Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Psychological trauma is one of the leading causes of disease, disability and social disadvantage across the lifespan. Trauma in childhood affects social, learning, emotional and behavioural processes, leading to risk-taking and health risk behaviours, welfare dependence and obesity, heart disease, stroke and early death in adulthood.
My research focuses on the lifelong implications of adverse childhood experiences, trauma and interventions to support children and families exposed to stress and trauma. I lead research on disasters, refugees, out-of-home care, disability, COVID-19, regional and rural adversity, and stress and trauma in early childhood, primary and secondary schools, and tertiary settings.
The focus of my work is to apply and embed trauma-informed practice and interventions into the day-to-day operations of organisations and school communities. I have published widely in this area and seek to translate trauma research into accessible policy and practice recommendations for schools and frontline workers.
I am endorsed with the Psychology Board of Australia as an Educational and Developmental Psychologist and Board-approved Supervisor. I also teach in the Masters of Professional Psychology and Masters of Educational and Developmental Psychology at Monash University, and hold an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow position with Monash’s School of Rural Health.
Research interests
My research interests include child mental health and academic outcomes, self-injury and suicidal behaviour, child trauma and posttraumatic stress, disadvantaged children and children in out-of-home care, domestic violence and childhood outcomes, teacher education and supervision, and trauma-informed practices.
Monash teaching commitment
I am a Senior Lecturer in Educational Psychology within the Faculty of Education, Monash University. My teaching commitments are across the Masters of Professional Psychology and Masters of Educational and Developmental Psychology courses and include:
- EDF5569 - Advanced Practice in Educational and Developmental Psychology - Chief Examiner, Unit Coordinator and Lecturer
- EDF5563 - Cognitive Assessment - Chief Examiner, Unit Coordinator and Lecturer
I also undertake research supervision of Masters of Educational and Developmental Psychology, Graduate Diploma in Professional Psychology and PhD students.
Supervision interests
I take on research supervision of honours, masters and PhD students within the areas of child and adult trauma, trauma-informed practice and interventions, self-injury and suicidal behaviour, disadvantaged children and families, children in out-of-home care, domestic violence, therapeutic interventions, and teacher education and school-wide support.
Clinical activities
I am a registered and endorsed Educational and Developmental Psychologist and board-approved supervisor with the Psychology Board of Australia, and a member of the Australian Psychological Society (MAPS) and College of Educational and Developmental Psychologists (MCEDP). I have worked as a psychologist in school, hospital and private practice settings delivering mental health diagnosis and treatment to children and families.
I have experience in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, specific learning disorder, anxiety disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression and other mood disorders, school refusal and adjustment related issues, eating disorders, self-injury and suicidal behaviour, and other behavioural, social and emotional concerns in children.
Consulting
I offer education and supervision to teachers and mental health professionals regarding childhood trauma interventions and management in schools, school policy development regarding high-risk behaviours and trauma among students, self-injury and suicidal behaviour and interventions in schools, and assessment, diagnosis and treatment of a range of psychological, academic, social and behavioural concerns of children.
I also offer consultancy regarding research methods and evaluation of school-based interventions concerning childhood trauma, self-injury and suicidal behaviour, disadvantaged and vulnerable children, disengaged children and children in out-of-home care, academic performance and post-school outcomes, and parent and teacher education and supervision.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Research area keywords
- child mental health
- self-injury
- resilience
- posttraumatic stress
- teacher training
- child trauma
- trauma-informed schools
- domestic violence
- suicide
- disasters
- disadvantage
- poverty
- educating for diversity and inclusion
- enhancing health and wellbeing
- transforming teaching and learning
Network
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Literature Review supporting engagement of Australian Schools with international development
12/05/23 → 31/08/23
Project: Research
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Be You Pre-service Educator Capacity Building and Wellbeing Project
Reupert, A., Berger, E., Gavin, E., Hammer, M., Patrick, P., Cooper, R. & Marangio, K.
8/05/23 → 30/06/23
Project: Research
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Improvement of school indoor air quality and children's health
Guo, Y., Li, S., Abramson, M., Dharmage, S. C., Carroll, M., Berger, E., Gao, C., Song, J., Chang, V. & Zhou, J.
1/08/22 → 31/07/25
Project: Research
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The Thoughtful Schools Project: Implementation and Evaluation of a Trauma-Informed Practice Program
Martin, K. E., Egeberg , H., Lund, S., Walker , R. & Berger, E.
1/11/20 → 30/11/23
Project: Research
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The Thoughtful Schools Project: Implementation and Evaluation of a Trauma-Informed Practice Program in Western Australian Schools
Martin, K. E., Egeberg , H., Lund, S., Walker , R., Dobson, M. & Berger, E.
1/09/20 → 1/12/23
Project: Research
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A systematic review of client’s perspectives on the cultural and racial awareness and responsiveness of mental health practitioners
Sadusky, A., Yared, H., Patrick, P. & Berger, E., 2023, (Accepted/In press) In: Culture and Psychology. 39 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Belonging as a core construct at the heart of the inclusion debate, discourse, and practice
Allen, K-A., Boyle, C., Sharma, U., Patlamazoglou, L., Pentaris, P., Grové, C., Yared, H., Berger, E., Gamble, N., Morris, Z. A., Finefter-Rosenbluh, I., Morgan, M. & May, F., 2023, Research for Inclusive Quality Education: Leveraging Belonging, Inclusion, and Equity. Boyle, C. & Allen, K-A. (eds.). 1st ed. Singapore Singapore: Springer, p. 271-288 18 p. (Sustainable Development Goals Series).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Research › peer-review
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Developing a support program for adult children of parents with mental illness: a Delphi study
Patrick, P. M., Reupert, A. E., McLean, L. A. & Berger, E., 2023, In: Community Mental Health Journal. 59, p. 209-221 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Exploring self-care practices in foster carers: a qualitative study
Miko, A. L., Berger, E. & Krishnamoorthy, G., 2023, In: Journal of Public Child Welfare . 17, 2, p. 333-355 23 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
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Finding a sense of belonging in the absence of family
Allen, K-A., Berger, E., Campbell, T., U'Ren, M. & Andrews, M. L., 2023, Youth Without Family to Lean On: Global Challenges and Local Interventions. Israelasvili, M. & Mozes, S. (eds.). 1st ed. Abingdon UK: Routledge, p. 41-58 18 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Research › peer-review
Prizes
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Australian Postgraduate Award
Berger, Emily (Recipient), 2011
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Australian Scholarship Group Travel Grant Award
Berger, Emily (Recipient), 2014
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Postgraduate Student Researcher Award
Berger, Emily (Recipient), 2010
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Activities
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Australian Psychological Society (APS) College of Educational and Developmental Psychologists Annual Conference 2023
Kelly-Ann Allen (Session chair), Emily Berger (Speaker), Joe Coyne (Speaker), Simone Gindidis (Speaker), Chelsea Hyde (Speaker), Kathryn Kallady (Speaker), Zoe Morris (Speaker), Camelia Wilkinson (Speaker) & Gerald Wurf (Speaker)
17 Feb 2023Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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Motivating Your Mind - Monash Scholars Event
Emily Berger (Contributor)
13 Apr 2022Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public lecture/debate/seminar
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Trauma-Informed Practice for Teachers
Emily Berger (Contributor) & Karen E. Martin (Contributor)
9 Jun 2022Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public lecture/debate/seminar
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ACEL Victoria’s President's Research Seminar, Mental health of children and young people: What do schools and school leaders need to know and do?
Jane Wilkinson (Organiser), Donna Cross (Invited speaker), Emily Berger (Invited speaker), Govind Krishnamoorthy (Invited speaker) & Helen Stokes (Invited speaker)
15 Jun 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to workshop, seminar, course
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Keynote: Trauma-informed practice and implications concerning COVID-19
Emily Berger (Contributor)
12 Jul 2021Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public lecture/debate/seminar
Press/Media
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Let’s Get Uni Students Face-to-face Again – For Their Mental Health
David Neil Tuck, Emily Berger, Joshua Wiley & Lefteris Patlamazoglou
19/10/22
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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How does a major disaster impact student learning?
11/05/22
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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‘Harrowing’: Trauma caused by Morwell coalmine fire set high school students back 18 months
3/02/22
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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COVID has further increased anxiety and depression rates among university students
David Neil Tuck, Emily Berger, Joshua Wiley & Lefteris Patlamazoglou
1/11/21
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature