Kelly-Ann Allen

Kelly-Ann Allen is an Associate Professor (Research) in Educational Psychology at Monash University and an Honorary Principal Fellow at the University of Melbourne. Her research focuses on belonging, particularly in educational and organizational contexts, addressing its role in mental health, social inclusion, and policy development. She has authored over 200 publications, including the influential book The Psychology of Belonging, and leads major projects such as the Global Belonging Collaborative and the Building Better Schools with Evidence-based Policy initiative.

Education: PhD in Educational Psychology (University of Melbourne, 2015), MA in Educational Psychology (University of Melbourne, 2008).

Research Interests: School belonging, social-emotional learning, cross-cultural wellbeing, translational research, and policy impact. Her work spans 22 countries, emphasizing practical strategies to enhance belonging in schools and workplaces.

Recent articles highlight global belonging patterns, childhood predictors of belonging, and the impact of internet use on adolescent mental health. Awards include the Young Tall Poppy Award (2024) and top recognition in international research rankings (Stanford METRICS, 2020–2023).

Grants & Projects: Led projects totaling over $3M, including an ARC DECRA fellowship ($426,618) for meta-analyses on school belonging. Collaborations include Harvard University’s Global Flourishing Study and the Thriving Kids and Parents Schools Project ($1.12M).

Public Engagement: Editor-in-Chief of Educational and Developmental Psychologist, advisor to M&M'S FUNd’s belonging initiative, and frequent media contributor. Her work informs national policies in Australia, the UK, and beyond.