Curriculum Vitae

Below is a brief overview of my professional experience. Please contact me if you want a full copy of my CV

Education/Qualification

  • Doctor of Psychology (Clinical) 2011 – 2015, Griffith University

  • Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) 2005 - 2009, University of Queensland

Additional Training and Affiliations

  • Clinical Psychologist

  • Board-approved Supervisor

  • Accredited Triple P Facilitator:

    • Level 2 - Selected Seminar Series, 0-12yrs

    • Level 2 - Seminar Series, Teen

    • Level 4 - 0-12yr Group Program

    • Level 4 - Teen Group Program

  • Associate Member of the Australian Psychological Society

  • Committee member – Batyr Risk Committee

  • Convener of Brisbane Psychologists in Schools network

  • Community AUSLAN (introduction) certification

Experience

  • Director, Clinical and School Psychologist - ConnectEd Counselling and Consultancy (January 2022 - Present)

  • Committee member – Batyr Risk Committee (August, 2018 - Present)

  • Convenor – Brisbane School Psychologists (September 2015 – Jan 2022)

  • School Psychologist – St Peters Lutheran College (October 2013 – Decmber 2021)

  • Committee member – Australian Psychological Society Psychologists in Schools Interest Group (October 2015 – December 2020)

  • Academic Peer Reviewer - Quality of Life Research; Psychiatry Research; Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools; Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice; Perspectives in Psychiatric Care; Asia Pacific Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy; BMC Palliative Care; Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing; BMC Psychiatry (January 2015 – Present)

  • Triple P Seminar and Group Facilitator (July 2012 – Present)

  • Presenter (January 2010 – Present)

    • Several hundred presentations around Australia to corporate organisations (e.g. Suncorp, University of Queensland, Griffith University), not-for-profits (e.g. TEDx, Reachout.com, Amnesty International, Batyr), conferences (e.g. International Conference on Youth Mental Health, International Mental Health Conference, Australian Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools Conference), health practitioners, schools and the general public.

    • Academic presentations on topics including school refusal, school psychology practice, outdoor education, risk management, collaborative work with young people and reforming the mental health sector

    • Professional development workshops including school policy and practice development, reflective practice, mental health literacy, feedback-informed work, self-care, working with young people

  • Princess Alexandra Adult Acute Inpatient Unit (externship placement) (February, 2013 – September 2013)

  • Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal Service – Mater Hospital (externship placement) (July, 2012 – November, 2012)

  • Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (externship placement) March, 2012 – July, 2012)

  • Queensland Police Service (externship placement) (January, 2012 – March, 2013)

  • Griffith University Psychology Clinic (internship placement) (March, 2011 – January, 2012)

Relevant employment and volunteering

  • Sessional Academic - Griffith University (2011 – 2014)

  • Director - ReachOut.com (formally Inspire Foundation) (2009 – 2014)

  • Reach Out Youth Ambassador (2005 – 2014)

  • Research Assistant - Centre for Philanthropy and Non-profit Studies (ACPNS) Queensland University of Technology (November, 2009 – December, 2010)

  • Research Assistant - Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research (CYSAR) - The University of Queensland (March, 2010 – November, 2011)

Publications and Presentations

Elkhalil, R., AIMekkawi, M., O’Connor, M., Sherif M., Masuadi, E., Ahmed, L.A., Al-Rifai, R., Belfakir, M., Bayoumi, R., Elbarazi, I. (2024.) Measurement properties of the Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS) validation studies: a systematic review protocol. BMJ Open, 14(4)

O’Connor, M. (2022). Personal and professional wellbeing in the workplace. Presented at Property Law Conference. Australia

Irvine-So, C. & O’Connor, M. (2021). Student Self-Harm, Suicide Attempts and Adverse Psychological Events: Understanding the Extent of Your Duties, Including After Return to School. Presented at Law for School Counsellors. Australia

O’Connor, M. (2020). School counselling during COVID-19: an initial examination of school counselling use during a 5- week remote learning period. Pastoral Care in Education. DOI: 10.1080/02643944.2020.1855674.

O’Connor, M. & Mason, J. (2019). Adopting a Wellbeing Support Framework for students at risk of harm - a real-world implementation of processes within a high School. Presented at the 5th International Conference on Youth Mental Health, Brisbane, Australia

O’Connor, M. & Yates, R. (2019). Presenting to parents on technology and wellbeing: providing a balanced perspective. Presented at National Education Summit, Brisbane, Australia.

O'Connor, M. & Keane, E. (2018). Outdoor Education and Wellbeing Program in a School Context. Presented at International Mental Health Conference, Gold Coast, Australia

O'Connor, M. & Keane, E. (2018). Ironbark research report: a review of St Peters Lutheran College outdoor education program. Brisbane, Australia

O'Connor, M. & Keane, E. (2018). Evaluation of a co-educational, 5-week Outdoor Education program for adolescents. Unpublished manuscript

O’Connor, M. & Coyne, J. (2017). A real-world example and recommendations for understanding and improving school counselling. Presented at Australian Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools Conference, Melbourne, Australia

O'Connor, M. & Coyne, J. (2017). School-based counselling service use: A year in the life of a school counselling department. Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools, 27(2), 251-261

O’Connor, M. (2016). Reflections on transitioning from student to practitioner. Presented at QUT Educational and Developmental Masters Case Conference, Brisbane, Australia.

O’Connor, M. (2015). Measuring Mental Health Literacy: Development of the Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS) (unpublished Doctoral Thesis). Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia

O’Connor, M., Allen, T., & Vidulich, J. (2015). The School Refusal Framework (SRF): Collaborating to reduce school refusal. Presented at Adolescent Success Conference, Brisbane, Australia

O’Connor, M., Casey, L. (2015). The Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS): A new scale-based measure of mental health literacy. Psychiatry Research, 229(1), 511-516

O’Connor, M., Casey, L., Clough, B. (2014). Measuring mental health literacy-a review of scale-based measures. Journal of Mental Health, 23(4), 197-204

McGorry, P., Hickie, I., Burns, J., O’Connor, M. (2012). Is there a crisis in youth mental health today? Conference presentation at Young Minds, Sydney, Australia

Van Dooren, K., O'Connor, M., & White, A. (2011). Consulting with young people: What CYSAR has learnt. Paper presented at the CYSAR Symposium. The 6th International Drugs and Young People Conference, Melbourne, Australia.

Fletcher, R., van Dooren, K., O'Connor, M., & Salom, C. (2011). Development and evaluation of substance use resources. Paper presented at the 6th International Conference on Drugs & Young People, Melbourne, Australia.

Barraket, J., Collyer, N., O'Connor, M., & Anderson, H. (2010). Finding Australia's Social Enterprise Sector: Final Report: Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies.