Professor Paula Barrett - Profile

Paula is internationally recognised as a prominent scholar and groundbreaking

researcher in the field of child psychology and education and has a distinguished

international reputation as a keynote presenter. Recently, Paula received Highly

Commended Certificate for the Human Rights Medal of the Australian Human

Rights Commission; and the Telstra Queensland Business Woman of the Year

Award. In 2008 she was 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 is presently Adjunct Professor of the School of Education at the University

of Queensland. She has supervised 24 Honours, 19 Masters and 13 PhD students to

successful completion of their postgraduate degrees.

Professor Paula Barrett

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

Founder, Pathways Health and Research Centre

Author, FRIENDS for Life, Fun Friends and FOCUS

Patron, Pathways to Resilience Trust.

PBarrett@pathwayshrc.com.au This e-mail address is being protected from

spambots.

Paula has authored and evaluated over 15 years the well-known FRIENDS for Life

program recognised by the World Health Organization for the prevention and

treatment of childhood and adolescent anxiety and depression in children from the

age of 4. Worldwide the FRIENDS programs are available in 12 languages and are

used in 18 countries by government departments in the education and health

sectors, psychological and research-based clinics, academic institutions, and non-

profit organisations.

In 2007 Paula's Fun Friends program for 4 to 7 year olds was officially launched

by the Queensland Premier Anna Blight. And Paula has recently authored an

Adults Resilience Program utilising a weekend workshop approach currently

trialled around Australia with diverse populations.

Paula is a Certified Speaking Professional with the National Speakers Association

of Australia and has given numerous invited keynote addresses at national and

international conferences on positive psychology, child psychology and psychiatry.

In June Paula will present an invited address and four symposiums to the World of

Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Triennial Conference in Boston.

Paula is also the Director of the award winning Pathways Health and Research

Centre, 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 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 10,000s children the possibility of receiving these programs

through a train-the-trainer model.