Dr Kimberley O'Brien is one of Australia's most recognised Educational and Developmental Psychologists, bringing over two decades of expertise in child and adolescent psychology with a distinctive neurodiversity-affirming approach. As Principal Child Psychologist and co-founder of Quirky Kid Clinic, she has established herself as a leading advocate for children's mental health and early intervention strategies.
Dr O'Brien holds a PhD in Educational Psychology from Monash University, with her doctoral research specifically focusing on "Belonging and socio-emotional wellbeing among students in the transition from primary to secondary school" - making her uniquely qualified to address the challenges of early adolescence and puberty-related behavioural concerns. She also holds a Master of Arts in Developmental Psychopathology and a Bachelor of Social Science in Psychology from Charles Sturt University.
As a Fellow Member of the Australian Psychological Society College of Educational and Developmental Psychologists (FCEDP), Dr O'Brien is a Board-Approved Supervisor with permission from the Psychology Board of Australia to supervise Clinical Psychology Registrars. Her clinical expertise spans working with young people aged 2-18 years and their support systems, with particular specialisation in developmental transitions, emotional regulation, and behavioural interventions.
Dr O'Brien has authored over 10 books and therapeutic resources for children and educators, published through Hodder UK, Springer Press, and Quirky Kid publications. Her evidence-based approach to psychological interventions has been recognised internationally, with her award-winning tools and resources having positive impact on children in more than 30 countries.
Her commitment to global mental health advocacy has led to invitations from the Bhutanese Government to train psychiatrists and mental health professionals in Himalayan hospitals, schools and NGOs. She appears regularly in Australian media (ABC Radio, The Age, Sunrise) as an expert voice on children's mental health, early intervention, and developmental psychology topics.
Dr O'Brien's approach to early adolescent behaviour combines her deep understanding of developmental transitions with practical, evidence-based interventions. Her expertise in managing the complex interplay of physical, emotional and social changes during puberty makes her uniquely positioned to guide healthcare practitioners in supporting young people and families through this critical developmental period.
In recognition of her innovative contributions to child psychology, Dr. O'Brien received a $200,000 Female Founders Grant from the Australian Government to develop BriteChild, a digital platform providing global access to child psychology services with reduced wait times.
