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
2011
Book
Triple P discussion group workbook: Developing good bedtime routines
Turner, Karen M.T. and Sanders, Matthew R. (2011). Triple P discussion group workbook: Developing good bedtime routines. 26 ed. Brisbane, Australia: Triple P International.
2010
Journal Article
Reducing preschoolers' disruptive behavior in public with a brief parent discussion group
Joachim, Sabine, Sanders, Matthew R. and Turner, Karen M. T. (2010). Reducing preschoolers' disruptive behavior in public with a brief parent discussion group. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 41 (1), 47-60. doi: 10.1007/s10578-009-0151-z
2010
Book
Every parent's self-help workbook
Markie-Dadds, Carol, Sanders, Matthew R. and Turner, Karen M. T. (2010). Every parent's self-help workbook. 3rd ed. Brisbane, Australia: Triple P International.
2010
Book
Facilitator's kit for primary care triple P
Turner. Karen Mary Thomas, Sanders, Matthew R. and Markie-Dadds, Carol (2010). Facilitator's kit for primary care triple P. 3 ed. Brisbane, Australia: Triple P International.
2010
Book
Consultation flip chart for Primary Care Triple P
Turner, Karen Mary Thomas, Markie-Dadds, Carol and Sanders, Matthew R. (2010). Consultation flip chart for Primary Care Triple P. 2 ed. Brisbane, Australia: Triple P International.
2009
Book
Every parent's group workbook
Markie-Dadds, Carol, Sanders, Matthew R. and Turner, Karen M. T. (2009). Every parent's group workbook. 3rd ed. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Triple P International.
2008
Book
Supporting Indigenous health professionals: key issues and supports for the adoption of evidence–based behavioural family intervention in Indigenous communities
Turner, Karen M. T. (2008). Supporting Indigenous health professionals: key issues and supports for the adoption of evidence–based behavioural family intervention in Indigenous communities. Not available:
2007
Journal Article
Randomised clinical trial of a group parent education programme for Australian Indigenous families
Turner, Karen M. T., Richards, Mary and Sanders, Matthew R. (2007). Randomised clinical trial of a group parent education programme for Australian Indigenous families. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 43 (6), 429-437. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2007.01053.x
2007
Journal Article
Does the Triple P-Positive Parenting Program provide value for money?
Mihalopoulos, Cathrine, Sanders, Matthew R., Turner, Karen M. T., Murphy-Brennan, Majella and Carter, Rob (2007). Does the Triple P-Positive Parenting Program provide value for money?. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 41 (3), 239-246. doi: 10.1080/00048670601172723
2007
Book Chapter
Paediatric Psychology and the Treatment of Childhood Disorders
Sanders, Matthew R., Turner, Karen M. T. and Markie- Dadds, Carol (2007). Paediatric Psychology and the Treatment of Childhood Disorders. Clinical Psychology: Profession and Practice in Australia. (pp. 287-314) edited by Jay S. Birnbrauer and Paul R. Martin. Melbourne, VIC, Australia: Macmillan Education.
2007
Journal Article
Family intervention in Indigenous communities: emergent issues in conducting outcome research
Turner, Karen and Sanders, Matthew (2007). Family intervention in Indigenous communities: emergent issues in conducting outcome research. Australasian Psychiatry, 15 (Supplement 1), S39-S43. doi: 10.1080/10398560701701189
2006
Journal Article
Help when it's needed first: A controlled evaluation of brief, preventive behavioral family intervention in a primary care setting
Turner, Karen M. T. and Sanders, Matthew R. (2006). Help when it's needed first: A controlled evaluation of brief, preventive behavioral family intervention in a primary care setting. Behavior Therapy, 37 (2), 131-142. doi: 10.1016/j.beth.2005.05.004
2006
Journal Article
Dissemination of evidence-based parenting and family support strategies: Learning from the Triple P-Positive Parenting Program system approach
Turner, Karen M. T. and Sanders, Matthew R. (2006). Dissemination of evidence-based parenting and family support strategies: Learning from the Triple P-Positive Parenting Program system approach. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 11 (2), 176-193. doi: 10.1016/j.avb.2005.07.005
2006
Book
The Preschooler Book
Sanders, M. R., Turner, K. M. T. and Markie-Dadds, C. (2006). The Preschooler Book. Brisbane, Australia: Triple P International.
2006
Conference Publication
Tailoring and evaluating an evidence-based group family intervention program for parents in indigenous communities
Turner, K. M. T., Sanders, M. R., Richards, M. and Arthur, N. (2006). Tailoring and evaluating an evidence-based group family intervention program for parents in indigenous communities. The Joint Conference of the Australian Psychological Society and the New Zealand Psychological Society, Sky City Auckland Convention Centre, New Zealand, 26-30 September, 2006. London: Taylor and Francis. doi: 10.1080/00049530600940019
2006
Book
Every parent's workbook for Indigenous Triple P
Turner, Karen M. T., Sanders, Matthew R. and Markie-Dadds, Carol (2006). Every parent's workbook for Indigenous Triple P. Brisbane, Australia: Triple P International.
2005
Journal Article
Reflections on the challenges of effective dissemination of behavioural family intervention: Our experience with the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program
Sanders, Matthew R. and Turner, Karen M. T. (2005). Reflections on the challenges of effective dissemination of behavioural family intervention: Our experience with the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 10 (4), 158-169. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-3588.2005.00367.x
2005
Book
Every parent's supplementary workbook module 1: Practice
Turner, Karen Mary Thomas, Sanders, Matthew R. and Markie-Dadds, Carol (2005). Every parent's supplementary workbook module 1: Practice. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Triple P International.
2005
Book
Every parent's supplementary workbook module 4: Maintenance and closure
Markie-Dadds, Carol, Sanders, Matthew R. and Turner, Karen Mary Thomas (2005). Every parent's supplementary workbook module 4: Maintenance and closure. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Triple P International.
2005
Book
Every parent's supplementary workbook module 2: Coping skills
Markie-Dadds, Carol, Sanders, Matthew R. and Turner, Karen Mary Thomas (2005). Every parent's supplementary workbook module 2: Coping skills. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Triple P International.
Funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Karen Turner is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Women¿s Empowerment and Entrepreneurship in Papua New Guinea
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paul Lant, Dr Vigya Sharma
-
Doctor Philosophy
Indigenous parent wellbeing: Implications for early intervention parenting support in Indigenous communities
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Matthew Sanders
-
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluating low intensity school based program to promote parent-teracher communication and collaboration
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Matthew Sanders, 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
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Cultural Sensitivity in Working with Indigenous Peoples: A Model Proposed and Evaluated Towards Culturally Sympathetic Methodology for Capacity Building and Social Change
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Matthew Sanders
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Enhancing the Self-Efficacy and Wellbeing of Caregivers in Orphanages of Pakistan
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Alina Morawska
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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: Associate Professor Alina Morawska, Professor Matthew Sanders
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluating the Implementation and Sustainability of an Evidence-based Intervention: Delivering Triple P within Indigenous Child Welfare Agencies
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Matthew Sanders
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Karen Turner directly for media enquiries about:
- Child behaviour
- Parenting
- Parenting programs
- Triple P
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