Jill Bennett

Scientia Professor Jill Bennett is an Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow at the University of New South Wales, serving as Founding Director of the Big Anxiety Research Centre (BARC) and member of the leadership team for the Ageing Futures Institute. Her pioneering work bridges art, science, and mental health through innovative transdisciplinary approaches that transform theoretical knowledge into practical applications.

Professor Bennett's research focuses on experiential media design, visual culture, trauma studies, and immersive media/VR applications. She specializes in psychosocial and creative approaches to mental health, developing methods to communicate embodied experiences through technology. Her work explores how virtual reality creates 'perception simulation,' enabling people to 'see through the eyes of another' to foster empathy and understanding.

Her publications demonstrate a trajectory from theoretical explorations of trauma and visual culture to practical applications addressing mental health challenges through community engagement and technological innovation. The IEEE Award-winning project 'The Visit' exemplifies her approach to using interactive avatars with women experiencing dementia.

• Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow
• IEEE Award for 'The Visit,' an interactive avatar project made with women with dementia
• 'Best New Event' at the Australian Event Awards (2017) for The Big Anxiety festival

As a leader, Professor Bennett directs the Felt Experience & Empathy Lab (fEEL) at UNSW, bringing together psychosocial and creative practitioners specializing in mental health engagement. She has secured significant ARC Laureate fellowship funding since 2018 to support innovative research at the intersection of art, technology, and mental health.

Professor Bennett leads major initiatives including the Big Anxiety Research Centre and collaborates with organizations like the NPY Women's Council for the Uti Kulintjaku initiative, demonstrating her commitment to culturally appropriate mental health approaches developed with diverse communities.