Consumer Consultant for Alfred Psychiatry

Catherine is Consumer Consultant for Alfred Psychiatry in Victoria. Known for her warmth and openness, she has been working in public mental health services for the past six years. Catherine promotes inclusiveness, ethical treatment, compassionate care and personal recovery from a lived experience perspective and is honoured to have the opportunity to influence positive change in mental health outcomes for individuals and the community.

Catherine's unique sense of humour and depth of insight has helped her create genuine relationships with consumers, carers and community members, board members and directors. Working with and hearing from other people with lived experience who receive treatment from the service has given her the opportunity to support and influence service improvement.

Enjoying a challenge and working in a clinical setting, Catherine has been able to balance service needs and limitations with consumer needs and rights to improve both service delivery and consumer outcomes. She has also found that a work/life balance is essential to maintaining her mental and physical health, and finds enjoyment with her local tenpin bowling league, in her passion for creative writing and cooking.

Watch Catherine Bennett talk about the Fellowship here.