Catherine is Associate Professor in Communities and Social Justice, School of Social Sciences and a committed public intellectual and community leader in the areas of homelessness, mental ill-health and child and youth well-being. A sociologist and qualitative social researcher with a broad interest in the relationship between vulnerability, suffering, embodiment, injustice and place, Catherine conducts research and advocacy for impact on social policy and social service design and delivery. Her current work focuses on understanding the experiences and support needs of Tasmanian children and young people who experience complex risk and vulnerability, including unaccompanied homelessness.

Catherine brings a rich mix of academic and community sector experience to her role at UTAS. She also worked as Series Consultant and On-Screen Co-Host with Blackfella Films on three seasons of SBS factual documentary series Filthy Rich and Homeless. Catherine is currently the UTAS Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute Centre Director and lead of the new UTAS Homelessness ColLAB, a hub for collaborative research and advocacy to end homelessness for priority populations. The UTAS Homelessness ColLAB has a focus on innovative social policy and social service design, and is currently focused on unaccompanied children and young people, women, and people experiencing homelessness in the context of complex need.