Karen McKnight joins the Collaborative Centre as Senior Workforce Development Facilitator, Lived Experience -Family/Carer Perspective. 
She is a writer, educator and workplace trainer with many years' experience delivering a range of holistic, creative and vocational training programs in the AOD/mental health sector. She has also held roles in lived experience workforce development and advocacy across organisations including Turning Point and SHARC. Her work focuses on translating evidence-based research and lived experience insights into accessible, inclusive learning tools.
An award-winning writer and facilitator, Karen's creative practice explores storytelling as a vehicle for connection, healing, and systems change. She recently presented at the 2025 VAADA Conference on elevating carer voices through narrative practice. Karen is passionate about embedding carer leadership and lived experience co-design within workforce development, helping to build a compassionate, learning-focused mental health system across Victoria.
Welcome to Karen!