![Professor Karen Thorpe](/sites/default/files/profiles/17707.jpeg)
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
2012
Journal Article
Is quality more important if you're quirky? A review of the literature on differential susceptibility to childcare environments
Davis, Elspeth, Eivers, Areana and Thorpe, Karen (2012). Is quality more important if you're quirky? A review of the literature on differential susceptibility to childcare environments. Australian Journal of Early Childhood, 37 (4), 99-106. doi: 10.1177/183693911203700414
2012
Journal Article
Can a childcare practicum encourage degree qualified staff to enter the childcare workforce?
Thorpe, Karen, Millear, Prudence and Petriwskyj, Anne (2012). Can a childcare practicum encourage degree qualified staff to enter the childcare workforce?. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, 13 (4), 317-327. doi: 10.2304/ciec.2012.13.4.317
2012
Journal Article
Testing the vision: preschool settings as places for meeting, bonding and bridging
Thorpe, Karen, Staton, Sally, Morgan, Robert, Danby, Susan and Tayler, Collette (2012). Testing the vision: preschool settings as places for meeting, bonding and bridging. Children & Society, 26 (4), 328-340. doi: 10.1111/j.1099-0860.2010.00336.x
2012
Journal Article
Children's strategies for making friends when starting school
Danby, Susan, Thompson, Catherine, Theobald, Maryanne and Thorpe, Karen (2012). Children's strategies for making friends when starting school. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 37 (2), 63-71. doi: 10.1177/183693911203700210
2012
Journal Article
To separate or not to separate? Parental decision-making regarding the separation of twins in the early years of schooling
Staton, Sally, Thorpe, Karen, Thompson, Catherine and Danby, Susan (2012). To separate or not to separate? Parental decision-making regarding the separation of twins in the early years of schooling. Journal of Early Childhood Research, 10 (2), 196-208. doi: 10.1177/1476718x11430076
2012
Journal Article
Disconfirmed expectations of infant behaviours and postnatal depressive symptoms among parents
Muscat, Tracey, Thorpe, Karen and Obst, Patricia (2012). Disconfirmed expectations of infant behaviours and postnatal depressive symptoms among parents. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 30 (1), 51-61. doi: 10.1080/02646838.2012.670804
2012
Conference Publication
Why would you work in childcare? Exploring the experiences that influence motivation and turnover amongst the early childhood workforce
Millear, P. and Thorpe, K. (2012). Why would you work in childcare? Exploring the experiences that influence motivation and turnover amongst the early childhood workforce. 10th European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology Conference, Zurich, Switzerland, 11-13 April 2012.
2012
Conference Publication
Stories of success: How the Piccaninny Playgroup promotes positive child development and family readiness for school
Bell-Booth, R., Thorpe, K., Staton, S. and Thompson, C. (2012). Stories of success: How the Piccaninny Playgroup promotes positive child development and family readiness for school. 2012 Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), Themed Meeting: Positive Development of Minority Children, Tampa, FL, United States, February 2012.
2012
Conference Publication
To work or not to work: Changes in the intentions to return to work amongst first-time mothers
Boyd, Wendy, Millear, Prudence, Thorpe, Karen and Walker, Sue (2012). To work or not to work: Changes in the intentions to return to work amongst first-time mothers. 10th European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology Conference, Zurich, Switzerland, April 2012.
2012
Conference Publication
Building on social strengths: within-group bonds are the foundation for social inclusion and school attendance of Indigenous Australian children
Thorpe, K., Staton, S. and Bell-Booth, R. (2012). Building on social strengths: within-group bonds are the foundation for social inclusion and school attendance of Indigenous Australian children. 2012 Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), Themed Meeting: Positive Development of Minority Children, Tampa, FL, United States, February 2012.
2012
Conference Publication
Using sociometric techniques to assess friendship quality, social inclusion and social belonging
Thorpe, K., Staton, S. and Bell-Booth, R. (2012). Using sociometric techniques to assess friendship quality, social inclusion and social belonging. 2012 Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), Themed Meeting: Positive Development of Minority Children, Tampa, FL, United States, February 2012.
2012
Conference Publication
Assessing the quality of Australian early education and care programs
Thorpe, K. (2012). Assessing the quality of Australian early education and care programs. QSA 2012 Conference - Shaping teaching and learning: The assessment factor, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, April 2012.
2012
Journal Article
Impact of a centralized osteoporosis coordinator on post-fracture osteoporosis management: a cluster randomized trial
Jaglal, S. B., Donescu, O. S., Bansod, V., Laprade, J., Thorpe, K., Hawker, G., Majumdar, S. R., Meadows, L., Cadarette, S. M., Papaioannou, A., Kloseck, M., Beaton, D., Bogoch, E. and Zwarenstein, M. (2012). Impact of a centralized osteoporosis coordinator on post-fracture osteoporosis management: a cluster randomized trial. Osteoporosis International, 23 (1), 87-95. doi: 10.1007/s00198-011-1726-7
2011
Journal Article
Conflict, closeness and comfort: the inter-twin relationship as a risk factor for behavioral difficulties
Bekkhus, Mona, Staton, Sally, Borge, Anne Inger H. and Thorpe, Karen (2011). Conflict, closeness and comfort: the inter-twin relationship as a risk factor for behavioral difficulties. Twin Research and Human Genetics, 14 (5), 444-451. doi: 10.1375/twin.14.5.444
2011
Journal Article
Changing personal epistemologies in early childhood pre-service teachers using an integrated teaching program
Brownlee, Jo, Petriwskyj, Anne, Thorpe, Karen, Stacey, Phillip and Gibson, Megan (2011). Changing personal epistemologies in early childhood pre-service teachers using an integrated teaching program. Higher Education Research and Development, 30 (4), 477-490. doi: 10.1080/07294360.2010.518952
2011
Journal Article
Who wants to work in child care? Pre-service early childhood teachers' consideration of work in the childcare sector
Thorpe, Karen, Boyd, Wendy, Ailwood, Jo and Brownlee, Jo (2011). Who wants to work in child care? Pre-service early childhood teachers' consideration of work in the childcare sector. Australian Journal of Early Childhood, 36 (1), 85-94. doi: 10.1177/183693911103600114
2011
Conference Publication
Children’s experiences of starting school: a twin singleton comparison
Thorpe, K. and Staton, S. (2011). Children’s experiences of starting school: a twin singleton comparison. 15th ESDP European Conference on Developmental Psychology, Bergen, Norway, August 2011.
2011
Conference Publication
The predictors, correlates and outcomes of friendships in early childhood
Thorpe, K. (2011). The predictors, correlates and outcomes of friendships in early childhood. Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) Biennial Meeting, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, March 2011.
2011
Conference Publication
Predictors of having a best friend: Who has a best friend and who doesn't?
Thorpe, K., Bekkhus, M. and Staton, S. (2011). Predictors of having a best friend: Who has a best friend and who doesn't? . The Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), Biennial Meeting, Montreal, Canada, 2011.
2011
Conference Publication
Children’s social networks and friendship quality across different early childhood education and care setting in Australia
Thorpe, K. and Staton, S. (2011). Children’s social networks and friendship quality across different early childhood education and care setting in Australia. 15th ESDP European Conference on Developmental Psychology, Bergen, Norway, August 2011.
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Karen Thorpe is:
- Available for supervision
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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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