Karen Healy

Professor Karen Healy AM is Head of the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work at The University of Queensland. Her work focuses on community-based approaches to health, wellbeing, and safety, particularly for marginalized populations. She leads research in family and community-led practice, child protection, research co-design, health equity, and social inclusion.

Her research program includes a national project on family partnerships in child protection with Micah Projects and City University New York. She collaborates with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to advance culturally responsive practices in health and human services. Her teaching emphasizes communication skills, family group meetings, and teamwork for health professionals.

• Education:
  • Bachelor (Honours), The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
  • Graduate Certificate of Applied Statistics, Swinburne University of Technology

Professor Healy has supervised 31 Research Higher Degree students and led initiatives like the Young Mothers for Young Women program. Her articles focus on child protection systems, Indigenous cultural connection, and transition planning for youth in care. Awards include the Order of Australia (AM) in 2016 and Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK) in 2018.