Professor Karen Healy
Professor

Karen Healy

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 52507

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

Human Society Policy and administration Social work

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).

Search Professor Karen Healy’s works on UQ eSpace

123 works between 1995 and 2025
All (123) Journal Article (68) Book Chapter (21) Conference Publication (13) Book (13) Other Outputs (8)

1 - 20 of 123 works

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.

Queensland child and youth policy priorities: final research report

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.

‘Every child, every woman: healthy and safe start’ program evaluation final report

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

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

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

The social and emotional wellbeing of children in out-of-home care: a scoping review exploring structural and social factors

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, 1-14. doi: 10.1080/13691457.2024.2408429

Diminishing their voice through choice? How ‘self-placing’ in out-of-home care affects children and young people’s participation in decision-making

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

Understanding the wellbeing needs of First Nations children in out-of-home care in Australia: a comprehensive literature review

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

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

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

Approaches to Supporting Young People in Out-of-Home Care Who ‘Self-Place’ in Unapproved Locations: Perspectives of Statutory Child Protection Practitioners

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.

Carers and stakeholders' perspectives: facilitators and barriers to cultural connection

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.

Voices of children in out-of-home: their experiences of family and cultural connection

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

The emotional terrain of foster and kinship carers’ relationships with parents of children in care: carers’ perspectives

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.

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

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.

Home and healthy evaluation final report

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.

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

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

THEORETICAL AND VALUE BASE OF RESEARCH IN CHILD AND FAMILY SOCIAL WORK: Three Epistemological Approaches

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.

Working together to support young people in out-of-home care who leave approved placements: the experience of practitioners

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

Stability in statutory kinship care: a grounded theory study of placement stability in Australia

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. doi: 10.1111/cfs.13106

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

2023

Journal Article

Looked after children's right to contact with birth parents: an Australian study

Healy, Karen, Walsh, Tamara, Venables, Jemma and Thompson, Kate (2023). Looked after children's right to contact with birth parents: an Australian study. Child and Family Social Work, 28 (3), 659-668. doi: 10.1111/cfs.12992

Looked after children's right to contact with birth parents: an Australian study

2023

Journal Article

Supporting birth parents’ relationships with children following removal: a scoping review

Healy, Karen, Venables, Jemma and Walsh, Tamara (2023). Supporting birth parents’ relationships with children following removal: a scoping review. Children and Youth Services Review, 149 106961, 106961. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.106961

Supporting birth parents’ relationships with children following removal: a scoping review

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2028
    Empowering peer-parent and family advocacy in Australian child protection
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2027
    Enhancing outcomes for young people in out-of-home care who self-place
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2028
    Supporting Healthy Lifestyle Choices to Promote Mental Health & Wellbeing of Indigenous Youth Aging-Out-of-Care in Urban Settings
    NHMRC-Canadian Institutes of Health Research Healthy Cities Implementation Science Team Grants
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2025
    Enhancing Children's Journey in Out-of-Home Care: A Multi-perspective Study
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2024 - 2025
    Child and Youth Policy Priorities
    Queensland Council of Social Services
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2024
    Evaluation of Home and Healthy
    Micah Projects Inc
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Enhancing outcomes for young people in out-of-home care who 'self-place': optimising practice and policy responses
    UQ Knowledge Exchange & Translation Fund
    Open grant
  • 2020
    Defining Red Flags
    Queensland Family and Child Commission
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2020
    Establishing a longitudinal study of health and social care for young families in the Caboolture region
    Micah Projects Inc
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Intensive Family Support (IFS) Implementation and Impact Evaluation
    Parenting Research Centre Inc
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2020
    Behind a moral shield: Responses to trust breaches in mission-based groups
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Trust breaches in the not-for-profit sector: Causes, consequences and solutions
    UQ Collaboration and Industry Engagement Fund - Seed Research Grant
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2014
    Analysis of Child Protection Operating Model
    KPMG
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    A Study of Best Practice in Intervention with Parental Agreement: Creating Change with Families in Statutory Child Protection Services
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2013
    A study of best practice in workplace support and development of newly qualified community services workers
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2008
    Developing an integrated national curriculum for the education of the social work and human services workforce
    Carrick Discipline Studies
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2009
    Participatory Decision Making and Policy Production in Child Welfare
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2008
    Families on the Fringe: Promoting the Social Inclusion of Young Families who have Relocated to Non-Metropolitan Areas
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2005
    Citizen Engagement in Decision-Making and Policy Development in Child and Family Welfare
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2005
    Enhancing volunteer capacity to maximise the volunteer resources for contextually diverse community organisations
    Australian Catholic University
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2005
    Practical Policy Responses to the Social Relocation of Young Families with High Needs to the Coastal and Regional Areas of Qld and NSW
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2005
    Enhancing services to Australian children and families: linking workforce characteristics, job quality, and quality and outcomes in social services
    University of Sydney
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Karen Healy is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • 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

  • Master Philosophy

    Decision-making in an Adults Emergency Department regarding child protection concerns

    Principal Advisor

  • 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

  • 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

    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

    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

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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