
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
1999
Conference Publication
Training primary care professionals: dissemination of psychological innovation in new disciplines
Turner, K. M. T. and Sanders, M. R. (1999). Training primary care professionals: dissemination of psychological innovation in new disciplines. 34th Annual Conference of the Australian Psychological Society, Hobart, TAS, Australia, 29 September to 3 October 1999. Abingdon, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis.
1999
Conference Publication
Triple P (Positive Parenting Program): A multilevel approach to family intervention
Sanders, M. R., Markie-Dadds, C., Turner, K. M. T. and Brechman-Toussaint, M. (1999). Triple P (Positive Parenting Program): A multilevel approach to family intervention. 34th Annual Conference of the Australian Psychological Society, Hobart, TAS, Australia, 29 September to 3 October 1999. Abingdon, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis.
1999
Conference Publication
Adapting cognitive behavioural interventions for telephone delivery
Markie-Dadds, C. and Turner, K. M. T. (1999). Adapting cognitive behavioural interventions for telephone delivery. 34th Annual Conference of the Australian Psychological Society, Hobart, TAS, Australia, 29 September - 3 October 1999. Abingdon, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis. doi: 10.1080/00049539908255105
1999
Conference Publication
Managing paediatric feeding disorders (Invited presentation)
Sanders, M. R. and Turner, K. M. T. (1999). Managing paediatric feeding disorders (Invited presentation). Children’s Nutrition Research Centre Annual Conference, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, September 1999.
1999
Book
Practitioner’s manual for Primary Care Triple P
Turner, K. M. T., Sanders, M. R. and Markie-Dadds, C. (1999). Practitioner’s manual for Primary Care Triple P. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Families International Publishing.
1999
Conference Publication
Coping skills for parents
Markie-Dadds, C. and Turner, K. M. T. (1999). Coping skills for parents. 2nd Helping Families Change Conference, Auckland, New Zealand, February 1999.
1999
Book
Consultation flip chart for Primary Care Triple P
Turner, Karen M. T., Markie-Dadds, Carol and Sanders, Matthew R. (1999). Consultation flip chart for Primary Care Triple P. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Families International Publishing.
1999
Book
Every Parent's Self-Help Workbook
Markie-Dadds, C., Sanders, M. R. and Turner, K. (1999). Every Parent's Self-Help Workbook. Milton, QLD, Australia: Families International.
1999
Conference Publication
The role of training and accreditation in the dissemination process
Brechman-Toussaint, M. L., Sanders, M. R., Markie-Dadds, C. and Turner, K. M. T. (1999). The role of training and accreditation in the dissemination process. 34th Annual Conference of the Australian Psychological Society, Hobart, TAS, Australia, 29 September to 3 October 1999. Abingdon, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis.
1998
Book
Facilitator's manual for Group Triple P
Turner, Karen M. T., Markie-Dadds, Carol and Sanders, Matthew R. (1998). Facilitator's manual for Group Triple P. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Families International.
1998
Book
Practitioner’s manual for Enhanced Triple P
Sanders, Matthew R., Markie-Dadds, Carol and Turner, Karen M. T. (1998). Practitioner’s manual for Enhanced Triple P. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Families International Publishing.
1998
Conference Publication
Positive Parenting Program (Triple P): early intervention for childhood behavioural problems (Invited address)
Turner, K. M. T. (1998). Positive Parenting Program (Triple P): early intervention for childhood behavioural problems (Invited address). AusEinet Early Intervention Workshop, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, March 1998.
1998
Book
Every parent's supplementary workbook
Markie-Dadds, Carol, Turner, Karen M. T. and Sanders, Matthew R. (1998). Every parent's supplementary workbook. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Families International Publishing.
1997
Conference Publication
Triple P (Positive Parenting Program): A multi-level parenting and family support strategy
Sanders, M. R., Markie-Dadds, C. and Turner, K. M. T. (1997). Triple P (Positive Parenting Program): A multi-level parenting and family support strategy. 20th National Conference of the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 5-9 July 1997.
1997
Journal Article
Mealtime Behaviour and Parent-Child Interaction: A Comparison of Children with Cystic Fibrosis, Children with Feeding Problems, and Nonclinic Controls
Sanders, Matthew R., Turner, Karen M. T., Wall, Clare R., Waugh, Linda M. and Tully, Lucy A. (1997). Mealtime Behaviour and Parent-Child Interaction: A Comparison of Children with Cystic Fibrosis, Children with Feeding Problems, and Nonclinic Controls. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 22 (6), 881-900. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/22.6.881
1997
Book
Every parent's group workbook
Markie-Dadds, Carol, Turner, Karen M. T. and Sanders, Matthew R. (1997). Every parent's group workbook. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Families International.
1997
Conference Publication
Development and implementation of a primary care parenting and family support strategy
Cann, W., Sanders, M. R., Markie-Dadds, C. and Turner, K. M. T. (1997). Development and implementation of a primary care parenting and family support strategy. 20th National Conference of the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 5-9 July 1997.
1997
Conference Publication
Towards the development of a training and dissemination technology for behavioural family intervention
Sanders, M. R. and Turner, K. M. T. (1997). Towards the development of a training and dissemination technology for behavioural family intervention. 20th National Conference of the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 5-9 July 1997.
1996
Conference Publication
Diagnosing persistent feeding difficulties in children
Turner, K. M. T., Sanders, M. R. and Wall, C. R. (1996). Diagnosing persistent feeding difficulties in children. 30th Annual Convention of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, New York, United States, 21-24 November 1996.
1996
Conference Publication
Mealtime behavior and parent-child interaction: A comparison of children with cystic fibrosis, children with feeding problems and non-clinic controls
Sanders, M. R., Turner, K. M. T., Wall, C. R., Waugh, L. M. and Tully, L. A. (1996). Mealtime behavior and parent-child interaction: A comparison of children with cystic fibrosis, children with feeding problems and non-clinic controls. 30th Annual Convention of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, New York, United States, 21-24 November 1996.
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
Parents as partners in children's education: Evaluating the role of parental-self-regulation in effective home-school partnership
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cassandra Tellegen
Completed supervision
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Women's Empowerment and Entrepreneurship in Papua New Guinea
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Vigya Sharma
-
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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