Catherine Hungerford

Catherine Hungerford is an Associate Professor and Head of College, Nursing and Midwifery at Central Queensland University's School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences. Her leadership spans curriculum development, accreditation, and managing multi-campus operations. With a PhD from the University of Queensland (2012), she has held academic roles at multiple institutions, including Adjunct Professor at Federation University.

Her research focuses on mental health nursing, recovery-oriented practice, nurse practitioner roles, and education. Key interests include autism/mental health integration, workplace well-being, and culturally safe care. She authored the widely used textbook Mental Health Care: An Introduction for Health Professionals (5th ed., 2023) and chairs the ACMHN Accreditation Committee.

Hungerford’s 90+ publications address topics like nurse resilience, AI in recruitment, and equine therapy for autism. She has led funded studies on mental health recovery and clinical models. Awards include Fellowship from the Australian College of Mental Health Nursing (ACMHN).

Her teaching spans undergraduate/postgraduate nursing programs, emphasizing evidence-based practice and mental health care. Current units include Evidence to Underpin Nursing Practice and Mental Healthcare in Nursing. She previously worked in clinical, policy, and consultancy roles, including contributions to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.