Cathy Bent

Dr. Cathy Bent is a Senior Research Fellow at La Trobe University's School of Psychology and Public Health, where she has been a valued member of the Childhood Autism and Parenting Team (CAPTeam) since 2017. Her academic journey at La Trobe began as a Research Fellow at the Victorian Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre in 2017, progressed to Research Fellow with CAPTeam in 2020, and culminated in her current Senior Research Fellow position starting in January 2024.

Dr. Bent earned her Bachelor of Psychological Science with Honours from La Trobe University in 2009, followed by her PhD in 2018. Her doctoral thesis received significant recognition, winning the prestigious Nancy Millis Medal (awarded to the top 5% of doctoral theses at La Trobe University) and an Australian Psychological Society award for outstanding contribution to the field of Psychology of Intellectual Disability and Autism.

Dr. Bent's research is fundamentally centered on understanding development and individual differences among Autistic and neurodivergent children. She is deeply committed to community-engaged research, collaborating with lived-experience experts to develop, implement, and evaluate supports that are effective, acceptable, and appropriate to child and family needs. Her work spans across early intervention models, diagnostic assessment practices, family experiences across diverse cultural backgrounds, and the development of evidence-based supports for autistic children and their families.

Analysis of Dr. Bent's recent publications reveals a strong focus on community perspectives in autism research, with particular attention to cultural diversity in autism support services. Her work consistently examines how individual and family needs shape effective interventions, with increasing emphasis on cross-cultural experiences of autism diagnosis and support. Methodologically, she combines qualitative approaches capturing lived experiences with quantitative assessments of intervention outcomes and diagnostic tools.

• Nancy Millis Medal for outstanding doctoral thesis
• Australian Psychological Society award for contribution to Psychology of Intellectual Disability and Autism

Dr. Bent actively supervises Higher Degree by Research students (Masters, PhD) and Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) students as part of her academic role. She contributes significantly to professional development through facilitating group training for health professionals and researchers in the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS). Her teaching extends to guest lectures in Research Designs & Methods (PSY4PRM) and Understanding and Support for Autism (PSY3ASD), demonstrating her commitment to educating the next generation of psychology professionals.

As a core member of the Childhood Autism and Parenting Team (CAPTeam), Dr. Bent participates in collaborative research initiatives focused on autism across the lifespan. Her work often involves partnerships with community organizations, healthcare providers, and autistic individuals and families to ensure research is grounded in real-world needs and experiences.