Assoc. Prof. Tom Whelan

Tom Whelan (PhD) is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology at ACU. He is the (Acting) Deputy Head of the School of Behavioural and Health Sciences. He has taught for over 20 years at university and currently teaches at both undergraduate and graduate levels in Developmental and Abnormal Psychology. Tom has published widely in academic journals, text books and the popular press. In addition, he is a clinical psychologist working in youth mental health. His current field of research involves the relationship between emotions, parenting and mental health. He has specific interests in parent wellbeing during early childhood.  

Journals (last 5 years)

Wilson, M., Hamilton, D., Whelan, T., & Pilkington, P. (2018). A systematic review of factors related to parents treatment decisions for their children with autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 48, 17-35.

Rominov, H., Giallo, R., Pilkington, P., & Whelan, T. (2018). Getting help for yourself is a way of helping your baby: Fathers experiences of support for mental health and parenting in the perinatal period. Psychology of Men and Masculinity, 19, 457-468.

Rominov, H., Giallo, R., Pilkington, P., & Whelan, T. (2017). Midwives perceptions and experiences of engaging fathers in perinatal services. Women and Birth, 30, 308-318.

Pilkington, P.D., Rominov, H., Milne, L., Giallo, R., & Whelan, T.A. (2017). Partners to parents: Development of an on-line intervention for enhancing partner support and preventing perinatal depression and anxiety. Advances in Mental Health, 15, 42-57. DOI:10.1080/18387357.2016.1173517

Rominov, H., Giallo, R., & Whelan, T.A. (2016). Fathers' postnatal distress, parenting self-efficacy, later parenting behaviour and childrens' emotional-behavioural functioning: A longitudinal study. Journal of Family Psychology, 30, 907-917. doi: .1037/fam0000216

Rominov, H., Pilkington, P.D., Giallo, R., & Whelan, T.A. (2016). A systematic review of interventions targeting paternal mental health in the perinatal period. Infant Mental Health Journal,37(3), 289-301. DOI: 10.1002/imhj.21560

Pilkington, P., Milne, L., Cairns, K., Whelan, T. (2016) Enhancing reciprocal partner support to prevent perinatal depression and anxiety: A Delphi consensus study. BMC Psychiatry, 16 (1). DOI: 10.1186/s12888-016-0721-0

Pilkington, P.D., Whelan, T.A, & Milne, L.C. (2016). Maternal crying and postpartum distress: The moderating role of partner support. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 34, 64-76.

McGeorge, K., Milne, L., Cotton, L., & Whelan, T. (2015). Effects of infant and maternal sensory processing on infant fussing, crying and sleep. Infant Mental Health Journal. 36 (3), 275-286.

Pilkington, P.D., Milne, L.C., Cairns, K.E., Lewis, J., & Whelan, T.A. (2015). Modifiable partner factors associated with perinatal depression and anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis, Journal of Affective Disorders, 178, 165-180. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2015.02.023

Pilkington, P.D., Whelan, T.A, & Milne, L.C. (2015). A review of partner-inclusive interventions for preventing postnatal depression and anxiety, Clinical Psychologist, 19, 63-75. doi: 10.1111/cp.12054

Mathew, J., Dunning, C., Coats, C., & Whelan, T. (2014). The mediating influence of hope on multidimensional perfectionism and depression. Personality and Individual Differences, 70, 66-71.