Overview
Background
Professor Karen Healy AM is Head of the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work at the University of Queensland. A leading social work academic, she is deeply committed to health equity, family inclusion, integrated care, and social justice. Her research examines and develops community-based responses to child and family welfare and to health and wellbeing across the life course with people experiencing adversity and disadvantage.
Karen has established and leads a program of research partnerships with government, non-government and lived-experience organisations, underpinning a collaborative program of work with strong policy and practice impact. She has led award-winning initiatives such as Young Mothers for Young Women, a midwifery–social work–peer support program for young parents. Working closely with Micah Projects, Karen leads a team conducting the first Australian practice trial of Family Connections, a family inclusive approach to keeping child safe and families together. She has also contributed to the development of integrated care models for people experiencing homelessness, combining physical, mental, and maternal health services. She is the author of several influential books on social work theory, methods and communication.
Professor Healy chairs Clinical Care and Governance for Anglicare Southern Queensland, which provides health and community services across the life course.
In 2016, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her contribution to social work in child protection, higher education, and research. In September 2018, she was appointed a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK).
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 interests
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Child Protection and Family Support
Evidence-informed and community based approaches to child safety. Led the first Australian trial of the Family Connections approach to children's safety and family wellbeing. Effective practice in engaging children and families and in family group decision-making.
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Family Inclusion
Recognising families' rights and capabilities as partners in their family members' well-being across the life course. Empowering parents and family members as partners in children's safety wellbeing. Supporting families as carers and advocates with family members experiencing adversity due to mental health, disability or ageing changes.
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Integrated primary health and social care
Enabling health and social care professionals to collaborate with families and communities facing adversity to improve health outcomes.
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
2007
Journal Article
Social Workers' preparation for child protection: Revisiting the question of specialisation
Healy, K. E. and Meagher, G. (2007). Social Workers' preparation for child protection: Revisiting the question of specialisation. Australian Social Work, 60 (3), 321-335. doi: 10.1080/03124070701519686
2007
Journal Article
Becoming an industry: The struggle of social and community workers for award coverage, 1976-2001
Briggs, C., Meagher, G. and Healy, K. E. (2007). Becoming an industry: The struggle of social and community workers for award coverage, 1976-2001. Journal of Industrial Relations, 49 (4), 497-521. doi: 10.1177/0022185607080319
2007
Journal Article
Gender, social capital and location: Understanding the interactions
Healy, Karen E., Haynes, Michele A. and Hampshire, Anne (2007). Gender, social capital and location: Understanding the interactions. International Journal of Social Welfare, 16 (2), 110-118. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2397.2006.00471.x
2007
Book
Writing Skills for Social Workers
Healy, Karen and Mulholland, Joan (2007). Writing Skills for Social Workers. London, UK: Sage Publications Ltd.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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
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
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Karen Healy is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Decision-making in an Adults Emergency Department regarding protection concerns.
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Hepatitis C and Homelessness: What Constitutes a Model of Care.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Cameron Parsell
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Doctor Philosophy
Peer parent and family advocacy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families within the child protection system
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Jemma Venables, Dr Krystal Lockwood
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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
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Doctor Philosophy
The role of leaders in mitigating and responding to psychological injury risks in socio-legal services.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Jemma Venables, Dr Dorothee Hölscher
Completed supervision
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2025
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
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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: Associate Professor Jemma Venables
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Stability in Statutory Kinship Care : A Constructivist Grounded Theory Study of Placement Stability.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Debby Lynch
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Good Work, Decent Wages - A case study of the 2009 Pay Equity Campaign in Queensland's community services sector
Principal Advisor
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Sense of Coherence in Late Adolescence Following Involvement as a Child in Decision-Making During Parental Separation
Principal Advisor
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Valuing complex and diverse career pathways: The career trajectories and career-related choices of early career practitioners
Principal Advisor
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2016
Master Philosophy
Life satisfaction in young immigrants and Australian young people: Change with socioeconomic status and time.
Principal Advisor
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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
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Collaborative practice in statutory child protection practice: Parental agreements and procedural justice
Principal Advisor
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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
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2013
Master Philosophy
Finding a Voice: The Fee-for-Service Social Work Experience: Insights from Practitioners.
Principal Advisor
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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
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
A systems science analysis of the context/s of child protection reform in Queensland, Australia
Principal Advisor
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
Unheard voices: A study of parent participation in statutory child protection policy processes in Queensland
Principal Advisor
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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
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2007
Master Philosophy
Frontline Service Workers' conceptualisation of their Client's Anger and how it shapes their Practice
Principal Advisor
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Socio-emotional wellbeing of children in out-of-home care: A life course approach
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Janeen Baxter, Dr Maca San Martin Porter, Associate Professor Jenny Povey
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Implementing and Evaluating Family Inclusive Practice in Adult Eating Disorders
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Robyne Le Brocque
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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
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
It's Never Too Late. Older Women and Sexual Violence: The Search for Therapeutic Solutions
Associate Advisor
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
Parent and Staff Perceptions of Bereavement Support Surrounding Loss of a Child
Associate Advisor
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
Building Knowledge for Policy and Practice in Out-of-Home Care: Exploring the Boundaries of Systematic Mapping
Associate Advisor
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2011
Doctor Philosophy
Attachment Theory and Family System Theory: Conceptualisation of the Relationship Between These Theories and An Application to Permanency Planning
Associate Advisor
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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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