CATHERINE CURREY

Advocate of humankindedness, admirer of ranunculus, and unapologetic sneaky sipper of Baileys, Cath is a behaviour support practitioner by day and a referee of sibling squabbles by night. A widow and sole parent of three, she claims “spare time” is a mythical concept invented by people without kids.

Cath isn’t brand new to writing, with a long ago past life as a creative copywriter, though poetry snuck up on her somewhere between school lunches, after school activities, and bedtime battles. What began as scribbles to try something new has somehow landed her on stage. This state final is her second-ever poem and performance, which she says feels a bit like going from learner plates to Formula One — but with more soul-searching and no safety checklist.

Her view of the world mixes grit, humour, and tenderness, reflecting the messy magic of parenting, grief, resilience, and the strange spectacle of global goings- on filtered through late night Instagram reels.

Cath hopes her words can illuminate both the smallest moments — like a child finally falling asleep — and the bigger can of worms we sometimes avoid. And if not, she’ll happily settle for a laugh and maybe a Baileys later on.

– See the APS Victoria Finalists compete for the crown of APS ‘25 Victoria State Final Champion at the 2025 Victoria APS State Final on 11 October at State Library Victoria.