Professor Karen Healy
Professor

Karen Healy

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 51847

Background

My research focuses on the protection and wellbeing of children, young people and their families. I use research co-design methods to collaborate with people, communities, and agencies to build family and community inclusive responses to human and health needs.

My research fields are: child protection, out-of-home care, health equity and social inclusion.

My research themes are:

a) peer-parent and family advocacy in child protection, mental health and other health services.

b) promoting the social, emotional and cultural wellbeing of children, young people and families involved with child protection and out-of-home care services.

c) health equity and evidence-based approaches to family support in child protection, mental and other health services.

d) interprofessional health care to improve service access and equity with vulnerable populations.

In 2016, I was appointed a member of the Order of Australia (AM) for my contribution to social work in child protection, higher education and research. In September 2018, I was appointed Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

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

I have led more than 25 applied research projects primarily in child and family welfare and in integrated health and community care with vulnerable and disadvantaged families.

These initiatives have contributed to improvements in parents and children's participation in child protection decision-making in policy and in practice. I currently lead an ARC Linkage project with four co-investigators and 8 industry partners, to understand and enhance the social and emotional well-being of children in Out of Home Care. I have supervised 31 Research Higher Degree students to completion of their projects.

I am Head of School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work. Prior to my appointment as Head of School in January 2023, I was Head of Discipline for Social Work and Counselling programs at The University of Queensland and member of the Australian Council of Heads of Schools of Social Work. As Head of Discipline, I have led the innovations in the use of practice and policy simulations to improve student preparation for practice at foundational and advanced levels.

I continue to hold senior advisory positions in industry and in my professional community. I am also: Community Services Commissioner and Chair of Clinical Care and Governance for Anglicare Southern Queensland; and research advisor to Micah Projects, an innovative community services agency aimed at building social inclusion. In my partnerships with Micah, I am pleased to have contributed to major social health initiatives, particularly the establishment of Young Mothers for Young Women (an integrated midwifery, family and peer support program), and to have supported parents to work with the Child Safety Minister and Agency to develop a Parents' Rights Charter, founded on Human Rights Principles.

My 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

109 works between 1995 and 2024
All (109) Journal Article (63) Book Chapter (20) Conference Publication (8) Book (13) Other Outputs (5)

81 - 100 of 109 works

2007

Book

Writing Skills for Social Workers

Healy, Karen and Mulholland, Joan (2007). Writing Skills for Social Workers. London, UK: Sage Publications Ltd.

Writing Skills for Social Workers

2007

Book

Creating better communities: A study of social capital creation in four communities

Healy, Karen, Hampshire, Anne, Ayres, Liz, Ellwood, Sophie and Mengede, Natalie (2007). Creating better communities: A study of social capital creation in four communities. Paddington, Australia: The Benevolent Society.

Creating better communities: A study of social capital creation in four communities

2006

Book Chapter

Asset based community development

Healy, K E (2006). Asset based community development. Working with Individuals, Communities, and Organisations. (pp. 247-258) edited by A. O'Hara and Z. Weber. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.

Asset based community development

2006

Book Chapter

Community education

Healy, K E (2006). Community education. Working with Individuals, Communities, and Organisations. (pp. 259-266) edited by A. O'Hara and Z. Weber. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.

Community education

2006

Other Outputs

Who cares? Volume 2: Employment structure and incomes in the Australian care workforce

Meagher, and Healy, K E (2006). Who cares? Volume 2: Employment structure and incomes in the Australian care workforce. Strawberry Hills, NSW: Australian Council of Social Service.

Who cares? Volume 2: Employment structure and incomes in the Australian care workforce

2005

Other Outputs

Who Cares? Volume 1: A Profile of Care Workers in Australia's Community Services Industries

Meagher, and Healy, K. E. (2005). Who Cares? Volume 1: A Profile of Care Workers in Australia's Community Services Industries. Strawberry Hills, NSW: Australian Council of Social Service.

Who Cares? Volume 1: A Profile of Care Workers in Australia's Community Services Industries

2005

Book Chapter

Working with young people

Healy, K. E., O'Regan, M. and Tansky, M. (2005). Working with young people. Social Work: Fields of Practice. (pp. 95-104) edited by M. Alston and J. Mckinnon. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Working with young people

2005

Book Chapter

Under Reconstruction: Renewing Critical Social Work Practices

Ife, J., Healy, K. E., Spratt, T. and Solomon, B. (2005). Under Reconstruction: Renewing Critical Social Work Practices. Social Work: A Critical Turn. (pp. 219-230) edited by S. Hick, J. Fook and R. Pozzuto. Toronto, Canada: Thompson Educational Publishing.

Under Reconstruction: Renewing Critical Social Work Practices

2005

Book

Social Work Theories in Context: Creating Frameworks for Practice

Healy, K. E. (2005). Social Work Theories in Context: Creating Frameworks for Practice. Basingstoke, England: Palgrave.

Social Work Theories in Context: Creating Frameworks for Practice

2004

Journal Article

Beyond the local: Extending the social capital discourse

Healy K., Hampshire A. and Ayres L. (2004). Beyond the local: Extending the social capital discourse. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 39 (3), 329-342. doi: 10.1002/j.1839-4655.2004.tb01180.x

Beyond the local: Extending the social capital discourse

2004

Book Chapter

The Reprofessionalization of Social Work: Collaborative Approaches for Achieving Professional Recognition

Healy, K. E. and Meagher, G. (2004). The Reprofessionalization of Social Work: Collaborative Approaches for Achieving Professional Recognition. Social Work in a Corporate Era. (pp. 91-107) edited by Linda Davies and Peter Leonard. UK: Ashgate Publishing Ltd.

The Reprofessionalization of Social Work: Collaborative Approaches for Achieving Professional Recognition

2004

Book Chapter

The reprofessionalization of social work: collaborative approaches for achieving professional recognition

Healy, Karen and Meagher, Gabrielle (2004). The reprofessionalization of social work: collaborative approaches for achieving professional recognition. Social work in a corporate era: practices of power and resistance. (pp. 76-90) edited by Peter Leonard and Linda Davies. London, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315242835-7

The reprofessionalization of social work: collaborative approaches for achieving professional recognition

2004

Journal Article

Social Workers in the new human service marketplace: Trends, challenges and responses

Healy, Karen (2004). Social Workers in the new human service marketplace: Trends, challenges and responses. Australian Social Work, 57 (2), 103-114. doi: 10.1111/j.1447-0748.2004.00125.x

Social Workers in the new human service marketplace: Trends, challenges and responses

2004

Journal Article

Child protection practice with families affected by parental substance use

Hcllgrimsdottir, Eric, Healy, Karen and Foulds, Henrietta (2004). Child protection practice with families affected by parental substance use. Children Australia, 29 (3), 11-15.

Child protection practice with families affected by parental substance use

2004

Conference Publication

Creating community capacity in urban and rural communities

Healy, K. (2004). Creating community capacity in urban and rural communities. ACOSS 2003 Congress. Piecing It Together: Equity, Empowerment and Change, Canberra, Australia, 13-14 November 2003. Strawberry Hills, NSW, Australia: Australian Council of Social Service.

Creating community capacity in urban and rural communities

2004

Journal Article

The Reprofessionalization of Social Work: Collaborative Approaches for Achieving Professional Recognition

Healy, Karen and Meagher, Gabrielle (2004). The Reprofessionalization of Social Work: Collaborative Approaches for Achieving Professional Recognition. The British journal of social work, 34 (2), 243-260. doi: 10.1093/bjsw/bch024

The Reprofessionalization of Social Work: Collaborative Approaches for Achieving Professional Recognition

2003

Journal Article

Caring, Controlling, Contracting and Counting: Governments and Non-profits in Community Services

Meagher, Gabrielle and Healy, Karen (2003). Caring, Controlling, Contracting and Counting: Governments and Non-profits in Community Services. Australian Journal of Public Administration, 62 (3), 40-51. doi: 10.1046/j.1467-8500.2003.t01-1-00336.x

Caring, Controlling, Contracting and Counting: Governments and Non-profits in Community Services

2003

Journal Article

Social enterprise: is it the business of social work?

Gray, Mel, Healy, Karen and Crofts, Penny (2003). Social enterprise: is it the business of social work?. Australian Social Work, 56 (2), 141-154. doi: 10.1046/j.0312-407X.2003.00060.x

Social enterprise: is it the business of social work?

2002

Journal Article

Social capital: a useful concept for social work?

Healy, K. and Hampshire, A. (2002). Social capital: a useful concept for social work?. Australian Social Work, 55 (3), 227-238. doi: 10.1046/j.0312-407X.2002.00031.x

Social capital: a useful concept for social work?

2002

Journal Article

Managing Human Services in a Market Environment: What Role for Social Workers?

Healy, Karen (2002). Managing Human Services in a Market Environment: What Role for Social Workers?. British Journal of Social Work, 32 (5), 527-540. doi: 10.1093/bjsw/32.5.527

Managing Human Services in a Market Environment: What Role for Social Workers?

Current funding

  • 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 - 2024
    Enhancing Children's Journey in Out-of-Home Care: A Multi-perspective Study
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 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

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Assessment Models for Differential Diagnosis in Child Development: Understanding Neurodevelopment in the Context of Childhood Trauma

    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

    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

  • 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

    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

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au