Ms Kathy Karatasas | Multicultural Children in Foster Care | Best Researcher Award

Ms Kathy Karatasas, University of Western Sydney, Australia

Kathy Karatasas is a value-driven senior executive with a proven track record in leading strategic, evidence-informed, and innovative practice initiatives, as well as driving organizational change, development, and service system reforms within a framework of inclusion and cohesion. She is a motivated, responsible, and passionate leader, known for her vision, enthusiasm, and commitment to collaborative approaches that influence both strategic and personal outcomes. Kathy is a culturally responsive leader who confidently represents and advocates for others, with extensive operational and management experience in service delivery and oversight across government and non-government organizations, including early intervention, child protection, out-of-home care, health, education, and settlement. Her solution-focused, data-driven leadership is complemented by a strong background in governance and safeguarding processes, fostering respectful, constructive, and reflective dialogues to sustain strategic alliances. Kathy is also dedicated to lifelong professional learning, social justice principles, and the development of knowledge responsive to the evolving needs of the workforce.

Publication Profile

Scopus

Strengths for the Award

1. Leadership in Research and Implementation: Kathy Karatasas has demonstrated exceptional leadership in both research and implementation of strategic initiatives, particularly in the areas of child protection, out-of-home care (OOHC), and multicultural service delivery. Her role in leading the ARC project and other research initiatives highlights her ability to manage complex research projects effectively.
2. Experience in Multicultural and Social Justice Initiatives: Kathy’s work in multicultural child and family programs, including her focus on culturally responsive practices and the development of the S.E.L.F cultural framework, underscores her commitment to social justice and equity. This aligns well with the objectives of a Best Researcher Award, as it shows her dedication to producing impactful research that addresses the needs of vulnerable populations.
3. Innovative Solutions and Advocacy: Her track record in developing innovative solutions, such as the Quality Assurance Framework and the Pathways of Care Longitudinal Study, demonstrates her ability to translate research into practice. Additionally, her advocacy work, particularly in promoting cultural care in the OOHC sector, shows her influence in shaping policy and practice.
4. Professional Recognition and Qualifications: Kathy’s extensive educational background, industry qualifications, and recognition through awards and board memberships further validate her expertise and influence in her field.

Areas for Improvement

1. Broader Research Publication Record: While Kathy has significant experience in leading and contributing to research, expanding her publication record in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals could strengthen her profile for a research-focused award. Increasing her visibility in academic circles through more published research would enhance her candidacy.
2. Global Research Collaboration: Kathy could benefit from expanding her research collaborations on an international level. Engaging in global research projects or partnerships could broaden the scope and impact of her work, making her a more competitive candidate for an international research award.
3. Focused Research Narrative: While Kathy’s experience is broad and diverse, honing in on a specific research narrative that clearly defines her unique contributions to the field could make her application more compelling. A focused research agenda that ties her various projects together could strengthen her case.

Educational Qualifications

Kathy holds a Bachelor of Social Work (1984) and a Master of Social Work (1990) from the University of New South Wales. She has further enhanced her expertise with a Graduate Management Certificate from the Australian Graduate School of Management (1992), a Diploma in Adult Education (Vocational Education Training) from the University of Technology Sydney (2002), and a Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management from Flinders University (2014).

Industry Qualifications and Recognition

Kathy’s industry qualifications include Managing Successful Programs – PRINCE 2 Foundation (2013), Coaching Level One from the Institute of Executive Coaching and Leadership (2013), and certification as a Family Group Conferencing Convenor (2016). She has completed leadership development programs such as ETVIA Leadership Development (2017), Lead@SSI Leadership Program (2018), and For Purpose Executive Leadership (2019-2023). Kathy’s achievements have been recognized through her shortlisting for the “Influencer of the Year” category at the Third Sector Awards (2021) and being a finalist at the Zest Awards (2022). Additionally, she serves as a Community Management Leadership Mentor for ACWA (2020-2023) and is a member of The Non-Profit Alliance Alumni (2019-), AASW (2023), and was awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship (2023).

Professional Experience

University of Western Sydney (Aug 2023 – Present): Kathy is a Research Manager at TeEACH, leading the Upholding Children’s Rights to Cultural Connections Project, where she conducts consultations with OOHC service providers and other key stakeholders to design research that informs data collection processes aimed at maintaining cultural connections for children in care. She coordinates the ARC project, managing all phases from participant identification to data analysis and project governance.

Publication Top Notes