Griffith University
QLD Australia
Dr Karin Plummer is a pediatric nurse and clinician researcher dedicated to minimising harm for hospitalised children by reducing unnecessary pain and distress. As a Lecturer in Nursing at Griffith University and an Honorary Research Fellow in the Children’s Hospital Queensland Department of Anaesthesia and Pain, she combines clinical expertise with innovative research in pediatric pain management.
Karin’s work advocates for kinder and less toxic pain treatment options for children, integrating medical and psychological interventions to optimise care. Her research is informed by a neuroscience-driven approach, recognising that untreated pain can lead to lasting changes in a child’s nervous system and avoidable pain conditions.
As a translator of research into practical solutions, Karin is at the forefront of developing personalised pain management strategies for children with cancer. With support from the Kids Cancer Project Early Career Research Fellowship, she is leading the design of a digital tool to assist parents in making confident and timely decisions about pain management during their child’s treatment in collaboration with their healthcare providers.
Karin serves as Chair of the Australian Pain Society’s Pain in Childhood Special Interest Group and the Australian and New Zealand Children’s Oncology Nurses Research Group. She is committed to incorporating consumer voices in paediatric pain research and policy to enhance health outcomes for children, families and their healthcare providers.
