Professor Paula Barrett

B.Sc (Hons), M.Clin.Psych., MAPS, PhD

Paula is internationally recognised as a prominent scholar and groundbreaking researcher in the field of child psychology and has a distinguished international reputation as a keynote presenter. Recently, Paula received the Telstra Queensland Business Woman of the Year Award. In 2008 she has also been a finalist in the Australian of the Year Queensland Award, and the Queenslander of the Year Award, for her contribution to the well-being of children and to the community.

Paula Barrett completed her Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours and a Licenciatura in Clinical Psychology at Lisbon University, Portugal. She completed a Clinical Masters Degree at the University of Queensland in 1991 and her Doctorate in 1995. Paula is presently under tenure as an Adjunct Professor of the School of Education at the University of Queensland. She has supervised 24 Honours, 19 Masters and17 PhD students to successful completion of their postgraduate degrees.

Paula was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship at the age of 16; a Commonwealth Scholarship in 1991 to complete her research Doctorate; the National Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy Early Career Award for her research and innovation in the field of clinical psychology in 1998; the National Australian Psychology Society Award for outstanding scholarship in the discipline of psychology in 1999; and most recently, Paula received the “Lord Mayor’s 2007 Australia Day Achievement Award” for outstanding services in the community for families and children.

Paula is the patron of the Pathways to Resilience Trust that works to implement the Fun Friends and FRIENDS for Life programs in Australian schools in areas of low Socio-Economic Status, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse and Indigenous backgrounds, as well as regional and remote areas, particularly those affected by drought. By implementing these programs in underprivileged Australian schools the Trust is working to prevent anxiety, depression and youth suicide, and to promote resilience in families and communities in areas of need. To date the Trust has provided up to 25,000 children with the possibility of receiving these programs.

Paula is also the Director of the innovative research-based clinic, Pathways Health and Research Centre. In 2008 Pathways Health and Research Centre was a Finalist in the Telstra Business Awards in the category of Innovation. Since its creation in 2003 Pathways has helped tens of thousands of children and families.

Paula has authored and evaluated over 15 years the well-known FRIENDS for Life program recognised in an evidence-based review conducted by the World Health Organization for the prevention and treatment of childhood and adolescent anxiety and depression. Worldwide the FRIENDS program has been used in New Zealand, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, China, the US, the UK, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Mexico, Iceland, Japan and Canada. In 2009 Paula has been working to implement the program in countries such as: Romania, Chile, Greece, Spain, Croatia, Ireland, Poland, Honduras, Columbia, India, Malaysia, Cambodia and Brazil.

In 2007 Paula’s Fun Friends program was officially launched by the Queensland Premier, the Honourable Bligh, MP, to aid in the prevention of anxiety and depression in 4 to 6 year olds. Paula has recently published FOCUS, a recognised treatment for OCD that has been proven effective.

Paula has given numerous invited keynote addresses at international conferences including: an invited keynote presenter and the invited Chair for the session on Mental Health Promotion Strategies at the Implementing Mental Health Promotion Action Conference in Barcelona on Sept 13-15, 2007 organised in conjunction with the World Health Organization; the International Congress on Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy V, Barcelona, Spain 9th -20th July, 2007; and the World Health Organization Conference, Oslo, Norway, 2006.

Despite this impressive list of achievements Paula remains humble and true to her cause of helping as many children as possible and building a sense of community. She enjoys conducting research and loves working with children. Her favourite things in the whole world include spotting aquatic sea-life off Stradbroke Island and enjoying the hot weather and beautiful scenery of Kakadu National Park.

Paula also loves spending time with her family, going bike riding and running along the Brisbane River. Collectively her prolific writing, generosity of spirit and fervour for research have had a significant impact on the lives of literally thousands of children all over the world.