
Overview
Background
Karen Turner is a clinical psychologist and research academic. She is Deputy Director at the Parenting and Family Support Centre. Her research activity focuses on the impact of evidence-based parenting support on child, family and community outcomes. She is a foundational co-author of the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program and has published more than 50 professional manuals, parent workbooks, tip sheet series, and video programs, which are currently being used in 27 countries, in 20 languages. She has also co-written television segments and four interactive online parenting programs. She has clinical and research experience relating to parent wellbeing, child development, and the prevention and treatment of a variety of childhood behavioural and emotional problems, including work with feeding disorders, pain syndromes and conduct problems. Her research has also focused on the development and evaluation of brief primary care interventions in the prevention of behaviour disorders in children, and the dissemination of these interventions to the professional community. She has also conducted series of research into: online delivery of parenting programs; the cultural tailoring of mainstream parenting programs for Indigenous families; and enhancing the training and post-training environment for Indigenous professionals. Her current work includes further resource development for primary care settings, early education settings, and an ongoing focus on making evidence-based parenting support programs more accessible for First Nations families, and in low-resource and developing communities.
Availability
- Associate Professor Karen Turner is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor (Honours) of Arts, The University of Queensland
- Masters (Coursework), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research impacts
Associate Professor Turner has over 35 years of experience in the development, evaluation and dissemination of behavioural family intervention and prevention programs. Her work has primarily revolved around the UQ flagship Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, which has been subjected to over 400 research trials by over 1700 researchers in over 540 institutions; is used by more than 77,000 trained and accredited practitioners from different disciplines; and has reached more than an estimated 7 million children. The key theme of her program development and research endeavours has been increasing access to evidence-based parenting and family support for all families, with the aim of reducing population prevalence rates of child behavioural and emotional problems, family conflict and adversity. The impact of this work is both instrumental (in shaping policy, professional practice and family outcomes) and capacity building (in building community, organisational, professional and individual skills), and is establishing enduring international connectivity. It has led to adoption of evidence-based parenting programs by most state governments in Australia, and from a county/province to a national level in other countries. Her work in the cultural tailoring of programs for Australian First Nations families has engendered interest from other First Nations populations (e.g. Canada, New Zealand) and migrant and resettled families.
Works
Search Professor Karen Turner’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Finding Solutions to Scaling Parenting Programs That Work: a Systems-Contextual Approach
Turner, Karen M. T. and Sanders, Matthew R. (2024). Finding Solutions to Scaling Parenting Programs That Work: a Systems-Contextual Approach. Prevention Science, 1-11. doi: 10.1007/s11121-024-01755-x
2024
Book Chapter
Enhancing outcomes for vulnerable parents, children, and communities using the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program System: Innovations and future directions
Sanders, Matthew R., Ma, Tianyi, Hoang, Nam-Phuong T. and Turner, Karen M. T. (2024). Enhancing outcomes for vulnerable parents, children, and communities using the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program System: Innovations and future directions. Routledge handbook of child and family social work research: knowledge-building, application, and impact. (pp. 217-230) edited by Elizabeth Fernandez, Penelope Welbourne, Bethany Lee and Joyce L. C. Ma. London, United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis. doi: 10.4324/9781003241492-16
2024
Journal Article
Supporting families affected by adversity: an open feasibility trial of Family Life Skills Triple P
Sanders, Matthew R., M. T. Turner, Karen, Baker, Sabine, Ma, Tianyi, Chainey, Carys, Horstead, Siân K., Wimalaweera, Subodha, Gardner, Susan and Eastwood, John (2024). Supporting families affected by adversity: an open feasibility trial of Family Life Skills Triple P. Behavior Therapy, 55 (3), 621-635. doi: 10.1016/j.beth.2023.09.004
2024
Journal Article
Connecting families, schools, and communities: A systems‐contextual approach to sustainable futures for children
Hoang, April, Sanders, Matthew R., Turner, Karen M. T., Morawska, Alina, Cobham, Vanessa, Chainey, Carys and Simmons, Erik (2024). Connecting families, schools, and communities: A systems‐contextual approach to sustainable futures for children. Sustainable Development, 32 (5), 1-13. doi: 10.1002/sd.2911
2023
Conference Publication
Understanding caregiver's perspective in enhancing resilience of children in Pakistani orphanages
Khalid, Amina, Morawska, Alina and Turner, Karen (2023). Understanding caregiver's perspective in enhancing resilience of children in Pakistani orphanages. 32nd International Congress of Psychology, Prague, Czech Republic, 18 - 23 July 2021. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1002/ijop.12987
2023
Journal Article
Jandu Yani U (for all families): evaluating Indigenous Triple P, a community-tailored parenting support program in remote Aboriginal communities
Andersson, Ellaina, McIlduff, Cari, Turner, Karen M. T., Carter, Emily, Hand, Marmingee, Thomas, Sue, Davies, Jadnah, Einfeld, Stewart and Elliott, Elizabeth J. (2023). Jandu Yani U (for all families): evaluating Indigenous Triple P, a community-tailored parenting support program in remote Aboriginal communities. Australian Psychologist, 59 (3), 245-259. doi: 10.1080/00050067.2023.2267159
2023
Journal Article
Caregivers' perspectives on the impact of the Group Triple P‐Positive Parenting Program in Pakistani orphanages
Khalid, Amina, Morawska, Alina and Turner, Karen M. T. (2023). Caregivers' perspectives on the impact of the Group Triple P‐Positive Parenting Program in Pakistani orphanages. Child and Family Social Work, 29 (1), 78-89. doi: 10.1111/cfs.13052
2023
Conference Publication
Caregivers' perspectives on the impact of Group Triple P in Pakistani orphanages
Khalid, A., Morawska, A. and Turner, K. M. T. (2023). Caregivers' perspectives on the impact of Group Triple P in Pakistani orphanages. International Congress on Evidence-based Parenting Support, Australia, 6-8 June 2023.
2023
Journal Article
Exploring Indigenous community conceptions of parent wellbeing: a qualitative analysis
Ponnapalli, Arvind, Fisher, Tarita and Turner, Karen M. T. (2023). Exploring Indigenous community conceptions of parent wellbeing: a qualitative analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20 (4) 3585, 1-21. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20043585
2023
Journal Article
Embedding the Model of Engaging with Communities Collaboratively (MECC) in the Jandu Yani U (For All Families) Project in Aboriginal communities of the Fitzroy Valley, Western Australia
McIlduff, Cari Dawn, Turner, Karen, Davies, Jadnah, Carter, Emily, Thomas, Sue, Andersson, Ellaina, Hand, Marmingee, Einfeld, Stewart and Elliott, Elizabeth (2023). Embedding the Model of Engaging with Communities Collaboratively (MECC) in the Jandu Yani U (For All Families) Project in Aboriginal communities of the Fitzroy Valley, Western Australia. International Journal of Critical Indigenous Studies, 101-118. doi: 10.5204/ijcis.2314
2023
Journal Article
Parenting in a pandemic podcast: a case study in delivering parenting intervention during COVID‑19
Morawska, Alina, Kish, Antonia, Sanders, Matthew R, Turner, Karen M T, Cobham, Vanessa E and Burke, Kylie (2023). Parenting in a pandemic podcast: a case study in delivering parenting intervention during COVID‑19. Journal of Children and Young People's Health, 3 (3). doi: 10.33235/jcyph.3.3.4-9
2023
Conference Publication
Supporting families affected by adversity: Recommendations drawn from the context, development and testing of a novel intervention, Family Life Skills Triple P
Chainey, Carys, Sanders, Matthew R., Turner, Karen, Baker, Sabine, Ma, Tianyi, Horstead, Sian, Wimalaweera, Subodha, Gardner, Susan and Eastwood, John (2023). Supporting families affected by adversity: Recommendations drawn from the context, development and testing of a novel intervention, Family Life Skills Triple P. International Congress on Evidence-based Parenting Support, Online, 6-8 June 2023.
2022
Conference Publication
Effectiveness of Triple P in an orphanage context in Lahore
Khalid, A., Morawska, A. and Turner, K. M. T. (2022). Effectiveness of Triple P in an orphanage context in Lahore. 42nd National Conference of the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 13-14 October 2022.
2022
Journal Article
Pakistani orphanage caregivers’ perspectives regarding their caregiving abilities, personal and orphan children’s psychological wellbeing
Khalid, Amina, Morawska, Alina and Turner, Karen M. T. (2022). Pakistani orphanage caregivers’ perspectives regarding their caregiving abilities, personal and orphan children’s psychological wellbeing. Child: Care, Health and Development, 49 (1), 145-155. doi: 10.1111/cch.13027
2022
Journal Article
Jandu Yani U (for all families): tailored Triple P Training and Support promote empowerment in remote Aboriginal communities
McIlduff, Cari, Andersson, Ellaina, Turner, Karen M. T., Thomas, Sue, Davies, Jadnah, Hand, Marmingee, Carter, Emily, Einfeld, Stewart and Elliott, Elizabeth J. (2022). Jandu Yani U (for all families): tailored Triple P Training and Support promote empowerment in remote Aboriginal communities. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 31 (8), 2175-2186. doi: 10.1007/s10826-022-02355-5
2022
Journal Article
A review of Australian Government funding of parenting intervention research
Havighurst, Sophie S., Chainey, Carys, Doyle, Frances L., Higgins, Daryl J., Mathews, Ben, Mazzucchelli, Trevor G., Zimmer-Gembeck, Melanie, Andriessen, Karl, Cobham, Vanessa E., Cross, Donna, Dadds, Mark R., Dawe, Sharon, Gray, Kylie M., Guastella, Adam J., Harnett, Paul, Haslam, Divna M., Middeldorp, Christel M., Morawska, Alina, Ohan, Jeneva L., Sanders, Matthew R., Stallman, Helen M., Tonge, Bruce J., Toumbourou, John W., Turner, Karen M.T., Williams, Kate E., Yap, Marie B.H. and Nicholson, Jan M. (2022). A review of Australian Government funding of parenting intervention research. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 46 (3), 262-268. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.13235
2021
Journal Article
Predicting positive outcomes and successful completion in an online parenting program for parents of children with disruptive behavior: An integrated data analysis
Day, Jamin J., Baker, Sabine, Dittman, Cassandra K., Franke, Nike, Hinton, Sharon, Love, Susan, Sanders, Matthew R. and Turner, Karen M.T. (2021). Predicting positive outcomes and successful completion in an online parenting program for parents of children with disruptive behavior: An integrated data analysis. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 146 103951, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2021.103951
2021
Journal Article
Scaling up parenting interventions is critical for attaining the sustainable development goals
Sanders, Matthew R., Divan, Gauri, Singhal, Meghna, Turner, Karen M. T., Velleman, Richard, Michelson, Daniel and Patel, Vikram (2021). Scaling up parenting interventions is critical for attaining the sustainable development goals. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 53 (5), 941-952. doi: 10.1007/s10578-021-01171-0
2021
Journal Article
Empowering the voices and agency of Indigenous Australian youth and their wellbeing in higher education✰
Durmush, Georgia, Craven, Rhonda G., Brockman, Robert, Yeung, Alexander Seeshing, Mooney, Janet, Turner, Karen and Guenther, John (2021). Empowering the voices and agency of Indigenous Australian youth and their wellbeing in higher education✰. International Journal of Educational Research, 109 101798, 101798. doi: 10.1016/j.ijer.2021.101798
2020
Journal Article
Model of engaging communities collaboratively
McIlduff, Cari Dawn, Forster, Michell, Carter, Emily, Davies, Jadnah, Thomas, Sue, Turner, Karen M.T., Brown Wilson, Christine and Sanders, Matthew R. (2020). Model of engaging communities collaboratively. International Journal of Critical Indigenous Studies, 13 (1), 45-69. doi: 10.5204/ijcis.v13i1.1346
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Karen Turner is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Indigenous parent wellbeing: Implications for early intervention parenting support in Indigenous communities
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Women¿s Empowerment and Entrepreneurship in Papua New Guinea
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paul Lant, Associate Professor Vigya Sharma
-
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluating low intensity school based program to promote parent-teracher communication and collaboration
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cassandra Tellegen
-
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluating low intensity school based program to promote parent-teracher communication and collaboration
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cassandra Tellegen
Completed supervision
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Raising Children in Healthy Environments in India: Exploring `Familial Agency' to Mitigate the Negative Impact of Environmental Impoverishment
Principal Advisor
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Enhancing the Self-Efficacy and Wellbeing of Caregivers in Orphanages of Pakistan
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alina Morawska
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Broadening the reach of evidence-based parenting interventions: Evaluation of a brief online version of the Triple P - Positive Parenting Program
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alina Morawska
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluating the Implementation and Sustainability of an Evidence-based Intervention: Delivering Triple P within Indigenous Child Welfare Agencies
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Karen Turner directly for media enquiries about:
- Child behaviour
- Parenting
- Parenting programs
- Triple P
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