Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Belonging is strongly associated with depression in adolescence yet one in three young people do not feel like they belong to school. This startling and troubling fact explains why belonging research is Dr Kelly-Ann Allen’s core interest. Dr Allen is an Educational and Developmental Psychologist, a Senior Lecturer in the School of Education, Monash University, and an Honorary Senior Fellow at the Centre for Positive Psychology, Melbourne Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne.
With 20 years’ experience working in educational contexts, Dr Allen is committed to translating her research, knowledge, and expertise from academic to educational contexts. This commitment prompted her to establish and lead the International Belonging Research Laboratory (The Belonging Lab), a large transdisciplinary team of researchers dedicated to developing the field of belonging through the dissemination of research, engagement in translational projects, and the pooling of international expertise.
Awarded the Australian Psychological Society’s 2016 ‘Award for Excellent PhD Thesis in Psychology’ and the 2016 Psychology of Relationships Interest Group’s ‘Psychology of Relationships Thesis Award’, Dr Allen’s doctoral research examined how school belonging could be enhanced among secondary school students. The quality of her research has been acknowledged through the Dean’s Award for Research Excellence by an Early Career Researcher (2019) and the Advancing Women's Success Award (2020). In 2020, Dr Allen was recognised by The Australian as one of Australia's top 40 early career researchers, listed within the top 5 for her discipline.
Her contribution to the profession is evident in her service to the Australian Psychological Society's College of Educational and Developmental Psychologists, as Treasurer to the National Committee for 8 years, and in various journal editorial roles. Kelly is currently the Editor-in-Chief of the Educational and Developmental Psychologist and has previously served as Associate Editor for the Australian Journal of Psychology and the Australian Community Psychologist. She has also co-edited four special journal issues on belonging school belonging for Educational and Child Psychology, the Educational and Developmental Psychologist, and the Australian Journal of Psychology.
Integral to Dr Allen’s numerous publications – books, chapters and peer-reviewed papers - is her commitment to transdisciplinary and international collaborations. Dr Allen’s work is also characterised by accessible applications of her research into everyday practice, especially as it relates to the core beneficiaries of the work. As much of the research on school belonging has concentrated on the benefits of school belonging and the problems associated with not belonging, her contribution has been instrumental in altering the discourse from “school belonging is beneficial” to “what can we do about it?” This shift is evident in her single authored book The Psychology of Belonging (Routledge), her two books co-authored with Margaret Kern, School Belonging in Adolescents: Theory, research, and practice (Springer), Boosting School Belonging in Adolescents: Interventions for teachers and mental health professionals (Routledge). She has also published a co-authored book with Erica Frydenberg and Jan Deans, Developing Children’s Coping in the Early Years: Strategies for dealing with stress, change and anxiety (Bloomsbury) and published a co-edited volume Pathways to Belonging: Contemporary research in school belonging (Brill) with Chris Boyle which profiles international school belonging research.
Dr Allen’s most recent volume, co-edited with Andrea Reupert and Lindsay Oades, Building Better Schools with Evidence-based Policy: Adaptable Policy Guidelines for Teachers and School Leaders (in press, Routledge) addresses the perennial gap between research and practice, providing a practical resource for educators and school leaders. Dr Allen also regularly contributes to discussions of psychological issues in the media and gives invited lectures in the area of belonging (see her personal website for more details).
Research interests
A sense of belonging in school has far-reaching consequences for psychological and physical outcomes in adulthood. With strong links to school dropout, substance use, truancy, even suicide, it is critical that school belonging receives attention in national and international policy debates.
With belonging, as Dr Allen’s core research priority, her projects have built a conceptual and empirical understanding of what it means to belong. Using the Australian Temperament Project, Australia’s oldest epidemiological data set, in collaboration with the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, her current projects involve building a comprehensive understanding of the long-term outcomes of school belonging. Further, in an international school belonging study, Dr Allen is working across international contexts to examine how school belonging is conceptualised by young people.
In addition, Dr Allen represents psychology as a profession in other research areas and fields. As such, she is a member of six international transdisciplinary research teams based in the U.K., the U.S., Iran, Turkey, Malaysia, and Australia.
Dr Allen’s work is highly respected, as evidenced by her international collaborators including Michael Furlong, University of California, Dennis McInerney, Hong Kong Institute of Education and Lea Waters, University of Melbourne. Her research has been cited in important international publications: Wikipedia page for School Belonging and Belongingness, 2020; PISA 2018 Results (Volume III): OECD, 2019; and the Global Happiness Policy Report, 2018). It has also been cited by eminent scholars: Martin Seligman and Douglas A. Bernstein.
Monash teaching commitment
Graduate Diploma of Professional Psychology
EDF4604 - Research project
EDF4599 - Positive psychology in professional practice
Master of Educational and Developmental Psychology
EDF5723 - Exceptionality: Assessment and intervention
EDF5570- Advanced clinical interventions for mental health
EDF5572- Professional experience: Schools, families and groups
EDF5741- Psychology thesis part 1
EDF5742- Psychology thesis part 2
Community service
Dr Allen serves as a Board Director for two not-for-profit organisations: the Homeless Project and Early Childhood Intervention Australia VIC TAS, a peak body for early intervention in Australia. She has served as co-director and co-founder of the Change Cycle, a community engagement partnership with Umoona Tjutagku Health Service Aboriginal Corporation in Coober Pedy. In acknowledgement of her community engagement activities, she has won awards including the University of Melbourne's Peter McPhee Award for student engagement and the Leaders in Community Award.
Consulting
Dr Allen has partnered with Berry Street Education to develop a Master Class on School Belonging. In this innovative masterclass, the Berry Street Education Model introduces the topic of school belonging, demonstrating how fostering belonging in students has widespread benefits with positive outcomes that extend well into adulthood. As schools are ideal places to build lasting connections, the masterclass opens doors for creating connected and inclusive classrooms and schools.
Education/Academic qualification
Educational Psychology, PhD
2011 → 2015
Educational Psychology, Masters
2005 → 2008
External positions
Acting Editor, Educational and Developmental Psychologist
2019 → …Board Director, Early Childhood Intervention Australia (Vic/Tas)
2018 → …Board Director, The Homeless Project
2018 → …Treasurer, The College of Educational and Developmental Psychologists
2012 → 2020Senior Honorary Fellow, University of Melbourne
2012 → …Research area keywords
- Belonging
- School belonging
- Positive Psychology
- Social and emotional learning
- social inclusion
- relationships
- Enhancing health and wellbeing
- Educating for diversity and inclusion
- Transforming teaching and learning
Network
Projects
-
Student solutions to rebuilding belonging in schools post COVID-19: An Appreciative Inquiry
Allen, K., Berger, E., Grove, C., Patlamazoglou, L., Reupert, A., Gamble, N., Wurf, G. & May, F.
26/07/20 → …
Project: Research
-
Academic motivation and stress-related growth upon returning to school following Covid-19 lockdown: Can students grow following Covid-19 adversity?
Allen, K., Waters, L. & Arslan, G.
1/07/20 → …
Project: Research
-
School belonging and mental health outcomes in adulthood
Allen, K., Berger, E., Patlamazoglou, L., Reupert, A., Wurf, G. & May, F.
12/05/20 → …
Project: Research
-
Belonging to University During Covid
Allen, K., Sharif, S. P., Arslan, G. & Nia, H. S.
29/03/20 → …
Project: Research
-
The Development of a School Cultural Congruity Measure
Allen, K., Scull, J., Reupert, A., Berger, E., Bowles, T., Uddin , M. K., Salim Miah, M., Kikas, E., Shults, A., Omarashvili, M., Mikaia, N., Khundzakishvili, M., Hatzichristou, C., Soni, K., Matteucci, M. C., Brown-Earle, O., Iida, J., Watanabe, Y., Martinsone, B., Raižienė, S., Bartolo, P. A., Martinelli, V., Raykov, M., Sohn McCormick, A., Taj, M., Melo, M., Dinca, M., Birle, D., Gajdosova, B., Benka, J., Orosova, O., Sabová, L., Demkaninova, D., Gajdosova, E., Daniels, B., Collair, L., Moodley, T., Schad, E., Palikara, O., Rocha Neves, J., La Salle, T., Jimerson, S., Weber, M., Mittelstet, A., Zhang, C. & Long, A.
29/02/20 → …
Project: Research
Research output
-
Boosting School Belonging in Adolescents: Interventions for Teachers and Mental Health Professionals
Allen, K-A. & Kern, P., 2020, 1st ed. Abingdon UK: Routledge. 203 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book › Other › peer-review
-
Commentary: A pilot digital intervention targeting loneliness in youth mental health
Allen, K., 24 Jan 2020, In : Frontiers in Psychiatry. 10, 4 p., 959.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment / Debate › Other › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Citations (Scopus) -
Editorial for Creating a Culture of Belonging in a School Context
Allen, K-A., Boyle, C. & Roffey, S., Dec 2019, In : Educational & Child Psychology. 36, 4, p. 5-7 3 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › Other › peer-review
-
The Psychology of Belonging
Allen, K., 2021, 1st ed. Abingdon UK: Routledge. 128 p. (The Psychology of Everything)Research output: Book/Report › Book › Research › peer-review
1 Citation (Scopus) -
Trust and belonging in individual and organizational relationships
Allen, K., Tinggaard Svendsen, G., Marwan, S. & Arslan, G., 2021, Strategic Corporate Communication in the Digital Age. Camilleri, M. A. (ed.). 1st ed. Bingley UK: Emerald Group Publishing Limited, p. 19-31 13 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Research › peer-review
Prizes
-
Advancing Women's Research Success Award
Allen, Kelly-Ann (Recipient), 2020
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
-
Australian Postgraduate Award
Allen, Kelly-Ann (Recipient), 2011
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
-
Award for Excellent PhD Thesis in Psychology
Allen, Kelly-Ann (Recipient), 2016
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
-
BEST PAPER AWARD BLM 2020: An International e-Conference
Marjan Karimipour (Recipient), Saeed Pahlevan Sharif (Recipient), Allen, Kelly-Ann (Recipient) & Navas Naghavi (Recipient), 2020
Prize: Other distinction
-
Certificate of Recognition
Allen, Kelly-Ann (Recipient), 2020
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
-
Belonging Think Tank: Presentation to Doctoral Students at North Carolina State University | College of Education
Kelly-Ann Allen (Contributor)
2 Mar 2021Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public lecture/debate/seminar
-
The Lab Insight & Strategy Sydney (External organisation)
Kelly-Ann Allen (Member)
21 Feb 2021Activity: Industry, Government and Philanthropy Engagement and Partnerships › Consultancy
-
COVID-19 Roadmap to Recovery – A Report for the Nation
Kelly-Ann Allen (Fellow) & Michael Phillips (Fellow)
2020 → …Activity: External Academic Engagement › Professional association or peak discipline body
-
Rising from rejection: How educators can build school belonging in students - World Mental Health Presentation
Kelly-Ann Allen (Organiser), Kipling Williams (Keynote/plenary speaker), Kathryn Riley (Invited speaker), Ruth Thomas-Suh (Invited speaker), Mohammed Elmeski (Organiser), Umesh Sharma (Speaker), Emily Berger (Member of programme committee), Christine Grove (Member of programme committee), Lefteris Patlamazoglou (Member of programme committee), Andrea Reupert (Member of programme committee), Zoe Morris (Member of programme committee) & Gerald Wurf (Organiser)
6 Oct 2020Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to workshop, seminar, course
-
Belonging for the 5th Annual Say NO Bullying Virtual Festival
Kelly-Ann Allen (Contributor)
5 Oct 2020Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public lecture/debate/seminar
Press / Media
-
Assessing gender inequity in academia for International Women’s Day: opinion
Kelly-Ann Allen, Kerryn Butler-Henderson, Andrea Reupert, Fiona Longmuir, Ilana Rosenbluh, Emily Berger, Christine Grove, Amanda Heffernan, Nerelie Freeman, Sarika Kewalramani, Shiri Krebs, Levita D'Souza, Grace Mackie, Denise Chapman & Marilyn Fleer
5/03/21
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
-
International Women's Day 2021: The realities of being a woman at the top of academia
Kelly-Ann Allen, Andrea Reupert, Marilyn Fleer, Amanda Berry, Jane Wilkinson & Ruth Jeanes
2/03/21
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
-
‘Suck It Up’ Is Not The Right Answer To An Avalanche Of Rejection
14/02/21
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
-
The need for mental health action and education in Australian schools
Alexandra Marie Marinucci, Christine Grove & Kelly-Ann Allen
10/02/21
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
-
The need for mental health action and education in Australian schools
Alexandra Marie Marinucci, Christine Grove & Kelly-Ann Allen
10/02/21
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature