Karen Healy
Source: https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/720 Parent: https://about.uq.edu.au/faculties-institutes/hmbs/about/leaders
Professor
Karen Healy
Email: : k.healy@uq.edu.au
Phone: : +61 7 336 52507
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
Head of School : Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences
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, and social justice. Her research centres on community-based integrated care for people facing adversity, with a particular focus on maternity, mental health, and housing insecurity.
Karen has led award-winning initiatives such as Young Mothers for Young Women, a midwifery-social work-peer support program for young parents. She has also contributed to 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, family inclusion, and health equity. Karen serves as Research Advisor to Micah Projects, a pioneering community and health service, and she chairs Clinical Care and Governance for Anglicare Southern Queensland, which provides health and community services across the life-course.
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.
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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).
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Works
Search Professor Karen Healy’s works on UQ eSpace
All (129) Book (13) Journal Article (69) Other Outputs (8) Conference Publication (16) Book Chapter (23)
2025
Conference Publication
Cultural Responsibility and Colonial Load – Supporting Indigenous Stakeholders to Support Cultural Identity and Connection for Children in Out-of-Home Care
Thompson, Kate, Venables, Jemma and Healy, Karen (2025). Cultural Responsibility and Colonial Load – Supporting Indigenous Stakeholders to Support Cultural Identity and Connection for Children in Out-of-Home Care. International Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Conference 2025, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 16-19 June 2025.
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
Raising Queensland: child and youth policy priorities
Healy, Karen, Simpson Reeves, Laura, Venables, Jemma and Nathanson, Caitlin (2025). Raising Queensland: child and youth policy priorities. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
Raising Queensland: child and youth policy priorities
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, 60 (3), 757-767. 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) edited by Margaret Alston, Penny Buykx, Wendy Foote and David Betts. Cheltenham, U.K.: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.. doi: 10.4337/9781035310173.00036
Child and family social work research
2024
Conference Publication
A Longitudinal Approach to Exploring the Social and Emotional Well-Being of Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Children in Out-of-Home Care: A Research Innovation
Simpson Reeves, Laura and Healy, Karen (2024). A Longitudinal Approach to Exploring the Social and Emotional Well-Being of Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Children in Out-of-Home Care: A Research Innovation. International Conference on Health and Mental Health in Social Work, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 19-22 November 2024.
2024
Conference Publication
Enhancing the social and emotional well-being and cultural connections of children in out-of-home care: findings of multi-stakeholder study - panel discussion
Healy, Karen, Kolesnikova, Iryna, Thompson, Kate and Venables, Jemma (2024). Enhancing the social and emotional well-being and cultural connections of children in out-of-home care: findings of multi-stakeholder study - panel discussion. International Conference on Social Work in Health and Mental Health, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 19-22 November 2024.
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, 1-12. 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, 28 (4), 701-714. 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 (Pt 1) 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.
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
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.
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.
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) Abingdon, Oxon United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003241492-3
Funding
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
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 - 2025
Enhancing Children's Journey in Out-of-Home Care: A Multi-perspective Study
ARC Linkage Projects
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
View all 19 past funded projects View less
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
- 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
##### 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 - 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
##### 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 - Doctor Philosophy
##### Decision-making in an Adults Emergency Department regarding protection concerns.
Principal Advisor
View all 5 current supervisions View less
Completed supervision
- 2025
Doctor Philosophy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Carmel Fleming, Dr Robyne Le Brocque - 2025
Doctor Philosophy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor 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
Principal Advisor - 2018
Doctor Philosophy
Principal Advisor - 2017
Doctor Philosophy
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
Principal Advisor - 2016
Doctor Philosophy
Principal Advisor - 2015
Doctor Philosophy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paul Henman - 2014
Doctor Philosophy
##### Governing Loss: Dead Bodies and Bereavement
Principal Advisor - 2013
Master Philosophy
##### Finding a Voice: The Fee-for-Service Social Work Experience: Insights from Practitioners.
Principal Advisor - 2013
Doctor Philosophy
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
Principal Advisor - 2010
Doctor Philosophy
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 - 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 - 2021
Doctor Philosophy
##### Implementing and Evaluating Family Inclusive Practice in Adult Eating Disorders
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Robyne Le Brocque - 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 - 2014
Doctor Philosophy
##### It's Never Too Late. Older Women and Sexual Violence: The Search for Therapeutic Solutions
Associate Advisor - 2012
Doctor Philosophy
##### Parent and Staff Perceptions of Bereavement Support Surrounding Loss of a Child
Associate Advisor - 2012
Doctor Philosophy
Associate Advisor - 2011
Doctor Philosophy
Associate Advisor - 2009
Doctor Philosophy
Associate Advisor
View all 25 completed supervisions View less
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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External profiles
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