Professor Karen Sullivan

Find Karen Sullivan on

Psychological Stress and Cognition

Doctor of Philosophy (The University of Melbourne)

Background                                                                                                                   updated May, 2019

Professor Sullivan completed her PhD in clinical neuropsychology, graduating from the University of Melbourne in 1998. Prior to that she completed a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) at the University of Melbourne, completing her Honours thesis in psychophysiology. She is a registered and practising psychologist and she has held clinical appointments in major teaching hospitals. In 2007 she became a Board accredited supervisor of psychologists. In 2009 Professor Sullivan established and continues to lead a clinical neuropsychology research group.  Her research in clinical neuropsychology includes applications in aging, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, mild traumatic brain injury and malingering.

Most recent award 2010: Winner, QUT Vice Chancellor’s Performance Award

Research highlights: Reviewer for Australian Government Funding Agencies, including NHMRC Reviewer for the following international scholarly journals

  • Disability and Rehabilitation
  • The Clinical Neuropsychologist
  • Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology
  • Preventative Medicine
  • Neurorehabilitation
  • Preventive Medicine
  • Patient education and Counselling

Publications Multiple book chapters, government reports, and over 130 peer-reviewed journal articles in leading neuropsychology journals (see Publications for a selection of these journal articles).

Research Students See Supervision for an abbreviated list of QUT PhD and students supervised by Professor Sullivan. Other research supervision includes graduates from the following programs: Doctor of Health Sciences (n = 1),  MPhil or Master of Clinical Psychology  (n = 5), and >30 Honours students.  Current research students include students at all levels from the School of Psychology and Counselling (i.e., Honours, Masters by Research, Coursework Masters, Doctor of Psychology, and PhD), and from other schools within the University.

For a full cv, please contact karen.sullivan@qut.edu.au

Additional information

Experience

Professional practice

5 years work experience in the public hospital sector as a clinical neuropsychologist, including in aged care, stroke units, memory clinics and community assessment teams.

International partnerships

Links with the research groups in Germany, Canada, and the United States of America.

Industry collaboration

  • Current projects with Queensland Health.
  • Links with the NHMRC-funded, Dementia Collaborative Research Centre, Carers and Consumers
  • Collaborations with the practitioner community.

Industry reports/publications (recent activity)

  • Sullivan, K.A., Smith, S.S., Lurie-Beck, J. & Horswill, M.S. (2011). Are older drivers’ perceptions of their driving ability reflected in performance on a driving simulation task?  Report of the NRMA-ACT Road Safety Trust and the Queensland Department of Main Roads and Transport.

Research tools

For information about the following measures, please contact Professor Sullivan (karen.sullivan@qut.edu.au)

  • Cerebrovascular Attitudes and Beliefs Scale-Revised
  • The Stroke Knowledge Test (including non-English versions)
  • The Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Test (including a version of this test for indigenous Australians)

 

Awards

Type
Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
Reference year
2017
Details
Nominee for the 2017 David Gardiner QUT Teacher of the Year Award
Type
Committee Role/Editor or Chair of an Academic Conference
Reference year
2017
Details
Outgoing Poster Chair, responsible for coordinating peer review of poster and free paper abstracts, and prize judging.
Type
Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
Reference year
2010
Details
Recipient of the 2010 QUT Vice Chancellor's Performance Award
Type
Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
Reference year
2005
Details
2005 Winner, Faculty of Health Teaching Excellence award
Type
Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
Reference year
2004
Details
Commendation, QUT Vice Chancellor's Distinguished Teaching Award
Type
Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
Reference year
2004
Details
Winner, Australian Psychological Society Ethics Prize 2004. This prize is made in recognition of a significant scholarly, research, pedagogical or professional contribution in the areas of professional or research ethics. My research in this area has lead to 2 peer-reviewed high impact publications, and 1 invited book chapter.
Type
Other
Reference year
2001
Details
Convenor, Course Approvals Committee of the Australian Psychological Society, College of Clinical Neuropsychologists; This college is a college of specialist psychologists and membership is dependent on satisfactory completion of professional development activities assessed biannually. This committee has oversight of the professional accredition of neuropsychology training programs nationally. In this role I was responsible for overseeing Australian Psychological Society CCN course approvals processes (e.g., co-ordinating university site visits) when submissions are received from Australian Universities for post-graduate courses.
Type
Appointment to State/National/International Reference Group or Government Committees
Reference year
2000
Details
Panel of Assessors, under the Health Practitioners (Professional standards) Act, 1999 Queensland. Membership is by application, supported by evidence of suitable academic and professional work experience, and referees reports. Activities: this panel provides advice to the Minister for Health on matters relating to breaches of professional standards.
Type
Membership of Learned Societies
Reference year
2000
Details
Member of the Australian Psychological Society, College of Clinical Neuropsychologists Membership Committee. This college is a college of specialist psychologists. Membership is dependent on successful completion of professional development/continuing education assessed biannually. The membership committee was responsible for vetting applications for membership, from applicants nationally and internationally. In addition to general responibilities as a committee member, I had a specific role of assessing overseas academic qualifications.

Publications

Research Projects

Title
Reducing Crash Risk for Young Drivers: A Randomized Control Trial to Improve Sleep
Primary fund type
CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
Project ID
78881073
Start year
2019
Keywords
road safety;sleepiness;prevention;young adults;behavioural intervention

Completed Supervisions (Doctorate)