We caught up with 2024 APS Major Award Winner Dr Kelly-Ann Allen FAPS to learn more about the impact of this recognition and her fascinating career to date.
It was a combination of serendipitous moments that led prominent belonging researcher Dr Kelly-Ann Allen FAPS into her field of expertise.
Once she discovered her passion for belonging and began sharing her research through a growing social media presence, a dynamic career in writing, speaking and scholarship took shape, opening doors to collaborate with global organisations, including NASA.
Being awarded APS's Media Award for Public Engagement with Psychology Science award last year was another feather in Dr Allen's cap that has been "incredibly meaningful" to her.
Below, Dr Allen talks about how she got into the field of belonging research, outlines some of the key pieces of advice she's collected throughout her career so far (and the advice she'd share with emerging psychologists) and some of the interesting trends she is noticing in her role as the editor for APS's The Educational and Developmental Psychologist journal.
1. Last year you were awarded the APS Media Award for Public Engagement with Psychological Science. What did this recognition mean to you?
The award is incredibly meaningful to me. As an academic and psychologist, so much of our work is evaluated through traditional metrics like peer-reviewed publications. But the activities I’ve been doing – media engagement, social media use, writing for public audiences – aren’t always recognised or linked to promotion within the university system.
To have this type of work formally recognised by the APS validates that it’s not just worthwhile, but impactful. It says that this work is reaching the public, making a difference and delivering benefit where it matters.
Universities do support media engagement – there are training opportunities, and media teams are very supportive. But I don't think the structures have caught up with how essential public engagement has become. The general public doesn’t usually access peer-reviewed journals. They want to understand our work without jargon, without needing a university library login.
This award signals that APS values the bridge between research and public understanding. I'm incredibly grateful.
Be recognised for your hard work in psychology by nominating yourself – or a colleague – for an APS award as part of our 2025 program. Nominations are open until 30 June.
2. How has engaging with mainstream media and public audiences influenced your own research and professional identity?
Media engagement has helped me understand the platforms that create the greatest reach and impact. One that stands out for me is Psychology Today, where I regularly write blog pieces linked to my academic publications.
That platform has brought my work into workplaces and institutions globally, including some at my own university who first discovered my work there rather than through our internal networks. I’ve seen how writing for the public can create meaningful uptake of ideas and contribute to broader conversations.
It’s also been personally empowering. As well as being an academic, I'm a mum. So, I can write when it suits me – early in the morning or after my kids go to bed – and still be present for my family.
The media has also had a strange effect on how I see myself and my professional identity. On one hand, I want the work on belonging to reach as many people as possible. But I do worry about how I might come across to my peers. I never want it to seem like I’m promoting myself rather than the work. I know I’m not alone in this. Many people avoid media for the same reason. Still, the importance of belonging, and the need for advocacy, outweighs that worry for me.
3. You're recognised as a global expert on research into belonging. What drew you to the topic of belonging, and how has your understanding of it evolved?
It’s hard to pinpoint one moment. It’s been a series of personal, professional and serendipitous experiences. My own childhood and family life gave me a deep appreciation of love and belonging. But when I encountered the concept of belonging as a researcher, something clicked.
A pivotal moment was during a Positive Psychology interest group meeting at the University of Melbourne. I remember sitting around the table, which was led by Erica Frydenberg, who is a fellow of the APS. She asked us to share what we're working on. Another colleague, Meredith O’Connor, who is an incredible researcher, was discussing how school belonging predicted positive youth development in adulthood. I remember feeling so inspired by that.
Around the same time, completely by accident when I had taken a wrong turn and was a bit lost driving around in Melbourne, I listened to a radio interview with Professor Alex Haslam, who is a social identity researcher, on the psychological benefits of belonging to a group for stroke patients.
Then I had another chance encounter with a woman living in her car after having fled a domestic violence situation, who had parked near her old school because it was the one place that still felt safe. Even though school was a really long time ago for her – she was an adult in her 40s – this is what she was drawn to. That conversation moved me deeply.
All these moments made me want to uncover the ‘ingredients’ of belonging, especially in school settings, so that every young person could access that foundation.
4. You presented your research on belonging to NASA. How did that come about?
The opportunity came through astronaut Sian Proctor, who came across my work on Instagram. At the time, she was working with NASA’s National Space Council Users' Advisory Group for STEM Education, Diversity & Inclusion focused on supporting students’ future careers in STEM.
They invited us to present our research on school belonging. It was an extraordinary experience. I never imagined NASA would be interested in my work. But once your research is out in public – on Instagram, in blogs and in the media – you realise that decision-makers, astronauts, board directors and CEOs are also engaging with social media and therefore could be engaging with your work.
You can’t always predict where your work will land. But if you communicate it publicly, you open up those opportunities.
5. What advice would you offer to psychologists aiming to communicate complex ideas on social media without compromising professional rigour?
It’s a complex space, especially for practising psychologists. As an academic, I don’t face the same ethical dilemmas around boundaries or client confidentiality.
But psychologists who want to use social media should consider setting up separate public and private profiles, understand the relevant ethical guidelines, and remain within their areas of competence.
Media engagement can raise awareness, reduce stigma and advocate for change, but it must be done thoughtfully. If you're unsure, I recommend media training to navigate these complexities with confidence.
6. You’ve delivered keynotes for organisations like Beyond Blue and the Department of Education. What makes a psychological keynote resonate with diverse audiences?
While I'm not professing to have any special skills in delivering a keynote, people often tell me that my keynotes are relatable – that they feel like they’re hearing from someone just like them. I think that’s because I don’t consider myself a ‘keynote speaker’. I’m a researcher who uses keynotes to share my work.
I've also had the opportunity to watch other psychologists deliver amazing keynotes – like Professor Lea Waters, who was my PhD supervisor at university and recent past convenor of the APS Positive Psychology Interest Group. She's amazing; she takes people on a journey, she makes them laugh, she makes them cry, she's really polished. And, quite importantly, she is energising and you can tell that she finds delivering keynotes energising too.
The topic of belonging also lends itself to emotional connection because it’s deeply human. So the key is finding a balance between the intellectual and the emotional.
Being yourself, speaking from purpose and making a human connection with your audience can go a long way. You don’t need to be a performer – just present what you know.
7. What advice would you offer experienced psychologists looking to grow as public speakers or advocates?
Confidence can be cultivated, just like any other skill. For me, it comes from a deep connection to purpose. When I focus on why I'm speaking, the nerves fall away.
Start by clarifying what drives you. What change do you want to make in the world? What ideas matter most to you? Then practise, be yourself and speak from that place of purpose.
8. You’ve published nearly 150 journal articles, 50 book chapters and more than a dozen books. What motivates your writing practice?
Writing is my joy. It’s how I start my day – before the house wakes up, with a cup of coffee and uninterrupted time at my desk. That’s when I enter a flow state and feel most energised. I can be disconnected from my work demands and my responsibilities of motherhood and completely immerse myself.
I don’t consider myself the best writer, but it’s something I deeply love and want to master. Writing is both my job and my hobby. I use my work hours for journal articles, and my personal time for books, conceptual pieces and even some fiction – like children's picture books (my most recent books were illustrated with APS Board Member, Kathryn Kallady, who is an extremely talented artist and Educational and Developmental Psychologist) and, recently, a sci-fi short story I wrote for fun.
Research gives me something to write about, but writing is my first love.
It’s an incredibly exciting time to be a journal editor. One major trend is the rise of international voices. We're publishing more work from researchers in countries that haven't traditionally had visibility in psychology.
We’re also seeing cross-disciplinary contributions. One popular article was co-authored by sociologist, Professor Steven Roberts and education scholar Dr Stephanie Wescott, examining the role of manfluencers and sexist behaviour and its impact on youth. That’s been a valuable contribution to educational psychology.
Another trend is an increased focus on lived experience and the value it brings to research. I believe the diversity of perspectives is making our field richer, more relevant and more globally connected.
The 2026 APS College of Educational & Developmental Psychologists Conference is now open for submissions. This is your opportunity to showcase cutting-edge ideas, research, and innovations that are shaping the future of educational and developmental psychology. Start your submission today.
10. What societal shifts do you think will shape the future of belonging research?
A key area is digital belonging: how people form belonging in online spaces, and the role of AI in reducing or exacerbating loneliness. We’ll also need to explore how online belonging impacts real-world relationships.
Another area is belonging within morally ambiguous groups, which looks into what compels individuals to find belonging in spaces that are harmful or antisocial. This is an area I believe warrants further study.
11. What guidance would you offer early-career psychologists who want to bridge research, practice and public communication?
First, get media training if it's available. Reflect on your purpose – what are you hoping to achieve with your communication?
Be strategic with your time. Media engagement is real work, and it can be time-consuming. Start with platforms you're comfortable with, and don’t feel you have to say 'yes' to everything.
If you prefer writing over speaking, lean into that. There’s no one right way to engage.
12. What is one piece of advice that has shaped your career?
When I was considering whether to take on a new project, a former Dean asked me: “What kind of professor do you want to be?”
That helped me focus on what I wanted to be known for, and make choices that aligned with that vision. We all receive a lot of requests. But when you know what impact you want to have, it's easier to say no to things that don’t align.
13. Finally, what advice would you give to someone thinking about applying for an APS award in 2025?
Be yourself. You don’t have to impress a panel with flashy media appearances or a big public profile.
Think about the impact of your work. What change has resulted from your media engagement? Be authentic, be clear and show the outcomes. This is an award that deserves a high profile – and the more applications received, the more we can elevate the value of public engagement across our profession.
Don't miss your chance to be recognised by your peer group. Nominations for APS's 2025 Awards Program are now open, until 30 June.