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Professor Karen Thorpe
Professor

Karen Thorpe

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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

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Bristol

Research interests

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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

405 works between 1990 and 2024

381 - 400 of 405 works

2004

Book

Preparing for school: external evaluation of the preparing for school trial

Thorpe, K., Tayler, C., Greishaber, S., Bridgstock, R., Skoien, P., Danby, S. and Petriwskyj, A. (2004). Preparing for school: external evaluation of the preparing for school trial. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Go Press.

Preparing for school: external evaluation of the preparing for school trial

2003

Conference Publication

Twins and Friendship

Thorpe, K (2003). Twins and Friendship. Melbourne Multiple Pregnancy Conference, Melbourne Australia, 2003. doi: 10.1375/136905203322686545

Twins and Friendship

2003

Journal Article

Twins as a natural experiment to study the causes of mild language delay: II: Family interaction risk factors

Thorpe, K, Rutter, M and Greenwood, R (2003). Twins as a natural experiment to study the causes of mild language delay: II: Family interaction risk factors. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines, 44 (3), 342-355. doi: 10.1111/1469-7610.00126

Twins as a natural experiment to study the causes of mild language delay: II: Family interaction risk factors

2003

Journal Article

Twins as a natural experiment to study the causes of mild language delay: I: Design; Twin-singleton differences in language, and obstetric risks

Rutter, M, Thorpe, K, Greenwood, R, Northstone, K and Golding, J (2003). Twins as a natural experiment to study the causes of mild language delay: I: Design; Twin-singleton differences in language, and obstetric risks. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines, 44 (3), 326-341. doi: 10.1111/1469-7610.00125

Twins as a natural experiment to study the causes of mild language delay: I: Design; Twin-singleton differences in language, and obstetric risks

2001

Journal Article

Prevalence and developmental course of 'secret language'

Thorpe, K, Greenwood, R, Eivers, A and Rutter, M (2001). Prevalence and developmental course of 'secret language'. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 36 (1), 43-62. doi: 10.1080/13682820150217563

Prevalence and developmental course of 'secret language'

1999

Journal Article

Parental divorce and adjustment in adulthood: Findings from a community sample

O'Connor, Thomas G., Thorpe, Karen, Dunn, Judy and Golding, Jean (1999). Parental divorce and adjustment in adulthood: Findings from a community sample. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines, 40 (5), 777-789. doi: 10.1111/1469-7610.00493

Parental divorce and adjustment in adulthood: Findings from a community sample

1998

Journal Article

Family type and depression in pregnancy: Factors mediating risk in a community sample

O'Connor, Thomas G., Hawkins, Neil, Dunn, Judy, Thorpe, Karen, Golding, Jean and ALSPAC Study Team (1998). Family type and depression in pregnancy: Factors mediating risk in a community sample. Journal of Marriage and Family, 60 (3), 757-770. doi: 10.2307/353544

Family type and depression in pregnancy: Factors mediating risk in a community sample

1998

Journal Article

The biasing nature of subject loss in an infant habituation task

Bell, J. Clare, Slater, Alan and Thorpe, Karen J. (1998). The biasing nature of subject loss in an infant habituation task. Infant Behavior and Development, 21, 287. doi: 10.1016/s0163-6383(98)91500-4

The biasing nature of subject loss in an infant habituation task

1998

Book Chapter

Well-being of mothers

Elliott, S. A. and Thorpe, K. J. (1998). Well-being of mothers. The psychology of reproduction: current issues in infancy and parenthood. (pp. 1-1) edited by Anne Walker and Catherine Niven. Oxford, United Kingdom: Butterworth Heinemann.

Well-being of mothers

1998

Journal Article

Social skills, expectancies, and drinking in adolescents

Gaffney L.R., Thorpe K., Young R., Collett R. and Occhipinti S. (1998). Social skills, expectancies, and drinking in adolescents. Addictive Behaviors, 23 (5), 587-599. doi: 10.1016/S0306-4603(98)00025-2

Social skills, expectancies, and drinking in adolescents

1997

Book

Mut zur spaten Schwangerschaft: Mutter werden ab 35

Berryman, Julia, Thorpe, Karen and Windridge, Kate (1997). Mut zur spaten Schwangerschaft: Mutter werden ab 35. Munich, Germany: Kosel.

Mut zur spaten Schwangerschaft: Mutter werden ab 35

1996

Journal Article

Changes in depression during and following pregnancy

Fergusson, DM, Horwood, LJ and Thorpe, K (1996). Changes in depression during and following pregnancy. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 10 (3), 279-293. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3016.1996.tb00051.x

Changes in depression during and following pregnancy

1995

Journal Article

Does a Twin Pregnancy Have a Greater Impact on Physical and Emotional Well‐Being than a Singleton Pregnancy?

Thorpe, K, Greenwood, R and Goodenough, T (1995). Does a Twin Pregnancy Have a Greater Impact on Physical and Emotional Well‐Being than a Singleton Pregnancy?. Birth-Issues in Perinatal Care, 22 (3), 148-152. doi: 10.1111/j.1523-536X.1995.tb00691.x

Does a Twin Pregnancy Have a Greater Impact on Physical and Emotional Well‐Being than a Singleton Pregnancy?

1995

Book

Mut zur späten Schwangerschaft

Berryman, J., Thorpe, K. and Windridge, K. (1995). Mut zur späten Schwangerschaft. Munich, Germany: Kösel Verlag.

Mut zur späten Schwangerschaft

1995

Book

Older mothers: Conception, Pregnancy and Birth after 35

Berryman, J. C. and Thorpe, K. J. (1995). Older mothers: Conception, Pregnancy and Birth after 35. London, United Kingdom: Pandora Press.

Older mothers: Conception, Pregnancy and Birth after 35

1993

Journal Article

A study of the use of the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale with parent groups outside the postpartum period

Thorpe, Karen (1993). A study of the use of the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale with parent groups outside the postpartum period. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 11 (2), 119-125. doi: 10.1080/02646839308403204

A study of the use of the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale with parent groups outside the postpartum period

1993

Journal Article

Womens view of ultrasonography - a comparison of womens experiences of antenatal ultrasound screening with cerebral ultrasound of their newborn-infant

Thorpe, Karen, Harker, Lisa, Pike, Alison and Marlow, Neil (1993). Womens view of ultrasonography - a comparison of womens experiences of antenatal ultrasound screening with cerebral ultrasound of their newborn-infant. Social Science and Medicine, 36 (3), 311-315. doi: 10.1016/0277-9536(93)90015-v

Womens view of ultrasonography - a comparison of womens experiences of antenatal ultrasound screening with cerebral ultrasound of their newborn-infant

1992

Journal Article

The effects of psychosocial factors on the emotional well-being of women during pregnancy: a cross-cultural study of Britain and Greece

Thorpe, Karen J., Dragonas, Thalia and Golding, Jean (1992). The effects of psychosocial factors on the emotional well-being of women during pregnancy: a cross-cultural study of Britain and Greece. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 10 (4), 191-204. doi: 10.1080/02646839208403953

The effects of psychosocial factors on the emotional well-being of women during pregnancy: a cross-cultural study of Britain and Greece

1992

Journal Article

The effects of psychosocial factors on the mother's emotional well-being during early parenthood: a cross-cultural study of Britain and Greece

Thorpe, Karen J., Dragonas, Thalia and Golding, Jean (1992). The effects of psychosocial factors on the mother's emotional well-being during early parenthood: a cross-cultural study of Britain and Greece. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 10 (4), 205-217. doi: 10.1080/02646839208403954

The effects of psychosocial factors on the mother's emotional well-being during early parenthood: a cross-cultural study of Britain and Greece

1992

Journal Article

Transition to fatherhood: A Cross-cultural comparison

Dragonas, T, Thorpe, K and Golding, J (1992). Transition to fatherhood: A Cross-cultural comparison. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology, 13 (1), 1-19. doi: 10.3109/01674829209016702

Transition to fatherhood: A Cross-cultural comparison

Funding

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2028
    Thriving kids, active brains: A collaborative to support early child development
    Ian Potter Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2027
    10,000 Hours: Time in early education and care for better life opportunity
    ARC Australian Laureate Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2025
    Brain Builders Initiative
    Thriving Queensland Kids Partnership
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2027
    ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course
    ARC Centres of Excellence
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2025
    The developmental significance of sleep transition in early childhood.
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023
    Provision of exploratory research related to early childhood data
    Australian Education Research Organisation Limited
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2022
    Evaluation of the Queensland KindyLinQ Pilot Program
    Social Ventures Australia
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    Evaluation of the Beyond the Broncos Girls Academy Program
    Brisbane Broncos Rugby League Club Limited
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2020
    Distributed leadership in family day care: Challenge, change and opportunities (Education Horizon Research Grant Scheme project administered by QUT)
    Queensland University of Technology
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2020
    The when, what, and how of observing and assessing practice in ECEC: Towards an observational framework for Authorised Officers in Queensland
    Education Horizon
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Review project on optimal timing for future waves of GUiNZ
    Ministry of Social Development (New Zealand)
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    Evaluation of the national support for child and youth mental health program and longitudinal research plan
    Commonwealth Department of Health
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2020
    Evaluation of the Building Capacity in Australian Parents (BCAP) trial and the National Community Awareness Raising (NCAR) strategy
    Commonwealth Department of Social Services
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2020
    Understanding educational outcomes of Queensland 's investment on early education programs
    Queensland Department of Education and Training
    Open grant
  • 2017
    Professional Development Package and Resources for Guiding Sleep Practices in Early Childhood Education and Care Services (through the State of QLD (acting through the Dept of Education and Training))
    Queensland University of Technology
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Professor Karen Thorpe is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

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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communications@uq.edu.au