
Overview
Background
Professor Karen Healy AM is the Head of the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work. Professor Healy's work examines and develops community-based approaches to improving health, wellbeing and safety with people and families across the life-course. She is committed to improving outcomes with people and families experiencing disadvantage and marginalisation.
Professor Healy's research themes are family and community-led practice, child protection, research co-design, health equity, and social inclusion. Karen, and her research group, lead a large research program on community-based and family inclusive approaches to child protection. This includes a national project on empowering parents and families as partners in child protection. Together with Micah Projects and Professor Diane Depanfilis from City University New York, Karen's team is conducting a trial of ‘Family Connections.’ This is a family inclusive approach to promoting children's safety and family wellbeing in families at increased risk of child removal by child protection authorities.
Karen collaborates with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to support culturally responsive practices across health and human services sectors and to continue to build recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, doing and being. Karen has supervised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research higher degree students to complete projects on community-led approaches to health, safety, and wellbeing.
Karen is an experienced university educator. Her teaching practice focuses on developing health and social work professionals’ capacity to collaborate with people receiving services and their families. She has led initiatives in simulated learning on foundational and advanced communication skills, family group meetings and mediation, and teamwork.
In 2016, Karen received an Order of Australia (AM) for her contribution to social work in child protection, higher education, and research. In September 2018, Higher Education Academy (UK) appointed her as a Principal Fellow.
Availability
- Professor Karen Healy is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
- Graduate Certificate of Applied Statistics, Swinburne University of Technology
Research impacts
Karen is skilled in research co-design with people with lived experience of health and human service systems and with government and non-government service agencies. Karen collaborates with these partners to co-design and conduct research, and to translate findings into accessible resources for policymakers, practitioners, and communities. Her outcomes include novel approaches to integrated midwifery and family support with young parents, community-based mental health support and homelessness prevention, and improving family participation in child protection decision-making.
Professor Healy is an experienced research supervisor. She has supervised 31 Research Higher Degree students to completion of their projects in wide range of health and community service concerns.
She holds senior advisory positions in industry and in her professional community. She is Community Services Commissioner and Chair of Clinical Care and Governance for Anglicare Southern Queensland. She has a well-established partnership with Micah Projects, an innovative health and commuity service agency dedicated to supporting people and families experiencing severe and persistent disadvantage. In her partnerships with Micah, Karen has contributed to major social health initiatives, particularly the establishment of Young Mothers for Young Women (an integrated midwifery, family and peer support program), and supported parents to work with the Child Safety Minister and Executive to develop a Parents' Rights Charter, founded on Human Rights Principles.
Karen's track record of leadership includes as: National President of the Australian Association of Social Workers (2011-2017); National Director of The Benevolent Society (2011-2019); National President for the Australian Association of Social Work and Welfare Education (2005-2009).
Works
Search Professor Karen Healy’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
Accounting for the Psychosocial in Children's Neurodevelopment Diagnostic Assessments: A Scoping Review
Smart, Gemma, Fleming, Carmel, Healy, Karen and Le Brocque, Robyne (2025). Accounting for the Psychosocial in Children's Neurodevelopment Diagnostic Assessments: A Scoping Review. Clinical Social Work Journal, 1-23. doi: 10.1007/s10615-025-00995-w
2025
Other Outputs
Queensland child and youth policy priorities: final research report
Healy, Karen, Simpson Reeves, Laura, Venables, Jemma and Nathanson, Caitlin (2025). Queensland child and youth policy priorities: final research report. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2025
Other Outputs
‘Every child, every woman: healthy and safe start’ program evaluation final report
Simpson Reeves, Laura, Hawley, Glenda, Gabiana, Christy and Healy, Karen (2025). ‘Every child, every woman: healthy and safe start’ program evaluation final report. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2025
Journal Article
Access to transition planning and support for young people who self‐place when in out‐of‐home care: the perspectives of young people and practitioners
Venables, Jemma, Simpson Reeves, Laura, Ellem, Kathy, Healy, Karen and Cullin, Joel (2025). Access to transition planning and support for young people who self‐place when in out‐of‐home care: the perspectives of young people and practitioners. Australian Journal of Social Issues. doi: 10.1002/ajs4.391
2025
Book Chapter
Child and family social work research
Foote, Wendy and Healy, Karen (2025). Child and family social work research. Handbook of Research Methods in Social Work. (pp. 323-336) Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.. doi: 10.4337/9781035310173.00036
2024
Journal Article
The social and emotional wellbeing of children in out-of-home care: a scoping review exploring structural and social factors
Healy, Karen, Simpson Reeves, Laura, Boman, Madonna, Kolesnikova, Iryna, Povey, Jenny, Venables, Jemma, Baxter, Janeen and Thompson, Kate (2024). The social and emotional wellbeing of children in out-of-home care: a scoping review exploring structural and social factors. Children and Youth Services Review, 166 107991, 107991. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107991
2024
Journal Article
Diminishing their voice through choice? How ‘self-placing’ in out-of-home care affects children and young people’s participation in decision-making
Venables, Jemma, Cullin, Joel, Ellem, Kathy and Healy, Karen (2024). Diminishing their voice through choice? How ‘self-placing’ in out-of-home care affects children and young people’s participation in decision-making. European Journal of Social Work. doi: 10.1080/13691457.2024.2408429
2024
Journal Article
Understanding the wellbeing needs of First Nations children in out-of-home care in Australia: a comprehensive literature review
Garvey, Darren, Carter, Ken, Anderson, Kate, Gall, Alana, Howard, Kirsten, Venables, Jemma, Healy, Karen, Bill, Lea, Letendre, Angeline, Dickson, Michelle and Garvey, Gail (2024). Understanding the wellbeing needs of First Nations children in out-of-home care in Australia: a comprehensive literature review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21 (9) 1208, 1-19. doi: 10.3390/ijerph21091208
2024
Journal Article
Children in out-of-home care's right to family and cultural connection: Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous Australian children's perspectives
Venables, Jemma, Povey, Jenny, Kolesnikova, Iryna, Thompson, Kate, Boman, Madonna, Richmond, Juli, Healy, Karen, Baxter, Janeen, Thwaite, Isobel and Hussain, Aariyana (2024). Children in out-of-home care's right to family and cultural connection: Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous Australian children's perspectives. Child Abuse and Neglect, 162 107009, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.107009
2024
Journal Article
Approaches to supporting young people in out-of-home care who ‘self-place’ in unapproved locations: Perspectives of statutory child protection practitioners
Venables, Jemma, Warrell, Chloe, Cullin, Joel, Ellem, Kathy and Healy, Karen (2024). Approaches to supporting young people in out-of-home care who ‘self-place’ in unapproved locations: Perspectives of statutory child protection practitioners. The British Journal of Social Work, 55 (1), 141-160. doi: 10.1093/bjsw/bcae131
2024
Conference Publication
Carers and stakeholders' perspectives: facilitators and barriers to cultural connection
Thompson, Kate, Healy, Karen and Venables, Jemma (2024). Carers and stakeholders' perspectives: facilitators and barriers to cultural connection. AIFS 24 Conference, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 11-14 June 2024.
2024
Conference Publication
Voices of children in out-of-home: their experiences of family and cultural connection
Venables, Jemma, Povey, Jenny, Kolesnikova, Iryna, Thompson, Kate, Boman, Madonna, Healy, Karen and Baxter, Janeen (2024). Voices of children in out-of-home: their experiences of family and cultural connection. Australian Institute of Family Studies, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 11-14 June 2024.
2024
Journal Article
The emotional terrain of foster and kinship carers’ relationships with parents of children in care: carers’ perspectives
Healy, Karen, Venables, Jemma, Povey, Jenny, Baxter, Janeen, Scull, Sue, Thompson, Kate and Boman, Madonna (2024). The emotional terrain of foster and kinship carers’ relationships with parents of children in care: carers’ perspectives. Children and Youth Services Review, 161 107672. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107672
2024
Conference Publication
Upholding the rights and meeting the needs of young people in out-of-home care who ‘self-place’: The role of the non-government sector
Venables, Jemma, Ellem, Kathy, Healy, Karen and Cullin, Joel (2024). Upholding the rights and meeting the needs of young people in out-of-home care who ‘self-place’: The role of the non-government sector. Social Work and Social Development Conference, Panama and Online, 4-7 April 2024.
2024
Other Outputs
Home and healthy evaluation final report
Petersen, Maree, Venables, Jemma, Healy, Karen and Nathanson, Caitlin (2024). Home and healthy evaluation final report. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2024
Conference Publication
Working together to support young people in out-of-home care who leave approved placements: the experience of practitioners
Venables, Jemma, Ellem, Kathy, Healy, Karen, Warrell, Chloe and Cullin, Joel (2024). Working together to support young people in out-of-home care who leave approved placements: the experience of practitioners. International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, Uppsala, Sweden, 18-21 August 2024.
2024
Journal Article
Stability in statutory kinship care: a grounded theory study of placement stability in Australia
Clarke, Annaley, Healy, Karen, Lynch, Debby and Featherstone, Gerald (2024). Stability in statutory kinship care: a grounded theory study of placement stability in Australia. Children and Youth Services Review, 156 107289, 107289. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.107289
2024
Conference Publication
Young people’s experiences of voice and choice in decisions about their lives when self-placing: an under-explored transition from out-of-home care
Venables, Jemma, Cullin, Joel, Ellem, Kathy and Healy, Karen (2024). Young people’s experiences of voice and choice in decisions about their lives when self-placing: an under-explored transition from out-of-home care. Journal of Youth Studies Conference, Belfast, United Kingdom, 3-5 September 2024.
2024
Book Chapter
THEORETICAL AND VALUE BASE OF RESEARCH IN CHILD AND FAMILY SOCIAL WORK: Three Epistemological Approaches
Healy, Karen (2024). THEORETICAL AND VALUE BASE OF RESEARCH IN CHILD AND FAMILY SOCIAL WORK: Three Epistemological Approaches. The Routledge Handbook of Child and Family Social Work Research: Knowledge-Building, Application, and Impact. (pp. 27-39) Taylor and Francis. doi: 10.4324/9781003241492-3
2023
Journal Article
Navigating the Australian child protection system: the importance of formal and informal support for carers to effectively provide care to children in out‐of‐home care
Venables, Jemma, Povey, Jenny, Boman, Madonna, Healy, Karen, Baxter, Janeen, Austerberry, Sophie and Thompson, Kate (2023). Navigating the Australian child protection system: the importance of formal and informal support for carers to effectively provide care to children in out‐of‐home care. Child and Family Social Work, 30 (2), 237-250. doi: 10.1111/cfs.13106
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Karen Healy is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Hepatitis C Nurse Practitioner led integrated model of care: An innovative response to a chronic health concern
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Cameron Parsell
-
Master Philosophy
Decision-making in an Adults Emergency Department regarding child protection concerns
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Peer parent and family advocacy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families within the child protection system
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tracey Bunda, Dr Jemma Venables
-
Doctor Philosophy
Assessment Models for Differential Diagnosis in Child Development: Understanding Neurodevelopment in the Context of Childhood Trauma
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Robyne Le Brocque
-
Doctor Philosophy
A Qualitative Exploration of Child Development Clinical Practice: Conceptualising and Integrating Psychosocial Perspectives Within Assessments of Developmental and Behavioural Functioning in Children
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Carmel Fleming, Dr Robyne Le Brocque
-
Doctor Philosophy
Carer and Key Stakeholder Perspectives on Cultural Identity and Connection for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children in Out-of-Home Care
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jemma Venables
-
Doctor Philosophy
The role of leaders in mitigating and responding to psychological injury risks in socio-legal services.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jemma Venables, Dr Dorothee Hölscher
-
Doctor Philosophy
A Trauma-Informed Clinical Approach to Supporting Peer-Parents and Family Advocates in the Child Protection System.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Gabrielle Campbell
-
Doctor Philosophy
Decision-making in an Adults Emergency Department regarding protection concerns.
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Enhancing Children's Journey in Out-of-Home Care:A Multi-perspective Study (a focus on kinship care among Indigenous families)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jemma Venables
-
Doctor Philosophy
Carer and Key Stakeholder Perspectives on Cultural Identity and Connection for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children in Out-of-Home Care
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jemma Venables
-
Doctor Philosophy
The impact of out-of-home care on children's social-emotional wellbeing: A life course approach
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Janeen Baxter, Dr Maca San Martin Porter, Associate Professor Jenny Povey
-
Doctor Philosophy
The impact of out-of-home care on children's social-emotional wellbeing: A life course approach
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Janeen Baxter, Dr Maca San Martin Porter, Associate Professor Jenny Povey
Completed supervision
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Carer and Key Stakeholder Perspectives on Cultural Identity and Connection for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children in Out-of-Home Care
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jemma Venables
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Stability in Statutory Kinship Care : A Constructivist Grounded Theory Study of Placement Stability.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Debby Lynch
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Good Work, Decent Wages - A case study of the 2009 Pay Equity Campaign in Queensland's community services sector
Principal Advisor
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Sense of Coherence in Late Adolescence Following Involvement as a Child in Decision-Making During Parental Separation
Principal Advisor
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Valuing complex and diverse career pathways: The career trajectories and career-related choices of early career practitioners
Principal Advisor
-
2016
Master Philosophy
Life satisfaction in young immigrants and Australian young people: Change with socioeconomic status and time.
Principal Advisor
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
A study of non-government child welfare services in Taiwan focused on children in need of child welfare service intervention
Principal Advisor
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Collaborative practice in statutory child protection practice: Parental agreements and procedural justice
Principal Advisor
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Willing But Not Able? The experiences of mothers with intellectual disabilities in relation to the Queensland child protection system
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paul Henman
-
-
2013
Master Philosophy
Finding a Voice: The Fee-for-Service Social Work Experience: Insights from Practitioners.
Principal Advisor
-
2013
Doctor Philosophy
`I wouldn't want my kids around him' : How men who use violence in their intimate relationships perceive themselves as fathers.
Principal Advisor
-
2010
Doctor Philosophy
A systems science analysis of the context/s of child protection reform in Queensland, Australia
Principal Advisor
-
2010
Doctor Philosophy
Unheard voices: A study of parent participation in statutory child protection policy processes in Queensland
Principal Advisor
-
2010
Doctor Philosophy
The Twisted Helix: a technology of "truth" A study of DNA paternity testing in child protection practice
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paul Henman
-
2007
Master Philosophy
Frontline Service Workers' conceptualisation of their Client's Anger and how it shapes their Practice
Principal Advisor
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Implementing and Evaluating Family Inclusive Practice in Adult Eating Disorders
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Robyne Le Brocque
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
It's Never Too Late. Older Women and Sexual Violence: The Search for Therapeutic Solutions
Associate Advisor
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Redress for the Forgotten Australians. Assessing the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Care.
Joint Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Brian Head
-
2012
Doctor Philosophy
Parent and Staff Perceptions of Bereavement Support Surrounding Loss of a Child
Associate Advisor
-
2012
Doctor Philosophy
Building Knowledge for Policy and Practice in Out-of-Home Care: Exploring the Boundaries of Systematic Mapping
Associate Advisor
-
2011
Doctor Philosophy
Attachment Theory and Family System Theory: Conceptualisation of the Relationship Between These Theories and An Application to Permanency Planning
Associate Advisor
-
2009
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the emergence, diffusion and continuance of intercountry adoption from South Korea to Queensland, Australia
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Karen Healy directly for media enquiries about:
- Child abuse
- Child protection systems - national and international practice
- Child protection work
- Education - social work
- Professional identity
- Social welfare organisations
- Social work
- Social work education
- Teaching social work
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