Kathy Karatasas

Settlement Services International (SSI)

Kathy has worked extensively in statutory and oversight agencies, managing child and family programs . Her experience includes child protection, adolescent and women’s health, early intervention and foster care.  She has a strong commitment to driving services which influence positive wellbeing outcomes and is a strong advocate for sector practice improvements  in working with and supporting children and families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Kathy has worked across a number of NSW government reforms, re-designing services to improve outcomes for children and families.

Justine Harris is a Clinical Psychologist, and currently the Clinical Practice Manager at Settlement Services International. She has an extensive background in clinical leadership, program design and implementation in New Zealand (NZ) and Australia. She was instrumental in the adoption and roll out of Multisystemic therapy in NZ contributing to decreased offending  in young people and increased family functioning. She is a recognised expert in the application of parenting and family interventions in the area of child protection, juvenile justice and domestic violence. She has been with SSI for the last 2 years and is bringing her knowledge of working with clients with unique and complex experiences to the settlement and multicultural space.

Kathy currently leads the Settlement Services International‘s  multicultural child and family program and involved in a number of research projects looking at data in relation to outcomes for children from CALD backgrounds in care.

Kathy is a member of a number of sector advisory committees and a Director of the Association of Child Welfare Agencies.

Kathy has a Masters in Social Work, Diplomas in Adult Education and Public Sector Management