Overview
Background
Career counselling: theory and processes; Career development theory; Career programs; Qualitative career assessment; Supervision
Dr McMahon teaches in the areas of career development theory, career guidance and counselling, and supervision. She is particularly interested in the career development of children and adolescents and how young people may be supported by career programs. In the area of career counselling, she is interested in the application of constructivist approaches especially the use of qualitative career assessment. Within the area of supervision, she is interested in assisting guidance officers and school counsellors develop their supervision practices. Her recent focus within this area is on the use of technology to support rural and remote personnel.
Availability
- Dr Mary McMahon is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Postgraduate Diploma, Institution to be confirmed
- Bachelor of Education, Institution to be confirmed
- Masters (Coursework) of Education, Queensland University of Technology
- Doctor of Philosophy, Queensland University of Technology
Works
Search Professor Mary McMahon’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
Career adaptability and career resilience: a systems perspective
McMahon, Mary and Abkhezr, Peyman (2025). Career adaptability and career resilience: a systems perspective. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance. doi: 10.1007/s10775-025-09739-1
2025
Journal Article
Migrant women navigating the intersection of gender, migration, and career development: a systematic literature review
Yazdankhoo, Sogol, Abkhezr, Peyman, McAuliffe, Donna and McMahon, Mary (2025). Migrant women navigating the intersection of gender, migration, and career development: a systematic literature review. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 157 104093. doi: 10.1016/j.jvb.2025.104093
2025
Book
Narrative career counselling: from theory to practice in diverse cultures and contexts
Mary McMahon and Peyman Abkhezr eds. (2025). Narrative career counselling: from theory to practice in diverse cultures and contexts. 3rd ed. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003441724
2025
Journal Article
Career development practices: what theories and models have to offer
Arthur, Nancy, Borgen, Roberta and Mcmahon, Mary (2025). Career development practices: what theories and models have to offer. Canadian Journal of Career Development, 24 (1), 85-105. doi: 10.53379/cjcd.2025.431
2025
Book Chapter
Qualitative career assessment: complementing narrative career counselling
McMahon, Mary and Patton, Wendy (2025). Qualitative career assessment: complementing narrative career counselling. Narrative career counselling: from theory to practice in diverse cultures and contexts. (pp. 140-152) edited by Mary McMahon and Peyman Abkhezr. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003441724-15
2025
Book Chapter
A story telling approach to narrative career counselling: application of the systems theory framework of career development
McMahon, Mary and Patton, Wendy (2025). A story telling approach to narrative career counselling: application of the systems theory framework of career development. Narrative career counselling: from theory to practice in diverse cultures and contexts. (pp. 60-72) edited by Mary McMahon and Peyman Abkhezr. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003441724-8
2025
Book Chapter
Narrative career counselling: a reflection and territories to be explored
Abkhezr, Peyman, McMahon, Mary and Patton, Wendy (2025). Narrative career counselling: a reflection and territories to be explored. Narrative career counselling: from theory to practice in diverse cultures and contexts. (pp. 285-295) edited by Mary McMahon and Peyman Abkhezr. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003441724-29
2025
Book Chapter
Narrative career counselling: foundations
McMahon, Mary and Patton, Wendy (2025). Narrative career counselling: foundations. Narrative career counselling: from theory to practice in diverse cultures and contexts. (pp. 3-13) edited by Mary McMahon and Peyman Abkhezr. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003441724-2
2024
Conference Publication
Qualitative research methods in vocational psychology
McMahon, Mary (2024). Qualitative research methods in vocational psychology. 33rd International Congress of Psychology, Prague, Czech Republic, 21 - 26 July 2024. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
2024
Conference Publication
Post school lives of adults with intellectual disability-a career development perspective
Cuskelly, M., Jobling, A., Lloyd, J., McMahon, M. and Moni, K. (2024). Post school lives of adults with intellectual disability-a career development perspective. Re‐imagining Connections, The 17th IASSIDD World Congress, Chicago, IL, United States, 5-8 August 2024. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/jir.13166
2024
Journal Article
Australian school psychologists' and counsellors' experience of stress
Pennell, Donna, Campbell, Marilyn, Juri, M. Zahid and McMahon, Mary (2024). Australian school psychologists' and counsellors' experience of stress. Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools, 34 (1), 5-17. doi: 10.1177/20556365231207410
2024
Journal Article
Preparing adults with intellectual disabilities for their future: how do support services staff view their role?
Cuskelly, Monica, Moni, Karen, McMahon, Mary, Jobling, Anne and Lloyd, Jan (2024). Preparing adults with intellectual disabilities for their future: how do support services staff view their role?. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 37 (1) e13180, e13180. doi: 10.1111/jar.13180
2024
Journal Article
Sustainability: implications for career development
McMahon, Mary and Knight, Elizabeth (2024). Sustainability: implications for career development. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance. doi: 10.1007/s10775-024-09693-4
2023
Conference Publication
Perceptions of career development of Black South African adolescent males and their parents
Watson, Mark, McMahon, Mary and Collett, Gary (2023). Perceptions of career development of Black South African adolescent males and their parents. 18th European Congress of Psychology, Brighton, United Kingdom, 3 - 6 July 2023. Goettingen, Germany: Hogrefe Verlag GmbH. doi: 10.1024/2673-8627/a000043
2023
Book Chapter
Rethinking work and building better workplaces: who gets a say and who needs a say?
McMahon, Mary (2023). Rethinking work and building better workplaces: who gets a say and who needs a say?. Rethinking work: essays on building a better workplace. (pp. 25-30) edited by David L. Blustein and Lisa Y. Flores. New York, United States: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003272397-6
2023
Journal Article
Beyond job placement: careers for refugees
Arthur, Nancy, McMahon, Mary, Abkhezr, Peyman and Woodend, Jon (2023). Beyond job placement: careers for refugees. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance, 25 (1), 1-19. doi: 10.1007/s10775-023-09579-x
2022
Journal Article
The Systems Theory Framework of career development: News of difference and a journey towards acceptance
McMahon, Mary and Patton, Wendy (2022). The Systems Theory Framework of career development: News of difference and a journey towards acceptance. Australian Journal of Career Development, 31 (3), 195-200. doi: 10.1177/10384162221120464
2022
Journal Article
Australian Journal of Career Development: introduction to 30-year special issue
McMahon, Mary and Patton, Wendy (2022). Australian Journal of Career Development: introduction to 30-year special issue. Australian Journal of Career Development, 31 (3), 165-166. doi: 10.1177/10384162221120466
2022
Journal Article
Reflections of original editorial board members: introduction
McMahon, Mary (2022). Reflections of original editorial board members: introduction. Australian Journal of Career Development, 31 (3), 187-187. doi: 10.1177/10384162221120463
2022
Journal Article
A systemic and qualitative exploration of career adaptability among young people with refugee backgrounds
Abkhezr, Peyman, McMahon, Mary and Campbell, Marilyn (2022). A systemic and qualitative exploration of career adaptability among young people with refugee backgrounds. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance, 22 (2), 363-383. doi: 10.1007/s10775-020-09446-z
Funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Mary McMahon is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Completed supervision
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Social Sciences Research Commercialisation: The Case of One Australian University
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Martie-Louise Verreynne
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Becoming a mother and mattering in early 21st century Australia: An exploration of women's perinatal transitions and equity in wellbeing
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Carmen Mills
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Professional standards and professional identity: Perspectives of career development practitioners in Australia and New Zealand
Principal Advisor
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Lifelong Career Mobility and Change Options in Knowledge Occupations: Career Pathway Implications of Initial Qualification Choices
Principal Advisor
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring International RHD students' lived transition experiences of studying abroad and returning home.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Martin Mills
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Journeying to the West: Understanding international career transitions to develop career support for international Chinese doctoral research students in Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Martin Mills, Honorary Professor Mark Watson
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
An investigation on students' educational and occupational aspirations in Brunei Darussalam: Teaching and counselling implications
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Robyn Gillies
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Parental Influence on Children's Career Development in Middle Childhood in Mainland China: Perspectives of Parents and Children
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Mark Watson
-
-
2010
Doctor Philosophy
Generation Y teachers' perceptions of and aspirations for leadership in Victorian Independent Schools
Principal Advisor
-
2013
Doctor Philosophy
EFL teachers' beliefs, instructional practices and professional development about corrective feedback in Saudi universities
Associate Advisor
-
2010
Doctor Philosophy
Potential intrapersonal conflicts between Christianity and homosexuality: Better understanding through a resilience perspective
Associate Advisor
-
2010
Master Philosophy
Adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Case Studies of the Academic, Behavioural, and Social Differences Over Time of Five Young People in a Flexible Learning Centre
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Annemaree Carroll
-
2008
Doctor Philosophy
Gender, Relationships: Male Teachers in Primary Education
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Martin Mills
Media
Enquiries
For media enquiries about Dr Mary McMahon's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team: