Sara is a registered Psychologist who is known for her critical analysis of theory and practice in the management of children with challenging and high stakes behaviours. She synthesises emerging knowledge from the fields of neuropsychology, clinical and forensic psychology and child protection; and translates this knowledge into evidence-informed practice and policy.
Sara has expertise in young people with developmental difference arising from early adversity, prenatal substance exposure, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, and interpersonal trauma and neglect. Sara was awarded the ACU Linacre Fellowship at Oxford University in 2016. She is co-author of the Fostering Difference website and consults to... Read more
About me
Sara is a registered Psychologist who is known for her critical analysis of theory and practice in the management of children with challenging and high stakes behaviours. She synthesises emerging knowledge from the fields of neuropsychology, clinical and forensic psychology and child protection; and translates this knowledge into evidence-informed practice and policy.
Sara has expertise in young people with developmental difference arising from early adversity, prenatal substance exposure, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, and interpersonal trauma and neglect. Sara was awarded the ACU Linacre Fellowship at Oxford University in 2016. She is co-author of the Fostering Difference website and consults to Government and community services on evidence-informed decision making and policy in relation to young people with high stakes behaviours and complex needs, who are living in statutory care settings.
About me
Registered Psychologist, M.A.P.S.
Member Healthy Development Adelaide
Member Australian Association for Psychiatric Research
Member Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth
Member Australian Psychological Society Child and Family Interest Group
Clinical Senior Lecturer, School of Psychology, Adelaide University.
About me
Doctor of Philosophy Adelaide University
Master of Psychology (Clinical) Flinders University
Bachelor of Science (Honours) Flinders University
Neuropsychology, brain development and behaviour amongst children exposed to prenatal toxins, early life stress, adversity and trauma: evidence and implications for practice.
Practical evidence-informed strategies to address problematic and offending behaviours in out-of-home care (foster care and residential care).
Supporting and retaining foster carers and residential care workers.
Promoting self–care and managing workplace stress and burnout when working with challenging client groups.
Cross sector and interdisciplinary collaboration in the care of children: strategies for addressing barriers.
Research
Research outputs for the last seven years are shown below. To see earlier years visit ORCID, ResearcherID or Scopus
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2016 |
5
4
|
| 2015 |
15
12
|
| 2014 |
Open access
|
| 2014 |
20
18
7
|
| 2014 |
Open access
25
20
3
|
| 2013 |
3
|
| 2013 |
4
|
| 2013 |
|
| 2013 |
|
| 2013 |
|
| 2013 |
1
|
| 2012 |
29
24
4
|
| 2012 |
3
3
3
|
| 2012 |
10
8
1
|
| 2011 |
Open access
|
Research
Neuropsychology, brain development and behaviour amongst children exposed to prenatal toxins, early life stress, adversity and trauma: evidence and implications for practice.
Practical evidence-informed strategies to address problematic and offending behaviours in out-of-home care (foster care and residential care).
Supporting and retaining foster carers and residential care workers.
Promoting self–care and managing workplace stress and burnout when working with challenging client groups.
Cross sector and interdisciplinary collaboration in the care of children: strategies for addressing barriers.
External engagement & recognition
| Organisation | Country |
|---|---|
| Australian Institute of Family Studies | AUSTRALIA |
| Flinders University | AUSTRALIA |
| National Organisation for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Adelaide | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Hawaii | UNITED STATES |
| University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
External engagement & recognition
| Engagement/recognition | Year |
|---|---|
Visiting FellowLinacre College, Oxford University |
2015 |
Registered Psychologist, M.A.P.S.
Member Healthy Development Adelaide,Member Australian Association for Psychiatric Research
Member Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth
Member Australian Psychological Society Child and Family Interest Group
Clinical Senior Lecturer, School of Psychology, Adelaide University.
Child psychology, child mental health and maltreatment.
Interventions for problematic behaviour in out-of-home care.
Prenatal and early life adversity and trauma, neuropsychology and brain development: relationship with behavioural, social and mental health outcomes.
Preventing worker stress, vicarious trauma and burnout.
Supporting and retaining foster carers, residential care workers and child protection staff.
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
| Thesis title | Student status |
|---|---|
| What legal rights should foster and kinship carers have in a child protection system? | Current |
| By accident rather than design: placement decision making in Australian child protection systems | Completed |
| Coparents supporting children¿s emotional competence: the development and evaluation of Tuning in to Kids Together | Completed |
| Resilience in frontline child protection workers: a model of risk and protective factors | Completed |
