Sara McLean

Dr Sara McLean

School of Society and Culture

College of Education, Behavioural and Social Science

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Sara is a registered Psychologist who is known for her critical analysis of theory and practice in the management of children with challenging and high stakes behaviours. She synthesises emerging knowledge from the fields of neuropsychology, clinical and forensic psychology and child protection; and translates this knowledge into evidence-informed practice and policy.
Sara has expertise in young people with developmental difference  arising from early adversity, prenatal substance exposure, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, and interpersonal trauma and neglect. Sara was awarded the ACU Linacre Fellowship at Oxford University in 2016. She is co-author of the Fostering Difference website and consults to Government and community services on evidence-informed decision making and policy in relation to young people with high stakes behaviours and complex needs, who are living in statutory care settings.

Neuropsychology, brain development and behaviour amongst children exposed to prenatal toxins, early life stress, adversity and trauma: evidence and implications for practice.

Practical evidence-informed strategies to address problematic and offending behaviours in out-of-home care (foster care and residential care).

Supporting and retaining foster carers and residential care workers.

Promoting self–care and managing workplace stress and burnout when working with challenging client groups.

Cross sector and interdisciplinary collaboration in the care of children: strategies for addressing barriers.

Year Citation
2016 Winsor, T., & McLean, S. (2016). Residential group care workers' recognition of depression: assessment of mental health literacy using clinical vignettes. Children and youth services review, 68, 132-138.
DOI
2015 McLean, S. (2015). Managing behaviour in child residential group care: Unique tensions. Child and Family Social Work, 20(3), 344-353.
DOI
2014 Octoman, O. J., & McLean, S. J. (2014). Challenging behaviour in foster care: what supports do foster carers want?. Adoption and fostering, 38(2), 149-158.
DOI
2014 McLean, S., McDougall, S., & Russell, V. (2014). Supporting children living with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: Practice principles. CFCA Practitioner Resource, Australian Institute of Family Studies.
2014 Octoman, O., McLean, S., & Sleep, J. (2014). Children in foster care: what behaviours do carers find challenging?. Clinical psychologist, 18(1), 10-20.
DOI
2013 Parkinson, S., & McLean, S. (2013). Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in children: implications for judicial administration. Journal of judicial administration, 22(3), 138-145.
2013 DeGregorio, L. J., & McLean, S. (2013). Issues and challenges for service agencies in monitoring educational outcomes for children in out-of-home care. Children Australia, 38(3), 100-105.
DOI WoS3
2013 Iannos, M., McLean, S., McDougall, S., & Arney, F. (2013). Maintaining connectedness: family contact for children in statutory residential care in South Australia. Communities, children & families Australia, 7(1), 63-74.
2013 McLean, S. (2013). Therapist's selfcare: compassion ftigue, burnout & vicarious trauma. CAPA Quarterly, 20-22.
2013 DeGregorio, L. J., & McLean, S. (2013). The cognitive profiles of maltreated children in care and their educational needs: supporting good outcomes. Children Australia, 38q28(1), 28-35.
DOI
2013 McLean, S., Riggs, D., Kettler, L., & Delfabbro, P. (2013). Challenging behaviour in out-of-home care: use of attachment ideas in practice. Child and Family Social Work, 18(3), 243-252.
DOI Scopus17 WoS14
2013 Parkinson, S., & McLean, S. (2013). Social development in children with foetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Children Australia, 38(3), 124-128.
DOI
2012 McLean, S. (2012). Barriers to collaboration on behalf of children with challenging behaviours: a large qualitative study of five constituent groups. Child & family social work, 17(4), 478-486.
DOI
2012 McLean, S., Kettler, L., Delfabbro, P., & Riggs, D. (2012). Frameworks for understanding challenging behaviour in out-of-home care. Clinical Psychologist, 16(2), 72-81.
DOI Scopus4 WoS4
2011 McLean, S., Price Robertson, R., & Robinson, E. (2011). Therapeutic residential care in Australia: taking stock and looking forward. National child protection clearinghouse issues, 35, 1-22.
2009 Emery, S., Wade, T. D., & McLean, S. (2009). Associations Among Therapist Beliefs, Personal Resources and Burnout in Clinical Psychologists. BEHAVIOUR CHANGE, 26(2), 83-96.
DOI WoS23
1996 Geffen, G., Mason, C., Butterworth, P., McLean, S., & Clark, C. R. (1996). Tactile simultaneity thresholds within and between hemispheres: The effects of hemispace. Cognitive Neuropsychology, 13(2), 257-276.
DOI Scopus16 WoS15

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