Professor Karen Healy
Head of School & Head of School
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work
+61 7 336 52507
Researcher biography
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.
Publications
Books
Healy, Karen (2022). Social work theories in context: Creating frameworks for practice. 3rd ed. London, United Kingdom: Bloomsbury.
Healy, Karen and Mulholland, Joan (2019). Writing skills for social workers. 3rd ed. London, United Kingdom: Sage.
Healy, Karen (2018). The Skilled Communicator in Social Work. London United Kingdom: Palgrave Macmillan. doi: 10.1057/978-1-137-56347-7
Healy, Karen (2014). Social Work Theories in Context: Creating Frameworks for Practice. 2nd ed. Basingstoke, United Kingdom: Palgrave Macmillan.
Healy, Karen (2012). Social work methods and skills : the essential foundations of practice. Basingstoke , United Kingdom: Palgrave Macmillan.
Healy, Karen and Mulholland, Joan (2012). Writing skills for social workers. 2nd ed. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.
Healy, Karen (2012). Social Work Methods and Skills. London, United Kingdom: Palgrave Macmillan. doi: 10.1007/978-0-230-36199-7
Harrison, Gai, Healy, K., Walsh, D., Bosly, F. and Caniglia, F. (2010). Practice methods in context for social work and the human services [kit]. [St. Lucia, Qld.]: School of Social Work and Human Services, University of Queensland.
Healy, Karen, Rawsthorne, Margot, Donnett, Amanda, Caniglia, Fiona, Hampshire, Anne and Michaux, Anne (2009). Families on the fringe : Promoting the social inclusion of young families moving to non-metropolitan areas. St Lucia, QLD, Australia: School of Social Work and Human Services, The University of Queensland.
Healy, Karen and Mulholland, Joan (2007). Writing Skills for Social Workers. London, UK: Sage Publications Ltd.
Healy, Karen, Hampshire, Anne, Ayres, Liz, Ellwood, Sophie and Mengede, Natalie (2007). Creating better communities: A study of social capital creation in four communities. Paddington, Australia: The Benevolent Society.
Healy, K. E. (2005). Social Work Theories in Context: Creating Frameworks for Practice. Basingstoke, England: Palgrave.
Book Chapters
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
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
Healy, Karen (2021). Diversifying inclusive research with young people. Involving methods in youth research: reflections on participation and power. (pp. 261-266) edited by Trine Wulf-Andersen, Reidun Follesø and Terje Olsen. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-75941-4_11
Healy, Karen (2019). Regulating for quality social work education: who owns the curriculum?. Strategic leadership in social work education. (pp. 53-66) edited by Marie Connolly, Darla Spence Coffey and Charlotte Williams. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-25052-2_5
Healy, Karen (2018). The Skilled Communicator in Social Work. The Skilled Communicator in Social Work. (pp. 1-11) London, United Kingdom: Macmillan. doi: 10.1057/978-1-137-56347-7_1
Healy, Karen (2018). Will she be right, mate? Standards and diversity in Australian social work. Transnational social work: opportunities and challenges of a global profession. (pp. 205-221) Bristol, United Kingdom: Policy Press. doi: 10.1332/policypress/9781447333364.003.0013
Healy, Karen (2016). Social work education and regulation in Australia. Encyclopedia of social work. (pp. 1-1) Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.1169
Healy, Karen, Julkunen, Ilse and Karvinen-Niinikoski, Synnove (2014). International comparative research regarding vulnerable young people: reflections on methodological challenges and solutions. Human rights and social equality: challenges for social work: social work-social development. (pp. 114-117) edited by Sven Hessle. Farnham, Surrey, United Kingdom: Ashgate Publishing.
Healy, Karen (2014). Social sustainability and social work: problems and prospects. Global Social Transformation and Social Action: The Role of Social Workers. (pp. 161-164) edited by Sven Hessle. Surrey, United Kingdom: Ashgate Publishing.
Healy, Karen (2014). Transforming organisations and creative practice: Social sustainability and social work: Problems and prospects. Global Social Transformation and Social Action: The Role of Social Workers: Social Work-Social Development Volume III. (pp. 161-164) edited by Sven Hessle. London, United Kingdom: Taylor and Francis. doi: 10.4324/9781315585024-13
Healy, Karen (2012). Critical perspectives. The Sage handbook of social work. (pp. 191-206) edited by Mel Gray, James Midgley and Stephen A. Webb. London , U.K.: Sage. doi: 10.4135/9781446247648.n13
Meagher, Gabrielle, Cortis, Natasha and Healy, Karen (2009). Strategic challenges in child welfare services: A comparative study of Australia, England and Sweden. Social policy review 21: Analysis and debate in social policy, 2009. (pp. 215-239) edited by Kirstein Rummery, Ian Greener and Chris Holden. Bristol, United Kingdom: The Policy Press.
Meagher, Gabrielle, Cortis, Natasha and Healy, Karen (2009). Strategic challenges in child welfare services: A comparative study of Australia, England and Sweden. Social Policy Review 21: Analysis and Debate in Social Policy, 2009. (pp. 215-242) Policy Press. doi: 10.46692/9781847427410.011
Connolly, Marie and Healy, Karen E. (2008). Social Work Practice Theories Frameworks. Social work: Contexts and practice. (pp. 37-52) edited by Marie Connolly and Louise Harms. South Melbourne, Vic., Australia: Oxford University Press.
Healy, K E (2006). Community education. Working with Individuals, Communities, and Organisations. (pp. 259-266) edited by A. O'Hara and Z. Weber. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
Healy, K E (2006). Asset based community development. Working with Individuals, Communities, and Organisations. (pp. 247-258) edited by A. O'Hara and Z. Weber. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
Ife, J., Healy, K. E., Spratt, T. and Solomon, B. (2005). Under Reconstruction: Renewing Critical Social Work Practices. Social Work: A Critical Turn. (pp. 219-230) edited by S. Hick, J. Fook and R. Pozzuto. Toronto, Canada: Thompson Educational Publishing.
Healy, K. E., O'Regan, M. and Tansky, M. (2005). Working with young people. Social Work: Fields of Practice. (pp. 95-104) edited by M. Alston and J. Mckinnon. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Healy, K. E. and Meagher, G. (2004). The Reprofessionalization of Social Work: Collaborative Approaches for Achieving Professional Recognition. Social Work in a Corporate Era. (pp. 91-107) edited by Linda Davies and Peter Leonard. UK: Ashgate Publishing Ltd.
Healy, Karen and Meagher, Gabrielle (2004). The reprofessionalization of social work: collaborative approaches for achieving professional recognition. Social work in a corporate era: practices of power and resistance. (pp. 76-90) edited by Peter Leonard and Linda Davies. London, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315242835-7
Healy, Karen (1999). Power and activist social work. Transforming social work practice: postmodern critical perspectives. (pp. 115-134) London, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780203164969-11
Rosenman, L., O'Connor, I. and Healy, K. (1998). Social work. Challenges for social sciences in Australia. (pp. 215-221) Canberra, ACT Australia: Australian Govt. Pub. Services.
Journal Articles
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. doi: 10.1007/s10615-025-00995-w
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Clarke, Annaley, Healy, Karen, Lynch, Debby and Featherstone, Gerald (2024). Stability in statutory kinship care: a grounded theory study of placement stability in Australia. Children and Youth Services Review, 156 107289, 107289. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.107289
Venables, Jemma, Povey, Jenny, Boman, Madonna, Healy, Karen, Baxter, Janeen, Austerberry, Sophie and Thompson, Kate (2023). Navigating the Australian child protection system: the importance of formal and informal support for carers to effectively provide care to children in out‐of‐home care. Child and Family Social Work, 30 (2), 237-250. doi: 10.1111/cfs.13106
Healy, Karen, Walsh, Tamara, Venables, Jemma and Thompson, Kate (2023). Looked after children's right to contact with birth parents: an Australian study. Child and Family Social Work, 28 (3), 659-668. doi: 10.1111/cfs.12992
Healy, Karen, Venables, Jemma and Walsh, Tamara (2023). Supporting birth parents’ relationships with children following removal: a scoping review. Children and Youth Services Review, 149 106961, 106961. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.106961
Gillespie, Nicole, Anesa, Mattia, Lizzio-Wilson, Morgana, Chapman, Cassandra, Healy, Karen and Hornsey, Matthew (2023). How do sector level factors influence trust violations in not-for-profit organizations? A multilevel model. Journal of Business Ethics, 191 (2), 373-398. doi: 10.1007/s10551-023-05429-6
Clarke, Annaley, Healy, Karen, Lynch, Deborah and Featherstone, Gerald (2023). The use of a constructivist grounded theory method - a good fit for social work research. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 22. doi: 10.1177/16094069231186257
Walsh, Tamara, Healy, Karen and Venables, Jemma (2023). Comparing apples with oranges? Practitioner perspectives on the inconsistencies between family law and child protection. Australian Journal of Family Law, 36, 154-172.
Fleming, Carmel, Byrne, Jacqueline, Healy, Karen and Le Brocque, Robyne (2022). Working with families of adults affected by eating disorders: uptake, key themes, and participant experiences of family involvement in outpatient treatment-as-usual. Journal of Eating Disorders, 10 (1) 88, 88. doi: 10.1186/s40337-022-00611-z
Walsh, Tamara, Healy, Karen, Venables, Jemma and Thompson, Kate (2022). Are human rights ‘toothless’ in Australian child protection matters? Perspectives of lawyers and social workers. International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family, 36 (1) ebac028, 1-16. doi: 10.1093/lawfam/ebac028
Healy, Karen and Drayton, John (2021). Mind the gap: incorporating writing skills into practice simulations. Social Work Education, 41 (8), 1-19. doi: 10.1080/02615479.2021.1962270
Fleming, Carmel, Le Brocque, Robyne and Healy, Karen (2021). How are families included in the treatment of adults affected by eating disorders? A scoping review. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 54 (3), 244-279. doi: 10.1002/eat.23441
Avdagic, Elbina, May, Fiona, McClean, Tom, Shackleton, Fiona, Wade, Catherine and Healy, Karen (2021). Mind mapping as a pragmatic solution for evaluation: A critical reflection through two case studies. Practical Assessment, Research and Evaluation, 26, 1-19. doi: 10.7275/sqqw-ht68
Healy, Karen, Tower, Marion and Hawley, Glenda (2020). Preparing students to respond to heightened emotions in field practice: a multi-disciplinary study. Advances in Social Work Education and Welfare, 22 (1), 64-80.
Healy, Karen (2019). Recognising the caring capabilities of birth families of removed children: towards a critical policy agenda. Critical Social Policy, 40 (4), 546-565. doi: 10.1177/0261018319878011
Healy, Karen (2019). Review of Doing Critical Social Work: Transforming Practices for Social Justice, edited by Bob Pease, Sophie Goldingay, Norah Hosken, and Sharlene Nipperess, Crows Nest, NSW, Allen & Unwin publishers, 2016. Australian Social Work, 73 (3), 1-2. doi: 10.1080/0312407x.2018.1521305
Venables, Jemma and Healy, Karen (2019). Collaborating with parents during intervention with parental agreement: practitioner perspectives on procedural justice. Child & Family Social Work, 24 (1), 33-41. doi: 10.1111/cfs.12578
Healy, Karen (2017). The Case for an Australian Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare. Australian Social Work, 71 (1), 1-5. doi: 10.1080/0312407X.2017.1397180
Gillingham, Philip, Harnett, Paul , Healy, Karen , Lynch, Debby and Tower, Marion (2017). Decision making in child and family welfare: the role of tools and practice frameworks. Children Australia, 42 (1), 49-56. doi: 10.1017/cha.2016.51
Healy, Karen (2016). After the biomedical technology revolution: where to now for a bio-psycho-social approach to social work?. British Journal of Social Work, 46 (5), 1446-1462. doi: 10.1093/bjsw/bcv051
Minto, Kiara, Hornsey, Matthew J., Gillespie, Nicole, Healy, Karen and Jetten, Jolanda (2016). A social identity approach to understanding responses to child sexual abuse allegations. PLoS One, 11 (4) e0153205, e0153205. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153205
Healy, Karen (2016). 2015 Norma Parker Address: being a self-regulating profession in the 21st Century: problems and prospects. Australian Social Work, 69 (1), 1-10. doi: 10.1080/0312407X.2016.1103391
Venables, Jemma, Healy , Karen and Harrison, Gai (2015). From investigation to collaboration: Practitioner perspectives on the transition phase of parental agreements. Children and Youth Services Review, 52, 9-16. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2015.02.007
Harrison, Gai and Healy, Karen (2015). Forging an Identity as a Newly Qualified Worker in the Non-government Community Services Sector. Australian Social Work, 69 (1), 80-91. doi: 10.1080/0312407X.2015.1026913
Healy, Karen (2015). Becoming a trustworthy profession: doing better than doing good. Australian Social Work, 70 (sup1), 1-10. doi: 10.1080/0312407X.2014.973550
Healy, Karen, Harrison, Gai, Venables, Jemma and Bosly, Fiona (2014). Collaborating with families in differential responses: practitioners' views. Child and Family Social Work, 21 (3), 1-11. doi: 10.1111/cfs.12149
Healy, Karen, Darlington, Yvonne and Yellowlees, Josephine (2012). Family participation in child protection practice: an observational study of family group meetings. Child and Family Social Work, 17 (1), 1-12. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2206.2011.00767.x
Darlington, Yvonne, Healy, Karen, Yellowlees, Josephine and Bosly, Fiona (2012). Parents’ perceptions of their participation in mandated family group meetings.. Children and Youth Services Review, 34 (2), 331-337. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2011.10.030
Healy, Karen (2012). Remembering, apologies, and truth: challenges for social work today. Australian Social Work, 65 (3), 288-294. doi: 10.1080/0312407X.2012.705308
Healy, Karen, Lundström, Tommy and Sallnas, Marie (2011). A comparison of out-of-home care for children and young people in Australia and Sweden: worlds apart?. Australian Social Work, 64 (4), 416-431. doi: 10.1080/0312407X.2011.603092
Healy, Karen, Darlington, Yvonne and Feeney, Judith A. (2011). Parents’ participation in child protection practice: toward respect and inclusion. Families in Society, 92 (3), 282-288. doi: 10.1606/1044-3894.4126
Harrison, Gai, Walsh, Deborah and Healy, Karen (2011). Shifting the focus from expert-centred to student-centred learning resources: Creating student-centred learning resources for direct practice. Advances in Social Work and Welfare Education, 13 (1), 91-110.
Healy, Karen, Lundstrom, Tommy and Sallnas, Marie (2011). Response to Katz's comment on “Comparison of out-of-home care for children and young people in Australia and Sweden: worlds apart?”. Australian Social Work, 64 (4), 437-442. doi: 10.1080/0312407X.2011.619269
Healy, Karen (2010). Recognising and enabling social workers to promote child welfare and protection. Australian Social Work, 63 (2), 141-144. doi: 10.1080/0312407X.2010.485629
Darlington, Yvonne, Healy, Karen and Feeney, Judith A. (2010). Challenges in implementing participatory practice in child protection: A contingency approach. Children and Youth Services Review, 32 (7), 1020-1027. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2010.03.030
Healy, Karen and Oltedal, Siv (2010). An institutional comparison of child protection systems in Australia and Norway focused on workforce retention. Journal of Social Policy, 39 (2), 255-274. doi: 10.1017/S004727940999047X
Darlington, Yvonne, Healy, Karen and Feeney, Judith (2010). Approaches to assessment and intervention across four types of child and family welfare services. Children and Youth Services Review, 32 (3), 356-364. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2009.10.005
Healy, Karen (2009). A case of mistaken identity The social welfare professions and New Public Management. Journal of Sociology, 45 (4), 401-418. doi: 10.1177/1440783309346476
Healy, Karen, Meagher, Gabrielle and Cullin, Joel (2009). Retaining novices to become expert child protection practitioners: Creating career pathways in direct practice. British Journal of Social Work, 39 (2), 299-317. doi: 10.1093/bjsw/bcm125
Healy, Karen and Darlington, Yvonne (2009). Service user participation in diverse child protection contexts: principles for practice. Child and Family Social Work, 14 (4), 420-430. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2206.2009.00613.x
Humphreys, Cathy, Harries, Maria, Healy, Karen, Lonne, Bob, Mendes, Philip, McHugh, Marilyn and Sheehan, Rosemary (2009). Shifting the child protection juggernaut to earlier intervention. Children Australia, 34 (3), 5-8. doi: 10.1017/s1035077200000699
Rawsthorne, Margot, Hillman, Wendy and Healy, Karen (2009). Families on the fringe: mental health implications of the movement of young families to non-metropolitan areas. Rural Society, 19 (4), 306-317. doi: 10.5172/rsj.351.19.4.306
Healy, Karen (2009). Critical questions about the quest for clarity in child protection regimes. Communities, Children and Families Australia, 4 (1), 50-56.
Healy, Karen (2008). Critical commentary on 'social work as art revisited'. International Journal of Social Welfare, 17 (2), 194-195. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2397.2007.00565.x
Healy, Karen and Hillman, Wendy (2008). Young families migrating to non-metropolitan areas: Are they at increased risk of social exclusion?. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 43 (3), 479-497. doi: 10.1002/j.1839-4655.2008.tb00114.x
Healy, Karen, Lyons-Crew, Cate, Michaux, Annette and Gal, Inbal (2008). Change in volunteering roles: Managing change to build capacity. Australian Journal of Volunteering, 13 (1), 5-16.
Healy, K. E. and Meagher, G. (2007). Social Workers' preparation for child protection: Revisiting the question of specialisation. Australian Social Work, 60 (3), 321-335. doi: 10.1080/03124070701519686
Briggs, C., Meagher, G. and Healy, K. E. (2007). Becoming an industry: The struggle of social and community workers for award coverage, 1976-2001. Journal of Industrial Relations, 49 (4), 497-521. doi: 10.1177/0022185607080319
Healy, Karen E., Haynes, Michele A. and Hampshire, Anne (2007). Gender, social capital and location: Understanding the interactions. International Journal of Social Welfare, 16 (2), 110-118. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2397.2006.00471.x
Healy K., Hampshire A. and Ayres L. (2004). Beyond the local: Extending the social capital discourse. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 39 (3), 329-342. doi: 10.1002/j.1839-4655.2004.tb01180.x
Healy, Karen (2004). Social Workers in the new human service marketplace: Trends, challenges and responses. Australian Social Work, 57 (2), 103-114. doi: 10.1111/j.1447-0748.2004.00125.x
Healy, Karen and Meagher, Gabrielle (2004). The Reprofessionalization of Social Work: Collaborative Approaches for Achieving Professional Recognition. The British journal of social work, 34 (2), 243-260. doi: 10.1093/bjsw/bch024
Hcllgrimsdottir, Eric, Healy, Karen and Foulds, Henrietta (2004). Child protection practice with families affected by parental substance use. Children Australia, 29 (3), 11-15.
Gray, Mel, Healy, Karen and Crofts, Penny (2003). Social enterprise: is it the business of social work?. Australian Social Work, 56 (2), 141-154. doi: 10.1046/j.0312-407X.2003.00060.x
Meagher, Gabrielle and Healy, Karen (2003). Caring, Controlling, Contracting and Counting: Governments and Non-profits in Community Services. Australian Journal of Public Administration, 62 (3), 40-51. doi: 10.1046/j.1467-8500.2003.t01-1-00336.x
Healy, K. and Hampshire, A. (2002). Social capital: a useful concept for social work?. Australian Social Work, 55 (3), 227-238. doi: 10.1046/j.0312-407X.2002.00031.x
Healy, Karen (2002). Managing Human Services in a Market Environment: What Role for Social Workers?. British Journal of Social Work, 32 (5), 527-540. doi: 10.1093/bjsw/32.5.527
Healy, Karen (2001). Participatory action research and social work: A critical appraisal. International Social Work, 44 (1), 93-105. doi: 10.1177/002087280104400108
Healy, Karen and Leonard, Peter (2000). Responding to uncertainty:Critical social work education in the postmodern habitat. Journal of Progressive Human Services, 11 (1), 23-48. doi: 10.1300/J059v11n01_03
Healy, K. E. and Darlington, Y. M. (1999). Family support and social inclusion: Practice and policy issues in Australia. Just Policy, 16 (September), 3-10.
Healy, Karen (1998). Participation and child protection: The importance of context. British Journal of Social Work, 28 (6), 897-914. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.bjsw.a011407
Healy, Karen and Peile, Colin (1995). From Silence to Activism: Approaches to Research and Practice with Young Mothers. Affilia, 10 (3), 280-298. doi: 10.1177/088610999501000305
Conference Papers
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Venables, Jemma, Ellem, Kathy, Healy, Karen, Warrell, Chloe and Cullin, Joel (2024). Working together to support young people in out-of-home care who leave approved placements: the experience of practitioners. International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, Uppsala, Sweden, 18-21 August 2024.
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.
Povey, Jenny, Venables, Jemma, Bowman, Madonna, Healy, Karen, Baxter, Janeen, Austerberry, Sophie and Thompson, Kate (2023). Optimising outcomes for children in out-of-home care: strengthening social support systems for carers. Anglicare Southern Queensland Research Forum, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 10 May 2023.
Kolesnikova, Iryna, Povey, Jenny, Baxter, Janeen, Healy, Karen and San Martin Porter, Macarena (2023). Family socioeconomic status and socio-emotional well-being in middle childhood: a life course perspective. 2023 Australian Social Policy Conference (ASPC): Social Policy for Social Change, Canberra, ACT, Australia, 11-13 September 2023.
Kolesnikova, Iryna, Povey, Jenny, Baxter, Janeen, Healy, Karen and San Martin Porter, Maca (2023). Family socioeconomic status and socio-emotional wellbeing in middle childhood: insights from Australia. 2023 SLLS Annual International Conference: Life Courses in Times of Uncertainty, Munich, Germany, 9-11 October 2023.
Healy, Karen, Venables, Jemma, Walsh, Tamara and Thompson, Kate (2021). The right to family contact following child removal: Will the Human Rights Act make a difference. 26th Asia-Pacific Regional Social Work Conference (hosted by IFSW & AASW), Online, 11-13 November 2021.
Venables, Jemma and Healy, Karen (2018). Collaborating with parents during intervention with parental agreement: practitioner perspectives on procedural justice. Social Work, Education and Social Development Conference (SWSD 2018), Dublin, Ireland, 4-7 July 2018.
Venables, Jemma, Healy, Karen and Harrison, Gai (2013). From investigation to collaboration: practitioner perspectives on the transition phase of parental agreements. Australasian Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect, Melbourne / Melbourne Convention Centre, 10 - 13 November 2013.
Healy, K. (2004). Creating community capacity in urban and rural communities. ACOSS 2003 Congress. Piecing It Together: Equity, Empowerment and Change, Canberra, Australia, 13-14 November 2003. Strawberry Hills, NSW, Australia: Australian Council of Social Service.
O'Connor, I., Healy, K. and Rosenman, L. S. (1999). Social work research in Australia. 1997 Asia and Pacific Regional Conference of APASWE and IFSWc, Bangkok, Thailand, 1997. Bangkok Thailand: Thammasat University, Bangkok.
Thesis
Healy, Karen (1996). Poststructural possibilities for activist social work : a discourse analysis of practice. PhD Thesis, School of Social Work and Applied Human Sciences, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2016.737
Research Reports
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.
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.
Petersen, Maree, Venables, Jemma, Healy, Karen and Nathanson, Caitlin (2024). Home and healthy evaluation final report. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
Healy, Karen (2011). A study of crisis intervention and planned family support with vulnerable families: a national homelessness research project. Greenway, ACT, Australia: Australian Homelessness Clearinghouse.
Healy, Karen and Lonne, Bob (2010). The social work & human services workforce : Report from a national study of education, training and workforce needs. Australia: Australian Council of Learning and Teaching.
Meagher, and Healy, K E (2006). Who cares? Volume 2: Employment structure and incomes in the Australian care workforce. Strawberry Hills, NSW: Australian Council of Social Service.
Meagher, and Healy, K. E. (2005). Who Cares? Volume 1: A Profile of Care Workers in Australia's Community Services Industries. Strawberry Hills, NSW: Australian Council of Social Service.