Rate My Professor Karen Martin

Professor Karen Martin is a Professor in Social Work and Social Policy at The University of Western Australia in the School of Health and Clinical Sciences. She holds a Bachelor of Science and a PhD from the University of Western Australia. With over 20 years of experience in health research, her work encompasses psychological and post-traumatic distress, domestic violence, mental health, loneliness, health among homeless and refugee populations, physical activity, screen use, overweight and obesity, and palliative care. Professor Martin's research interests center on promoting trauma-informed practice to build healthy communities for children and young people. These include childhood trauma and adversity, delinquent behaviour, mental health and wellbeing, the benefits of nature for health and learning, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychological distress, prisoner health, school student health and wellbeing, suicide risk, and the interplay between physical activity and learning in children.

In her career, Professor Martin has held positions as Research Project Coordinator at The University of Western Australia and Edith Cowan University, Sessional Lecturer at Curtin University of Technology, and Research Facilitator at Hollywood Private Hospital. She engages in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and research supervision. She led the development of the Thoughtful Schools Program and Trauma-Informed Practice Principles for Schools, and founded the Western Australian Trauma-informed And Restorative Schools Collaboration in 2015. As an Adjunct Professor at both The University of Western Australia and the University of Tasmania, her contributions have influenced policy and practice in trauma-informed approaches across Western Australia, Australia, and internationally. Her accolades include the Emerald Literati Award for Outstanding Paper in 2020 for 'The Cottage: providing medical respite care in a home-like environment for people experiencing homelessness', the Mentor Award in 2019, the Excellence and Innovation in Public Health Team Research Award in 2018, and the Student's Choice Award in 2017. Key publications feature her editorship of Understanding and Implementing Trauma-Informed Practice in School: An Evidence-Based Guide (2026), chapters 'Anatomy of Trauma' and 'Parents, Caregivers, and School Trauma-Informed Practice' (both 2026), and the article 'Children's views on outdoor advertising of unhealthy food and beverages near schools' (2025). Professor Martin's initiatives have driven shifts in perspectives, policies, decision-making, and behavioural change.