
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
2018
Book Chapter
Technology-assisted delivery of parenting programs
Turner, Karen M. T., Baker, Sabine and Day, Jamin J. (2018). Technology-assisted delivery of parenting programs. The power of positive parenting: transforming the lives of children, parents, and communities using the Triple P system. (pp. 294-304) edited by Sanders, Matthew R. and Mazzucchelli, Trevor G.. New York, NY, United States: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/med-psych/9780190629069.003.0026
2018
Book Chapter
The importance of parenting in influencing the lives of children
Sanders, Matthew R. and Turner, Karen M. T. (2018). The importance of parenting in influencing the lives of children. Handbook of parenting and child development across the lifespan. (pp. 3-26) edited by Matthew R. Sanders and Alina Morawska. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-94598-9_1
2018
Book Chapter
Innovation in parenting programs
Sanders, Matthew R., Turner, Karen M. T. and Mazzucchelli, Trevor G. (2018). Innovation in parenting programs. The power of positive parenting: transforming the lives of children, parents, and communities using the Triple P system. (pp. 486-503) edited by Matthew R. Sanders and Trevor G. Mazzuchelli. New York, United States: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/med-psych/9780190629069.003.0045
2018
Book Chapter
Parenting support in the context of primary health care
Turner, Karen M. T. and Metzler, Carol W. (2018). Parenting support in the context of primary health care. The power of positive parenting: transforming the lives of children, parents, and communities using the Triple P system. (pp. 231-241) edited by Sanders, Matthew R. and Mazzucchelli, Trevor G.. New York, NY, United States: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/med-psych/9780190629069.003.0020
2018
Book Chapter
Parenting support in an early childhood learning context
Turner, Karen M. T., Dittman, Cassandra, Rusby, Julie C. and Lee, Shawna (2018). Parenting support in an early childhood learning context. The power of positive parenting: transforming the lives of children, parents, and communities using the Triple P system. (pp. 242-251) edited by Matthew R. Sanders and Trevor G. Mazzucchelli. Sydney, Australia: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/med-psych/9780190629069.003.0021
2017
Conference Publication
Jandu Yani U (For All Families): Towards positive changes in the Fitzroy Valley
McIlduff, C. D., Davies, J., the Jandu Yani U team and Turner, K. M. T. (2017). Jandu Yani U (For All Families): Towards positive changes in the Fitzroy Valley. 6th Annual NHMRC Symposium on Research Translation, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 14-15 November 2017.
2017
Conference Publication
Working effectively with Indigenous families
Forster, M., McIlduff, C. D., Turner, K. M. T. and Hodge, L. (2017). Working effectively with Indigenous families. 9th Annual SELF Positive Psychology Conference, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 25-28 September 2017.
2017
Conference Publication
Empowering families by strengthening parents’ and carers’ capacity: Jandu Yani U (For All Families)
McIlduff, C. D., Davies, J., the Jandu Yani U team and Turner, K. M. T. (2017). Empowering families by strengthening parents’ and carers’ capacity: Jandu Yani U (For All Families). SNAICC National Conference, Canberra, ACT Australia, 12-14 September 2017.
2017
Journal Article
Factors that influence evidence-based program sustainment for family support providers in child protection services in disadvantaged communities
Hodge, Lauren M., Turner, Karen M. T., Sanders, Matthew R. and Forster, Michell (2017). Factors that influence evidence-based program sustainment for family support providers in child protection services in disadvantaged communities. Child Abuse and Neglect, 70, 134-145. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.05.017
2017
Journal Article
Sustained implementation support scale: validation of a measure of program characteristics and workplace functioning for sustained program implementation
Hodge, Lauren M., Turner, Karen M. T., Sanders, Matthew R. and Filus, Ania (2017). Sustained implementation support scale: validation of a measure of program characteristics and workplace functioning for sustained program implementation. Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research, 44 (3), 442-464. doi: 10.1007/s11414-016-9505-z
2017
Conference Publication
The Jandu Yani U Project
McIlduff, C. D., Cherel, S., the Jandu Yani U team and Turner, K. M. T. (2017). The Jandu Yani U Project. Aboriginal Health Conference, Perth, WA Australia, 1-2 July 2017.
2017
Journal Article
A randomized controlled trial evaluating a low-intensity interactive online parenting intervention, Triple P Online Brief, with parents of children with early onset conduct problems
Baker, Sabine, Sanders, Matthew R., Turner, Karen M. T. and Morawska, Alina (2017). A randomized controlled trial evaluating a low-intensity interactive online parenting intervention, Triple P Online Brief, with parents of children with early onset conduct problems. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 91, 78-90. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2017.01.016
2017
Book Chapter
Working effectively with indigenous families
Turner, Karen M. T., Hodge, Lauren M., Forster, Michell and McIlduff, Cari D. (2017). Working effectively with indigenous families. The power of positive parenting: transforming the lives of children, parents, and communities using the Triple P System. (pp. 321-331) edited by Matthew R. Sanders and Trevor G. Mazzucchelli. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/med-psych/9780190629069.003.0029
2017
Book Chapter
The international dissemination of the Triple P - Positive Parenting Program
Sanders, Matthew R. and Turner, Karen M. T. (2017). The international dissemination of the Triple P - Positive Parenting Program. Evidence-based psychotherapies for children and adolescents. (pp. 429-448) edited by John R. Weisz and Alan E. Kazdin. New York, United States: The Guildford Press.
2017
Book Chapter
Triple P – Positive Parenting Program System
Sanders, Matthew R. and Turner, Karen M. T. (2017). Triple P – Positive Parenting Program System. Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy . (pp. 1-7) edited by Jay Lebow, Anthony Chambers and Douglas C. Breunlin. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-15877-8_376-1
2016
Journal Article
Sustained implementation of evidence-based programs in disadvantaged communities: a conceptual framework of supporting factors
Hodge, Lauren M. and Turner, Karen M. T. (2016). Sustained implementation of evidence-based programs in disadvantaged communities: a conceptual framework of supporting factors. American Journal of Community Psychology, 58 (1-2), 192-210. doi: 10.1002/ajcp.12082
2016
Conference Publication
Translating evidence-based behavioural family interventions for online delivery: Our experience with The Triple P – Positive Parenting Program
Turner, K. M. T., Sanders, M. R., Baker, S., Day, J. and Dittman, C. (2016). Translating evidence-based behavioural family interventions for online delivery: Our experience with The Triple P – Positive Parenting Program. 8th World Congress of Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 22-26 June 2016.
2016
Conference Publication
Development and pilot evaluation of the Positive Child Care Program for educators: Bringing a behavioural family intervention approach to early learning and childcare settings
Turner, K. M. T., Dittman, C. and Lee, S. (2016). Development and pilot evaluation of the Positive Child Care Program for educators: Bringing a behavioural family intervention approach to early learning and childcare settings. 8th World Congress of Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 22-26 June 2016.
2016
Journal Article
Social media and gamification: engaging vulnerable parents in an online evidence-based parenting program
Love, Susan M., Sanders, Matthew R., Turner, Karen M. T., Maurange, Marianne, Knott, Theresa, Prinz, Ronald, Metzler, Carol and Ainsworth, Andrew T. (2016). Social media and gamification: engaging vulnerable parents in an online evidence-based parenting program. Child Abuse and Neglect, 53, 95-107. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2015.10.031
2016
Conference Publication
Triple P implementation in Indigenous communities: Sustainability, engagement and cultural accommodation
Turner, K. M. T., Hodge, L., Hoath, F., McIlduff, C., Rihari, D. and Cooper, E. (2016). Triple P implementation in Indigenous communities: Sustainability, engagement and cultural accommodation. 18th Helping Families Change Conference, Banff, Alberta, Canada, 3-5 February 2016.
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Karen Turner is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Women's Empowerment and Entrepreneurship in Papua New Guinea
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paul Lant, Associate Professor Vigya Sharma
-
Doctor Philosophy
Women¿s Empowerment and Entrepreneurship in Papua New Guinea
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paul Lant, Associate Professor Vigya Sharma
-
Doctor Philosophy
Women's Empowerment and Entrepreneurship in Papua New Guinea
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paul Lant, Associate Professor Vigya Sharma
-
Doctor Philosophy
Indigenous parent wellbeing: Implications for early intervention parenting support in Indigenous communities
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluating low intensity school based program to promote parent-teracher communication and collaboration
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cassandra Tellegen
-
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
-
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluating low intensity school based program to promote parent-teracher communication and collaboration
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: Professor Paul Lant, 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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