Level 3, Dawson House
The Park Centre for Mental Health Treatment
Research and Education, Wacol, QLD 4076
P: +61 7 3271 8660
Associate Professor Divna Haslam
Senior Researcher
Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Epidemiology and Services (CAPES) Stream
Associate Professor
School of Publlic Health, The University of Queensland
Email:
Overview
My research aims to ensure all children have access to the safe, supportive and violence-free childhoods they need to thrive.
I am an Associate Professor and registered clinical psychologist. My work sits at the intersection of child adversity & mental health with a focus on prevention & the role of parenting & the family environment.
I co-lead Young Minds: Our Future (YMOF), the Third Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing and was part of the award-winning Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS) team. The ACMS generated the first nationally representative Australian data on the prevalence and mental health impacts of the five types of child maltreatment in Australia. These two major national studies have provided an opportunity to look not only at the challenges children and young people face, but also at how we can better support children to thrive.
A particular interest of mine is how science can be translated into policy, practice and systems change to better support children and families. In 2023, I was a ministerial appointment to the Queensland Child Death Review Board, which provides government recommendations to improve child safety & outcomes. I serve on the World Health Organization's Advisory Group for Violence Against Children Estimations and the Queensland Family and Child Commission’s Expert Advisory Council. In 2025, I was part of the team that conducted the Queensland Government review into system responses to child sexual abuse "In Plain Sight", which has led to major reforms across Queensland including the proposed establishment of the Queensland Protection Commission.
My work has contributed to policy and practice internationally (70+ policy citations across 12 countries). The Australian Government has engaged me as an expert consultant on projects relating to parenting, child maltreatment and mental health. I have received more than $14 million in research funding and published extensively in leading journals (100+ empirical papers and reports) as well as contributed to various government expert roundtables and consultations.
I am a frequent keynote & invited speaker and science communicator. My research and commentary have been featured in The Australian, ABC, The Guardian, Channels 7, 9 and 10, The Conversation and on radio programs across Australia.
Ultimately, my goal is to harness research and policy to make the world a safer place so all children can thrive.
I am an Associate Professor and registered clinical psychologist. My work sits at the intersection of child adversity & mental health with a focus on prevention & the role of parenting & the family environment.
I co-lead Young Minds: Our Future (YMOF), the Third Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing and was part of the award-winning Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS) team. The ACMS generated the first nationally representative Australian data on the prevalence and mental health impacts of the five types of child maltreatment in Australia. These two major national studies have provided an opportunity to look not only at the challenges children and young people face, but also at how we can better support children to thrive.
A particular interest of mine is how science can be translated into policy, practice and systems change to better support children and families. In 2023, I was a ministerial appointment to the Queensland Child Death Review Board, which provides government recommendations to improve child safety & outcomes. I serve on the World Health Organization's Advisory Group for Violence Against Children Estimations and the Queensland Family and Child Commission’s Expert Advisory Council. In 2025, I was part of the team that conducted the Queensland Government review into system responses to child sexual abuse "In Plain Sight", which has led to major reforms across Queensland including the proposed establishment of the Queensland Protection Commission.
My work has contributed to policy and practice internationally (70+ policy citations across 12 countries). The Australian Government has engaged me as an expert consultant on projects relating to parenting, child maltreatment and mental health. I have received more than $14 million in research funding and published extensively in leading journals (100+ empirical papers and reports) as well as contributed to various government expert roundtables and consultations.
I am a frequent keynote & invited speaker and science communicator. My research and commentary have been featured in The Australian, ABC, The Guardian, Channels 7, 9 and 10, The Conversation and on radio programs across Australia.
Ultimately, my goal is to harness research and policy to make the world a safer place so all children can thrive.
HEAD OFFICE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
The Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research (QCMHR) acknowledges the Jagera, Yuggera, Ugarapul and Turrbal people as the Traditional Owners of the land on which QCMHR operates and their continuing connections to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present and stand together with all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
RECOGNITION OF LIVED EXPERIENCE
We acknowledge people in our communities with lived experience of mental health, drug and alcohol concerns and those who care for them. We respect and value their generous contributions to our research.