.749609
2013
Conference Publication
Sleep practices and healthy sleep environments in childcare settings
Marriott, A., Staton, S., Pattinson, C., Smith, S. and Thorpe, K. (2013). Sleep practices and healthy sleep environments in childcare settings. Sleep Down-under, Australasian Sleep Association, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, October 2013.
2013
Conference Publication
Making decisions about class placement as twins transition to school
Thorpe, K. and Thompson, C. (2013). Making decisions about class placement as twins transition to school. Australian Multiple Births Association Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 2013.
2013
Conference Publication
School transition trajectories of marginalised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
Leske, R., Thorpe, K. and Staton, S. (2013). School transition trajectories of marginalised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Society for Research Development in Childhood (SRCD), Seattle, WA United States, 2013.
2013
Other Outputs
Teacher decision-making and spaces that educate: Where does technology fit?
Grant, S., Danby, S., Thorpe, K., Davidson, C. and Houen, S. (2013, 01 01). Teacher decision-making and spaces that educate: Where does technology fit? Cascades Newsletter 11-13.
2013
Journal Article
The role adults play in engaging children with digital technologies
Thorpe, K., Danby, S., Davidson, C., Theobald, M., Scriven, B., Cobb-Moore, C. and Houen, S. (2013, 01 01). The role adults play in engaging children with digital technologies Cascades Newsletter
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Karen Thorpe is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Same Educator, Different Day
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sally Staton, Dr Sandy Houen
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Master Philosophy
The dilemma in the career development of international early childhood teachers in Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Laetitia Coles
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Doctor Philosophy
The Signifiance of Nap Cessation for Children's Social-emotional Functioning
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Peter Rankin, Associate Professor Sally Staton, Professor Simon Smith
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Doctor Philosophy
Can attachment theory be applied in early education and care environments? Theorising and measuring qualities of child-educator relationships
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sandy Houen, Associate Professor Sally Staton
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Doctor Philosophy
Early Sleep Interventions to Improve Outcomes in Children with Neurodisability
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jasneek Chawla
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Why mealtimes matter: food provision and practices in childcare centres serving low-income communities.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Adjunct Professor Robyn Littlewood, Associate Professor Sally Staton
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Pride and Prejudice: The claiming and contesting of male participation in Early Childhood Education and Care
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Laetitia Coles
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Bridging the theory to evidence gap: a systematic review and analysis of individual × environment models of child development
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Western
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Relaxation and Unrest: A Crystallization of Children's Experiences in Early Childhood Education and Care
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sally Staton
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Karen Thorpe directly for media enquiries about:
- child development
- childcare
- childcare educators work conditions
- children
- children's sleep
- early education and care
- early years workforce
- ecec
- educational policy
- longitudinal studies
- parenting
- preschool
- school readiness
- twins
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