Karena Burke

Professor Karena Burke holds dual roles as Adjunct Professor at CQUniversity's School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences (Appleton Institute) and Professor and Head of the School of Psychology at the University of Wollongong. She previously served as Head of College of Psychology at CQUniversity (2020–2024) and Head of the Department of Psychology and Public Health (2016–2020). Her research focuses on psychological health, resilience, and well-being in response to adverse events, with a particular emphasis on the interplay between individual, organizational, and community factors.

Educational Background: She earned a BA (Hons1) and PhD from the University of Tasmania and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at CQUniversity (2008–2011). She also held roles as an Associate Lecturer and Junior Research Fellow at the University of Tasmania's School of Psychology.

Research Interests: Her work spans posttraumatic growth, workplace well-being, mental health services, and public health equity. Notable areas include the socioecological framework of postpartum body image, resilience in policing, and community-focused mental health promotion.

Publications: Her research trends emphasize body image in postpartum populations, trauma adaptation in first responders, and positive education programs. Recent work explores the role of organizational uplifts in fostering resilience among police officers.

Advising and Grants: She has supervised students across psychology, clinical psychology, and health science programs at CQUniversity. Her grants and projects include collaborations with the South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) and the Wellbeing and Resilience Centre.

Labs and Teams: She leads initiatives at the Wellbeing and Resilience Centre and contributes to organizational resilience frameworks within the Heads of Department and Schools of Psychology Association (HODSPA), where she serves as Treasurer.