Concetta Benn

Concetta "Connie" Benn AM ( Megna; 12 December 1926 – 18 March 2011) was an Australian social worker. Born in Melbourne to a family of Italian migrants, Benn is best known for her work with the Brotherhood of St Laurence and created a new theory of social work called developmental approach. She was the first Research Officer for the Leader of the Opposition in the state of Victoria where she helped bring in amendments to the state's Social Welfare Act. In her retirement she accepted positions for various organisations. Benn was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1995, and was added to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women seven years later.

Early life Benn was born in Melbourne on 12 December 1926. She was the daughter of Maddalena (née Paino) and Antonio Megna. Megna immigrated from the Italian island of Lipari before the outbreak of the First World War but was required to return and joined the Italian Army. After a few years, he went back to Australia, She graduated in 1957. Benn left to become the Head of School at the Phillip Institute of Technology but found it difficult to teach and spent a large amount of time in administrative work. Benn was contacted by Mary Draper for the position of the Director of Social Development under the Victorian Labor government of John Cain which she accepted.

Benn also assisted in the establishment of the Victorian Women's Trust. In 1985 she was promoted to the position of deputy director-general of Community Services Victoria.