Metadata
Title
Martin O'Flaherty
Category
general
UUID
cfad701d839e4e33852af2d42e65fc77
Source URL
https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/17886
Parent URL
https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/934
Crawl Time
2026-03-11T07:06:55+00:00
Rendered Raw Markdown 
# Martin O'Flaherty

**Source**: https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/17886
**Parent**: https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/934

Dr

# Martin O'Flaherty

Email:
:   [m.oflaherty@uq.edu.au](mailto:m.oflaherty@uq.edu.au)

## Positions

Affiliate of ARC COE for Children and Families Over the Lifecourse
:   ARC COE for Children and Families Over the Lifecourse
:   Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

Research Fellow
:   School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences
:   Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences

## Overview

### Background

Dr Martin O’Flahertyis a research fellow in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course located in the Institute for Social Science Research. Martin has made important contributions to the evaluation of nationally significant social policy, often working with the Department of Social Services. Notable highlights include designing the impact evaluation for the $90 million Try, Test, and Learn Fund and leading the evaluation of the Building Capacity in Australia’s Parents trial and the National Community Awareness Raising initiative. He is the quantitative lead for recently announced Community Refugee Integration and Sponsorship Pilot, funded by the Department of Home Affairs, which is investigating the feasibility of alternative settlement pathways for unlinked humanitarian migrants.

Martin’s broader research centres on the intersection of family, health, and disadvantage over the life course, using advanced quantitative methods to unlock causal and longitudinal perspectives on important social problems. Recent work has investigated patterns and determinants of children’s and adolescents’ time-use, including for adolescents with disability and LGBTQ adolescents. He has also led research using state-of-the-art machine learning methodology to study heterogeneous effects of teenage motherhood on later life mental health. Martin’s current research is primarily focussed on understanding the nature, causes of, and solutions to, poverty and financial insecurity among children with disabilities and their families. His work has appeared in leading international journals including *Demography*, *Child Development*, and *The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health* among others.

Read more
Read less

### Availability

Dr Martin O'Flaherty is:
:   Available for supervision

### Fields of research

[Applied and developmental psychology](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/search?research-field=4835)
[Applied sociology, program evaluation and social impact assessment](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/search?research-field=6172)
[Child and adolescent development](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/search?research-field=5794)
[Demography](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/search?research-field=4843)
[Epidemiology](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/search?research-field=4897)
[Family and household studies](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/search?research-field=5621)
[Health Sciences](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/search?research-field=4759)
[Human Society](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/search?research-field=4755)
[Policy and administration](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/search?research-field=4832)
[Psychology](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/search?research-field=4754)
[Social epidemiology](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/search?research-field=6189)
[Social policy](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/search?research-field=6937)
[Social work](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/search?research-field=4981)
[Sociological methodology and research methods](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/search?research-field=6614)
[Sociology](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/search?research-field=4861)
[Sociology of family and relationships](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/search?research-field=5812)
[Sociology of health](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/search?research-field=5819)
[Sociology of inequalities](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/search?research-field=5019)
[Sociology of the life course](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/search?research-field=6635)

### Qualifications

- Bachelor (Honours) of Arts, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

## Works

[Search Professor Martin O'Flaherty’s works on UQ eSpace](http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/list/author_id/7535)

[All
(82)](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts-publication/17886/all)
[Book
(1)](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts-publication/17886/4747)
[Journal Article
(42)](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts-publication/17886/4748)
[Other Outputs
(24)](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts-publication/17886/4749)
[Conference Publication
(15)](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts-publication/17886/4751)

2026

Journal Article

##### Examining health behaviour profiles among children with autism and ADHD using latent profile analysis

Bourke, Matthew, O'Flaherty, Martin, Fortnum, Kathryn, Thomas, George and Walker, Jacqueline L. (2026). Examining health behaviour profiles among children with autism and ADHD using latent profile analysis. Research in Autism, 130 202751, 202751. doi: 10.1016/j.reia.2025.202751

[Examining health behaviour profiles among children with autism and ADHD using latent profile analysis](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:d2e5cf2)

2025

Other Outputs

##### Administrative capital and the reproduction of inequality: Understanding unequal access to support for children with disabilities in Australia

O'Flaherty, Martin, Hill, Jessica and Smith-Merry, Jennifer (2025). Administrative capital and the reproduction of inequality: Understanding unequal access to support for children with disabilities in Australia. LCC Working Paper Series. 2025-24. Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland Australia. doi: 10.14264/f244954

[Administrative capital and the reproduction of inequality: Understanding unequal access to support for children with disabilities in Australia](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:f244954)

2025

Other Outputs

##### Child autism and parental income trajectories: a nationwide longitudinal study from New Zealand

O'Flaherty, Martin, Underwood, Lisa, Dacombe, Joanne and Bowden, Nick (2025). Child autism and parental income trajectories: a nationwide longitudinal study from New Zealand. LCC Working Paper Series. 2025-25. Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland Australia. doi: 10.14264/acad889

[Child autism and parental income trajectories: a nationwide longitudinal study from New Zealand](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:acad889)

2025

Journal Article

##### The utility of the MABC-2 for measuring motor impairment in children with ADHD: Examining measurement invariance in children with and without symptoms of ADHD

Bourke, M., Kwan, M.Y., Fortnum, K., O'Flaherty, M., King-Dowling, S. and Cairney, J. (2025). The utility of the MABC-2 for measuring motor impairment in children with ADHD: Examining measurement invariance in children with and without symptoms of ADHD. Human Movement Science, 103 103389, 103389-103. doi: 10.1016/j.humov.2025.103389

[The utility of the MABC-2 for measuring motor impairment in children with ADHD: Examining measurement invariance in children with and without symptoms of ADHD](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:9fc356f)

2025

Other Outputs

##### Vertical and horizontal equity in support for children with disabilities: a cross-sectional analysis of Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme

O'Flaherty, Martin, Hill, Jessica and Smith-Merry, Jennifer (2025). Vertical and horizontal equity in support for children with disabilities: a cross-sectional analysis of Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme. LCC Working Paper Series. 2025-23. Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/1401ed6

[Vertical and horizontal equity in support for children with disabilities: a cross-sectional analysis of Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:1401ed6)

2025

Journal Article

##### Associations between screen time, sleep quality, diet quality and food selectivity among school-aged autistic children

Wang, Hiu Fei Wendy, Smith, Simon S., O’Flaherty, Martin, Trost, Stewart G., Thomas, George, Walker, Jacqueline L., Fortnum, Kathryn, McNaughton, Sarah, Cairney, John and Bourke, Matthew (2025). Associations between screen time, sleep quality, diet quality and food selectivity among school-aged autistic children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 1-14. doi: 10.1007/s10803-025-07064-8

[Associations between screen time, sleep quality, diet quality and food selectivity among school-aged autistic children](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:5ce3d22)

2025

Journal Article

##### Bone health in autistic children: evidence from a population-representative Australian Cohort Study

O'Flaherty, Martin, Gomersall, Sjaan, Hill, Jessica, Fortnum, Kathryn, Bourke, Matthew, Cairney, John, Munns, Craig, Simm, Peter and Erlandson, Marta (2025). Bone health in autistic children: evidence from a population-representative Australian Cohort Study. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. doi: 10.1007/s10803-025-07051-z

[Bone health in autistic children: evidence from a population-representative Australian Cohort Study](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:a33efdb)

2025

Journal Article

##### Understanding Inequality Within a Personalised System of Disability Support: Australian Children With Disabilities' Unmet Support Needs

O'Flaherty, Martin, Hill, Jessica and Smith‐Merry, Jennifer (2025). Understanding Inequality Within a Personalised System of Disability Support: Australian Children With Disabilities' Unmet Support Needs. Australian Journal of Social Issues ajs4.70062. doi: 10.1002/ajs4.70062

[Understanding Inequality Within a Personalised System of Disability Support: Australian Children With Disabilities' Unmet Support Needs](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:cd1a0c1)

2025

Journal Article

##### Exploring the Effectiveness of Community-Based, Intensive Transdisciplinary Early Intervention for Autistic Children in Australia: An Observational Study of 577 Children

Mead, Jessica, Lee, Tae-Jun, O’Flaherty, Martin, Judd, Courtney, Kliese, Jaime-Lee and Bullot, Ashleigh (2025). Exploring the Effectiveness of Community-Based, Intensive Transdisciplinary Early Intervention for Autistic Children in Australia: An Observational Study of 577 Children. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education 02711214251358817. doi: 10.1177/02711214251358817

[Exploring the Effectiveness of Community-Based, Intensive Transdisciplinary Early Intervention for Autistic Children in Australia: An Observational Study of 577 Children](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:badf052)

2025

Journal Article

##### Association between 24-h movement behaviors and mental health in children and adolescents: a systematic review and compositional data meta-analysis

Bourke, Matthew, Wang, Hiu Fei Wendy, Fortnum, Kathryn, Thomas, George, O'Flaherty, Martin, Mulcahy, Samantha K., Gomersall, Sjaan R., Alsop, Tahlia, Trost, Stewart G., Bruijns, Brianne A., Phillips, Sophie M., Vanderloo, Leigh, Tucker, Patricia, Hesketh, Kylie D., Kwan, Matthew Y. W. and Cairney, John (2025). Association between 24-h movement behaviors and mental health in children and adolescents: a systematic review and compositional data meta-analysis. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 35 (8) e70120, e70120-8. doi: 10.1111/sms.70120

[Association between 24-h movement behaviors and mental health in children and adolescents: a systematic review and compositional data meta-analysis](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:b2b39b6)

2025

Journal Article

##### Comparing trajectories of sport participation for autistic- and non-autistic-youth: a group-based multi-trajectory modelling approach

O’Flaherty, Martin, Hill, Jessica, Bourke, Matthew, Gomersall, Sjaan, Tweedy, Sean and Cairney, John (2025). Comparing trajectories of sport participation for autistic- and non-autistic-youth: a group-based multi-trajectory modelling approach. Autism, 29 (10) 13623613251345345, 13623613251345345-2587. doi: 10.1177/13623613251345345

[Comparing trajectories of sport participation for autistic- and non-autistic-youth: a group-based multi-trajectory modelling approach](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:c047880)

2025

Journal Article

##### Comorbid developmental coordination disorder and ADHD: the effects on emotional and behavioural problems in young children

Fortnum, Kathryn, Bourke, Matthew, Kwan, Matthew, O’Flaherty, Martin, Dowling, Sara King and Cairney, John (2025). Comorbid developmental coordination disorder and ADHD: the effects on emotional and behavioural problems in young children. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 1-10. doi: 10.1007/s10578-025-01858-8

[Comorbid developmental coordination disorder and ADHD: the effects on emotional and behavioural problems in young children](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:ad40f4f)

2025

Journal Article

##### Unpacking the relationship between autism, sport participation, and adolescent health: a causal mediation analysis

O'Flaherty, Martin, Hill, Jessica, Bourke, Matthew, Fortnum, Kathryn, Thomas, George, Gomersall, Sjaan R. and Cairney, John (2025). Unpacking the relationship between autism, sport participation, and adolescent health: a causal mediation analysis. Disability and Health Journal, 18 (3) 101832, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2025.101832

[Unpacking the relationship between autism, sport participation, and adolescent health: a causal mediation analysis](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:aa4f200)

2025

Journal Article

##### Association between 24-hour movement behaviors and adiposity in children and adolescents: A compositional data meta-analysis

Bourke, Matthew, Harrison, Zoe, Fortnum, Kathryn, Thomas, George, O'Flaherty, Martin, Mulcahy, Samantha K., Gomersall, Sjaan R., Alsop, Tahlia, Trost, Stewart G., Koplin, Jennifer J., Bruijns, Brianne A., Phillips, Sophie M., Vanderloo, Leigh M., Tucker, Patricia, Hesketh, Kylie D., Kwan, Matthew Y. W. and Cairney, John (2025). Association between 24-hour movement behaviors and adiposity in children and adolescents: A compositional data meta-analysis. Obesity Reviews, 26 (5) e13884, e13884. doi: 10.1111/obr.13884

[Association between 24-hour movement behaviors and adiposity in children and adolescents: A compositional data meta-analysis](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:1b89df8)

2025

Journal Article

##### Equity effect of a community-based primary healthcare program on the incidence of childhood morbidity in rural Northern Ghana

Kanmiki, Edmund Wedam, Mamun, Abdullah A., Phillips, James F. and O’Flaherty, Martin (2025). Equity effect of a community-based primary healthcare program on the incidence of childhood morbidity in rural Northern Ghana. Primary Health Care Research & Development, 26 e23, e23-26. doi: 10.1017/s1463423625000106

[Equity effect of a community-based primary healthcare program on the incidence of childhood morbidity in rural Northern Ghana](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:8f057a3)

2024

Other Outputs

##### Australian children with disabilities’ unmet support needs: Evidence from the Better Support for Kids with Disabilities survey

O'Flaherty, Martin, Hill, Jessica and Smith-Merry, Jennifer (2024). Australian children with disabilities’ unmet support needs: Evidence from the Better Support for Kids with Disabilities survey. LCC Working Paper Series. 2024-37. Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland Australia. doi: 10.14264/db88eeb

[Australian children with disabilities’ unmet support needs: Evidence from the Better Support for Kids with Disabilities survey](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:db88eeb)

2024

Conference Publication

##### Meta-analysis of association between 24-hour movement behaviours and social-emotional and cognitive outcomes in youth

Bourke, Matthew, Thomas, George, Fortnum, Kathryn, O'Flaherty, Martin and Gomersall, Sjaan (2024). Meta-analysis of association between 24-hour movement behaviours and social-emotional and cognitive outcomes in youth. International Society for Physical Activity and Health, Paris, France, 28-31 October 2024.

[Meta-analysis of association between 24-hour movement behaviours and social-emotional and cognitive outcomes in youth](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:df02586)

2024

Journal Article

##### Coming of age on the margins: a life course perspective on the time use of Australian adolescents with disabilities

O’Flaherty, Martin, King, Tania and Kavanagh, Anne (2024). Coming of age on the margins: a life course perspective on the time use of Australian adolescents with disabilities. Social Forces, 102 (4) soad127, 1608-1628. doi: 10.1093/sf/soad127

[Coming of age on the margins: a life course perspective on the time use of Australian adolescents with disabilities](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:ef7a258)

2024

Other Outputs

##### Heterogeneous effects of stroke and traumatic brain injury on spouses’ income and employment: evidence from New Zealand

O'Flaherty, Martin, Huang, Yanshu, Underwood, Lisa, Bowden, Nick, Lam, Jack, Baxter, Janeen and Milne, Barry (2024). Heterogeneous effects of stroke and traumatic brain injury on spouses’ income and employment: evidence from New Zealand. LCC Working Paper Series. 2024-15. Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland Australia. doi: 10.14264/bfc1285

[Heterogeneous effects of stroke and traumatic brain injury on spouses’ income and employment: evidence from New Zealand](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:bfc1285)

2023

Journal Article

##### Impact of a community-based primary healthcare programme on childhood diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DPT3) immunisation coverage in rural northern Ghana

Kanmiki, Edmund Wedam, Mamun, Abdullah A., Phillips, James F. and O’Flaherty, Martin (2023). Impact of a community-based primary healthcare programme on childhood diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DPT3) immunisation coverage in rural northern Ghana. Research in Health Services & Regions, 2 (1) 18, 1-10. doi: 10.1007/s43999-023-00032-8

[Impact of a community-based primary healthcare programme on childhood diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DPT3) immunisation coverage in rural northern Ghana](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:4c2bdf0)

## Funding

### Current funding

- 2025 - 2026

  Digitalisation of the Support Needs Assessment Tool Sports and Exercise

  Beyond Sports Foundation

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/66848)
- 2022 - 2026

  FamilyLinQ Evaluation Framework and Plan

  Queensland Department of Education

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/54005)

### Past funding

- 2022 - 2025

  Evaluation of the Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot (CRISP)

  Australian Government Department of Home Affairs

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/55034)
- 2021 - 2022

  Life-course impact of chronic health conditions on partners and carers (NZ Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment grant led by University of Auckland)

  University of Auckland

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/49847)
- 2018 - 2021

  Evaluation of the Try, Test and Learn Fund

  Commonwealth Department of Social Services

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/34693)
- 2018 - 2020

  Evaluation of the Building Capacity in Australian Parents (BCAP) trial and the National Community Awareness Raising (NCAR) strategy

  Commonwealth Department of Social Services

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/33755)
- 2017 - 2018

  Design of an Evaluation Framework for IUIH Family Wellbeing Services

  Institute for Urban Indigenous Health

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/33332)
- 2013

  Flexible Social Analysis Platforms

  UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/15676)
- 2013

  Vulnerable families in Australia: What we know and what we need to know

  UWA-UQ Bilateral Research Collaboration Award

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/15377)

View all 7 past funded projects
View less

## Supervision

### Availability

Dr Martin O'Flaherty is:
:   Available for supervision

Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on [how to choose a supervisor](https://study.uq.edu.au/study-options/phd-mphil-professional-doctorate/how-to-choose-a-supervisor).

### Supervision history

#### Current supervision

- Doctor Philosophy

  ##### The effects of children's behaviour problems on parental mental health and health behaviours in Australia

  Principal Advisor

  Other advisors:
  [Professor Abdullah Mamun](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/1318)
- Doctor Philosophy

  ##### Advancing knowledge in the measurement of movement behaviors in children with neurodevelopmental challenges

  Associate Advisor

  Other advisors:
  [Professor Stewart Trost](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/934), [Dr Jessica Hill](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/29928), [Associate Professor Sjaan Gomersall](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/7683)

#### Completed supervision

- 2024

  Doctor Philosophy

  ##### [Multigenerational Health Inequality in Australia: The Influence of Grandparental Socio-economic Status on Grandchild Health Outcomes](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:813802c)

  Principal Advisor

  Other advisors:
  [Professor Janeen Baxter](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/910)
- 2024

  Doctor Philosophy

  ##### [The Effect of a Community-Based Primary Healthcare Programme on Equity in Health and Access to Maternal and Child Health Services in Ghana](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:e7e3cd9)

  Principal Advisor

  Other advisors:
  [Professor Abdullah Mamun](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/1318)
- 2022

  Doctor Philosophy

  ##### [Adolescent Motherhood in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Trends, Determinants, and Child Health Outcomes](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:d17e61e)

  Associate Advisor

  Other advisors:
  [Professor Abdullah Mamun](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/1318)

## Media

### Enquiries

For media enquiries about Dr Martin O'Flaherty's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team:

[communications@uq.edu.au](mailto:communications@uq.edu.au)

## External profiles

- [ORCID](https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0788-2598)

## Personal links

- [Personal profile](https://issr.uq.edu.au/profile/839/martin-oflaherty)

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