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Associate Professor Karen Turner
Associate Professor

Karen Turner

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 57302

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

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

240 works between 1986 and 2025

201 - 220 of 240 works

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.

Training primary care professionals: dissemination of psychological innovation in new disciplines

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.

Triple P (Positive Parenting Program): A multilevel approach to family intervention

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

Adapting cognitive behavioural interventions for telephone delivery

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.

Managing paediatric feeding disorders (Invited presentation)

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.

Practitioner’s manual for Primary Care Triple P

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.

Coping skills for parents

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.

Consultation flip chart for Primary Care Triple P

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.

Every Parent's Self-Help Workbook

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.

The role of training and accreditation in the dissemination process

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.

Facilitator's manual for Group Triple P

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.

Practitioner’s manual for Enhanced Triple P

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.

Positive Parenting Program (Triple P): early intervention for childhood behavioural problems (Invited address)

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.

Every parent's supplementary workbook

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.

Triple P (Positive Parenting Program): A multi-level parenting and family support strategy

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

Mealtime Behaviour and Parent-Child Interaction: A Comparison of Children with Cystic Fibrosis, Children with Feeding Problems, and Nonclinic Controls

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.

Every parent's group workbook

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.

Development and implementation of a primary care parenting and family support strategy

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.

Towards the development of a training and dissemination technology for behavioural family intervention

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.

Diagnosing persistent feeding difficulties in children

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.

Mealtime behavior and parent-child interaction: A comparison of children with cystic fibrosis, children with feeding problems and non-clinic controls

Funding

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2030
    Deadly Home Reading: Enabling Indigenous Children's Literacy & Wellbeing (ARC Linkage Project administered by the Australian Catholic University)
    Australian Catholic University
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2026
    Proposal for Undertaking Evaluation Activities Australian Parenting Education and Support Program Grant
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2025
    A collaborative partnership approach to providing parenting support in remote indigenous communities
    Australian Catholic University
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2021 - 2024
    Deadly start: enabling preschoolers' literacy, numeracy and wellbeing (ARC Discovery Project administered by the Australian Catholic University)
    Australian Catholic University
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2023
    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Positive Parenting Collaborative Project
    Queensland Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2022
    Life Skills Triple P Feasibility Trial
    Sydney Local Health District
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2019
    Evaluating an Online Parenting Support System Disseminated by Paediatric Practices (NIH grant administered by the Oregon Research Institute)
    Oregon Research Institute
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Developing and beta testing the Positive Parenting Program in a social-network community in Los Angeles County (Administered by California State University, Northridge)
    California State University, Northridge
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2017
    Enhancing the public health approach to evidence-based parenting support: Efficacy of a low intensity online intervention
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2013
    Exploring Optimal Training Processes for Indigenous Child Protection Sector Professionals
    Queensland Department of the Premier and Cabinet
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2014
    Assessing the effectiveness, acceptability and sustainability of a culturally adapted evidence-based intervention for Indigenous parents
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2013
    Effects of a technology enhanced parenting intervention for young children with early onset conduct problems
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2006
    Group Triple P - Positive Parenting Program for Indigenous Families in Community and Health Settings in Far North Queensland: A Pilot. [NHMRC Mental Health Services Evaluation Research Grant]
    NHMRC - Strategic Funds
    Open grant
  • 1995
    Primary Care Positive Parenting Strategy (PCPPS)
    Department Health, Victoria
    Open grant
  • 1995 - 1997
    Primary Care Positive Parenting Strategy (PCPPS)
    Department Health, Victoria
    Open grant

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

Media

Enquiries

Contact Associate Professor Karen Turner directly for media enquiries about:

  • Child behaviour
  • Parenting
  • Parenting programs
  • Triple P

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au