Knowing | Swinburne University | Melbourne, Australia

Swinburne University of Technology is leading the way in science, technology, innovation, business and design.

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A global designer helping out the next generation

From working in design studios, to lecturing, to founding a global online design community that bridges the gap between studying and working in design, Swinburne alumni Frankie Ratford has been busy since graduating. 

Written by Renee Chung, Bachelor of Design / Bachelor of Media and Communications. 

The Design Kids, who have endorsed Swinburne this year, provides global online resources to educate, inspire and connect graphic design students to industry as well as local community events and networking. 

Founder Frankie came to Swinburne as a second-year student having already completed a course in graphic design programs. 

She studied a Bachelor of Design with a major in Communication Design, and at the end of her second year, applied to the Industry Placement program, where students work in the design industry for an entire year. 

After sheer determination and perseverance, she secured employment at Chimera Design after which she returned to complete her honours. 

“It was awesome!” she says of her time at uni.   

After an almost-disaster at her graduation showcase, involving a lost final year project, she was luckily able to get contact details to send her folio off to design studio Frost* Collective.

“I wasn’t messing around,” she says of her job application process after university. 

“I'd done a tonne of research to know which studios I suited and where I wanted to go, so I was ready.” 

Two weeks after Christmas, Frankie got a call, and one week after that, she had moved to Sydney. 

Designing a global experience 

She spent the next 18 months at Frost* Collective, but found that while she loved graphic design, she wasn’t in love with the business of being a graphic designer. She decided to take six months off, ending up in Madagascar. 

It was there where she decided she wanted to help people, specifically people with an interest in design. Exploring gaps in the industry, Frankie found that getting a job after graduation was a big issue for many, so The Design Kids was born. 

Frankie helps design graduates find work in the industry. 

Since starting the organisation, Frankie has been flown to New York City, Dubai, Barcelona, Tel Aviv, Dublin, Florida, Milwaukee and Melbourne to speak at design conferences. 

“There's something about speaking at international conferences that makes my heart sing - to be recognised in design still blows my mind.” 

She’s also lectured at a wide range of design universities and colleges, been invited to judge awards and been featured on blogs. 

“I am insanely grateful to be part of this amazing global community we have in design.” 

What’s next? 

“ALL THE GOOD STUFF!” says Frankie.   

The Design Kids is planning design bootcamps - applications are open at TDKbootcamps.org - in exotic locations where they take a handful of lucky designers and completely polish and make their careers in a week, then send them off into the world. 

The Design Kids will be holding events at Swinburne throughout 2019. 

They’ve just completed one in Sri Lanka and have ones in Bali, Portugal and Byron coming up. She’s also writing a book, doing design charity trips, learning UX and coaching design studios! 

10 years of success 

The Design Kids will be 10 years old this November and Frankie wants to stress that they are not recruiters. 

“The graduates figure out their (own) careers, we just have all the resources in one place for them,” she says. 

The Design Kids hold local events called #TDKtuesdays which Swinburne will be hosting three of this year in conjunction with the Swinburne Design Collective. 

“If you're going to design your life, why make it boring?!” says Frankie. 

Look out for more details about #TDKtuesdays throughout the year and if you’re a designer, check out thedesignkids.org

Written by Renee Chung, Bachelor of Design / Bachelor of Media and Communications. Renee is currently on placement at Swinburne in the Design Bureau studio.

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Turning a uni assignment into a career

When Georgia Higgins and Katherine Powell produced a podcast called Reality Check for a uni assignment, they never imagined they would still be recording it three years later. Nor did they ever imagine they would be building a career helping others produce their own podcasts.

Written by Kaitlyn Blanchard, Bachelor of Media and Communication (Public Relations). 

Georgia and Katherine’s first taste of podcasting came during the final year of their undergrad studies at Swinburne in 2016, when they were tasked with producing their own media product for an assignment.

Georgia, a Bachelor of Communications - now Media and Communication - with a minor in journalism and Katherine, a Bachelor of Arts with a major in media and communication, had been heavily involved with 3SSR producing community radio and television shows. They decided to use this experience to make a podcast.

The result was Reality Check, a podcast discussing all things – you guessed it – Reality TV.

Not only is Reality Check still being recorded today, but it has also been nominated for an Australian Podcast Award and made the Top 10 in Nova’s PodQuest. Pretty impressive for what was just supposed to be a uni assignment!

Starting up

Now, the girls are helping organisations engage with their communities by empowering them to produce their own podcasts, with their startup Off Air Media.

“When we first got into podcasting, Georgia and I noticed there was a gap in the market,” says Katherine.

“While podcasts were becoming increasingly popular as a medium for entertainment, we were surprised that they hadn’t been integrated within the workplace as a communication tool.”

“We came up with the idea for Off Air Media towards the end of 2017 after being asked to produce a targeted podcast for an organisation, but it wasn’t until 2018 that we really took the steps to build it into a business.”

So far the girls have been fortunate to work with a few high schools and other organisations to produce podcasts that serve as an extension to their traditional communication tools such as email and newsletters.

As podcasting continues to grow, they hope to grow with it, continuing to produce great content with their current clients, while also working with new ones.

Katherine and Georgia produced their podcast Reality Check for a uni assignment in 2016, and haven’t stopped podcasting since. 

How to make a podcast, and a good one too

As cheesy as it may sound, all you really need to make a podcast is an idea according to Georgia and Katherine.

“The great thing about producing a podcast, is that you don’t need an expensive recording suite to make it happen,” they say.

“There are so many ways you can record a podcast, whether it be buying a microphone or even doing it through Skype.”

“You really can record anytime and anywhere!”

As for what makes a good podcast, both girls agree that the key ingredient is passion.

“Being passionate about the content you are making and making something that is of interest to you as a producer, makes for a good podcast,” says Katherine.

“If you are truly interested in what you are making, you are already halfway there before you even start recording.”

“You need to have a passion for what you are recording and if you have that, the sound quality, the download numbers, or anything else someone might use to judge it by doesn't matter,” says Georgia.

What they’re listening to

So, aside from their own, what are some of the girls’ favourite podcasts?

“I am absolutely loving You Beauty by Mamamia at the moment,” says Katherine.

“I also enjoy interview-based podcasts such as Game Changers: Radio, No Filter and Oprah’s Masterclass.”

Meanwhile, Georgia struggles to say no to a good true crime podcast, like Serial.

“I also quite like quirky fiction podcasts such as Welcome to Night Vale,” she says.

The future of podcasting  

Going forward, Katherine expects to see a lot more podcasts being adapted into TV shows and films.

“In the past year, there have been quite a few podcasts adapted into TV shows or films - hello, Dirty John! - so I think this trend will continue,” she says.

However, Georgia isn’t one to predict the future.

“In my first year at Swinburne, a tutor asked me what my dream job was once I graduated,” she says.

“To this I replied, whatever I will be doing doesn’t exist yet, and look – here I am five years later doing something I never imagined I would be.”

“I can’t tell you what the future holds for podcasting, but what I do know is that whatever it is, we will be ready for it.”

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Shaking up business through the lens of popular culture

Sitting through a business presentation isn’t always the most thrilling experience. That’s why Swinburne Lecturer, Simon Hammond decided to shake up the business world with a new style of presentation to challenge audiences to rethink how business connects with humanity – Lectern Rock.

According to Simon, Lectern Rock is a part theatre, part rock concert, part business insight briefing that was born out of what he saw to be a very boring, vanilla world of presentations in business.

“After attending a concert with my daughter, I realised artists were completely transforming the way they presented into a combination of theatre, music, their own oration,” Simon explains.

Simon felt that even the best business presenters weren’t bridging the gap between their business concepts and what people engaged with through popular culture.

“I was going to a lot of business presentations that were ‘death by PowerPoint’, so seeing a style of performance that was at the complete opposite end of the scale gave me an idea. I felt strongly that the business world deserved more, so I started to put together a group of musicians for a business-meets-theatre show.”

The result is a show that shares interesting, powerful and sometimes emotive stories about brands that connect with humanity, interspersed with live music that links these themes and encourages the audience to think about popular cultures’ role in business.

Bringing a theatrical style into the classroom

After several years of presenting Lectern Rock around the world, Simon is now teaching the key concepts of his show in the Master of Marketing.

Swinburne’s Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship (AGSE) has partnered with Hammond Thinking, a branding collective founded by Simon, to co-design and co-deliver the Branding and Creative Innovation unit.

“The way I present in the classroom is similar to my style in Lectern Rock. There are a lot of popular culture references and visual cues,” he says.

“In this unit, we look at the history of mankind and realise that behaviour has always come from a sense of where you fit in and where you belong. We apply that to the business world and show students that the important thing for marketing and branding is to create a sense of belonging, both in your own organisation as well as for your customers.”

Simon believes that it’s this kind of dynamic delivery that will help students to engage in their learning, getting them excited about the world of business and their future careers.

“There is change needed in the way we all teach in an age where people’s attention spans are challenged,” he says.  

“The world is vivid and three dimensional and I think you have to bring that into the classroom. You have to keep students engaged instead of just feeding them information and that’s what we’re doing in this course.”

Written by Rachel Martens, Bachelor of Communications (Media Studies).

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Get active this April for a healthy body and mind

Exercising and being active can be great for your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, but many of us don’t move our bodies as often as we should. That’s why this year, Swinburne is encouraging our community to get involved in Premier’s Active April – a government initiative that promotes physical activity and offers a bunch of freebies, discounts and prizes to keep you motivated.

How it works

Active April is free to sign up to and there are a whole lot of reasons to get involved, aside from advancing your health and wellbeing.

Every participant receives a range of discounted offers and passes, a few of which include:

10 free passes to Hawthorn Aquatic and Leisure Centre, or your local participating YMCA

Free experiences at Parks Victoria parks

Five free group dance lessons at a participating DanceSport Victoria centre

One free Cardio Tennis trial at participating Tennis Victoria courts

One hour free tennis court hire at Melbourne Park or Albert Reserve

You can also log your daily activity in the mobile or web app and chart your progress throughout the month.

Get involved

What better way to kick off your month of getting active than by trying out some new activities?

Come along to the Active April launch at our Hawthorn campus on Monday 1 April to have a go at a whole lot of free activities, including:

Handballing drills with Richmond Institute of Sports Leadership

Yoga with Hawthorn Aquatic and Leisure Centre

Shooting soccer goals with Sport and Recreation Victoria

Making your own smoothies with Medibank’s Bike n Blend

Also, don’t miss the chance to check out our state-of-the-art facilities in the Health Precinct, including the latest virtual and augmented reality technology, strength and conditioning and biomechanics labs. Meet in the SPW foyer to join a tour at:

11.30am

12.15pm

1.00pm

Head to Wakefield Lawns and SPW from 11.30am - 1pm, Monday 1 April, to join in the fun!

Why you should get active

Course Director of the Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science, Associate Professor Amanda Benson, is the academic ambassador for this year’s Active April and is passionate about spreading the message of the importance of being active.

“As well as being valuable to general health and wellbeing, physical activity is also proven to prevent and treat chronic disease,” she says.

“Active April promotes the importance of trying out new activities and finding ways to embed 30 minutes of physical activity into your lifestyle so you continue to be active.”

Keen to get involved? Students can sign up and join the Swinburne Students team (ID: swinburnestudents). 

Staff can sign up and create their own work teams – make sure you put ‘Swinburne’ in your team name!

Written by Rachel Martens, Bachelor of Communications (Media Studies).

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To nap or not to nap?

Ahead of World Sleep Day on 15 March, we asked Swinburne sleep researcher, Dr Ben Bullock, should we take naps during the day?

“If circumstances allow, then yes,” says Ben.

“There is nothing inherently wrong or unhealthy about naps. In fact, naps offer numerous benefits for physical and emotional health.”

“Many cultures around the world still take afternoon naps as part of their daily routine, although they are not a traditional feature of Western lifestyle routines.”

Getting the best results

Ben says if you want to make naps a part of your routine a few caveats are in order:

Limit naps to the early afternoon (before 3pm) to avoid experiencing difficulty getting to sleep later - many people experience a drop in alertness in the early afternoon anyway, making it a good time to take a nap.

Avoid napping for longer than 30 minutes to avoid entering deep sleep.

Expect some mild grogginess upon waking, so avoid tasks that require quick thinking in the period immediately following a nap.

Ready to experience the joys of napping? Check out the best spots on campus to take a nap.

Also, find out why we yawn and read about how product design engineering alumni Nuwan Ranasinghe developed his skills to help people with sleep issues.

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How far a Bachelor of Arts can take you

Since completing a Bachelor of Arts at Swinburne, Dustin Barter’s work to support social change has taken him throughout Asia and East Africa. Next, it will take him to the UK, after receiving a 2019 John Monash Scholarship to undertake his PhD at Cambridge University.

Written by Kaitlyn Blanchard, Bachelor of Media and Communication (Public Relations).

Granted by the General Sir John Monash Foundation, John Monash Scholarships, are amongst the most important postgraduate scholarships available in Australia, awarded to outstanding Australians with leadership potential who wish to study overseas.

Dustin learned of the scholarships five years ago when he first began considering a PhD overseas and was researching funding opportunities. However, it was not until last year he decided it was the right time to do it and applied for a scholarship.

Currently based in Somalia, where he is the Senior Campaigns and Policy Manager at Oxfam, Dustin missed the initial call from the General Sir John Monash Foundation, to say he had been awarded one of the scholarships.

Once they eventually reached him with the exciting news, he was left a bit lost for words.

“Being way off in Somalia and told I’ve received a scholarship to study at Cambridge was very surreal,” he says.

Dustin has been awarded a 2019 John Monash Scholarship to complete a PhD in Development Studies at Cambridge University (General Sir John Monash Foundation). 

There and back again

This will not be the first time Dustin has had the opportunity to study at Cambridge University.

Following his Bachelor of Arts (Honours), with majors in philosophy and media studies, and a minor in politics at Swinburne in 2009, Dustin completed his Masters of Philosophy in Development Studies there in 2013.

Now, he is looking forward to returning in October.

“When I was at Cambridge doing my masters, I was blown away by its amazing environs, matched with such vibrant and engaged students, academics and visiting activists and ‘movers and shakers’ such as the Dalai Lama,” he says.

“I am very excited to be returning to study there.”

Dustin shares a laugh with His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d), Governor of New South Wales, at the announcement of the 2019 John Monash Scholarships (General Sir John Monash Foundation).

Advancing peace and justice

Dustin will complete his PhD in Development Studies, focusing on the interactions between international institutions and local civil society in South East Asia.

“This is a deeply contested issue full of competing ideologies and agendas,” he says.

“The importance of local civil society is widely recognised, but there are still major questions about how international institutions actually go about supporting them in developing countries.”

He hopes his research will provide insights into this and ultimately help improve the way international institutions, especially Australia, engage with local civil societies, which is critical to advancing peace and justice.

Dustin is grateful for the opportunity that the General Sir John Monash Foundation has provided him and to those who have helped him get there.

“The John Monash team have been so supportive,” he says.

“They are truly all about helping people put their best foot forward.”

“And certainly a big thank you to the Swinburne academics, not just for the education I received, but who even ten years after graduating continue being supportive and ultimately good mates!”

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Creating allies in research

A couple of months into her PhD, dietitian Georgie Buckley is learning how to navigate life in the realm of research for the first time. Supporting her every step of the way is the Swinburne Women’s Academic Network (SWAN).    

Written by Alicia Nolan, Bachelor of Communications (Advertising).

After studying a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Dietetics, Georgie has come to Swinburne to complete her PhD. An athlete at heart, Georgie is drawing from her own experiences of sport culture to focus on ‘Disordered eating behaviours in male athletes’.  

“It’s my own lived experience of what the actual culture of sport is like and how there’s elements there not being captured in the research at the moment and how I can do that,” says Georgie,

“I want to be able to help all athletes. Once we have a picture of men and women, we’ll have a better picture of athletes’ complex relationship with food. No one’s looking into males and that’s holding back the female picture.”

A blessing in disguise

With no background in research, you could say Georgie has taken a big leap of faith.  

“I went into research not really knowing if I’d like it but it’s been a blessing in disguise,” she says,

“The more I do it the more I realise I like it. I’m really enjoying the autonomy of focussing on my own project and the independence that comes with it.”

A key player along the way has been the support network Georgie has built around her.

“The genuine connections I’ve formed this year at Swinburne have been a major highlight. Whether it’s with my supervisor or mentor or fellow PhD students. I’ve made a lot of genuine connections and long term friendships.”

“I’ve been attending the SWAN events with a couple of the people I work with as well. It builds an alliance between people.”

Georgie’s PhD is focusing on disordered eating behaviours in male athletes. 

The Swinburne Women’s Academic Network  

A program created to support women in the higher education and research sector, the Swinburne Women’s Academic Network has already driven significant increases in academic promotion, and has been replicated at other universities. 

Initially finding out about the program through an email, Georgie was sold after attending her first workshop exploring resilience and vulnerability as women in the academic workplace.

“It was amazing,” Georgie says.

“There was every level of researcher, from someone like me who was a couple of months in, to professors in their field, who were actually not looking at status but seeing similarities in how we approach vulnerability or how people struggle with being resilient and how we can empower each other.”

Georgie took the day as a lesson in how to look towards her own natural strengths instead of looking at them as a hindrance which can be easy if they don’t align with other people in a workplace.

“SWAN has been a really great way to introduce me to research and create other women allies,” she says.

“It’s given me the opportunity to actually know and meet other women academics on a personal level and share difficulties and successes with them, but have a realistic outlook on what research is like.”

Looking ahead

As Georgie works through her PhD she hopes there continues to be safe spaces for women in academia to tap into their strengths – whatever they are.

For now, she leaves a piece of advice for other PhD students…

“If you find something you like just do it,” says Georgie.

“Follow your intuition and create allies.”

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Meet the mentors behind the RoboCats

The RoboCats are a Swinburne-based robotics team, made up exclusively of 14 to 18-year-old girls from across Melbourne. Each year, the team competes in the FIRST Robotics Competition held in Sydney. Four of the mentors behind the scenes share how they’re helping build the robot for this year’s competition and encouraging girls’ participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Written by Kaitlyn Blanchard, Bachelor of Media and Communication (Public Relations).

Becoming a mentor

Before she became a mentor to the RoboCats, biomedical engineering student Paloma Lione, was first a member of the team.

“Throughout high school I was very interested in STEM, so one of my teachers would always tell me about any related programs or events,” Paloma says.  

“She mentioned the Robocats and it sounded much more fun than any other STEM program I had participated in, so I joined!”

Engineering graduate, Devon Boyd has also been involved with the RoboCats for a while now.

He began mentoring the team in 2015 – their inaugural year – when they were based at his former high school.

When the RoboCats moved to Swinburne, it was perfect for Devon who was already doing a double degree in engineering and computer science, majoring in robotics and mechatronics, at the university.

Stephanie Jupp and Eamonn Field are newer to the team, both only joining the team this year.

As an aspiring high school science teacher, Stephanie was encouraged by her faculty to get involved.

“I chose to undertake a double degree in secondary education and science because I wanted to combine my interest in science with my passion for teaching,” she says.

Stephanie wants to combine her love of science and teaching by becoming a science teacher. 

“Mentoring the RoboCats allows me to get in experience in both.”

Studying network design, Eamonn was invited to mentor the RoboCats after he volunteered at the FIRST Lego League competition in 2018.

“I really enjoyed the experience, so I asked if there were any other related events I could help with,” he says.

“At the time I didn’t know much about the RoboCats, but I was assured it would be a great experience, and when I saw the size of the robot they were going to be building I couldn’t resist!”

Building a robot

To participate in the FIRST Robotics Competition the RoboCats need to work together to design, build, program and learn to drive their very own robot based on the year’s theme.

This year’s theme for the competition is Destination: Deep Space, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing.

Adding to the challenge, the team has only six weeks to create the robot, which can stand up to 6-feet tall and weigh as much as 50 kilograms.

“It’s a big task, but the girls have been able to manage it very well all while, most importantly, having fun,” says Stephanie.

As mentors, Eamonn, Stephanie and Paloma say it is their role to guide and support the girls throughout the build and all the way to the competition.

This includes project management duties such as ensuring the team is on and track and everyone is contributing, as well as sharing their skills and knowledge to help them develop ideas and a game strategy.

Eamonn says the RoboCats is more about the girls learning and having fun than just winning. 

“There are some teams where the mentors essentially do everything and although it makes a cool robot, it isn’t very enjoyable for the actual team members,” says Eamonn.

“The RoboCats are different. The idea is to have the girls do as much as possible, making it more about learning and having fun instead of just a laser focus on winning.”

Since beginning full-time work, Devon unfortunately can’t dedicate as much time to the RoboCats but still helps out where he can.

This year, he has been using his experience to help with knowledge of the rules and the feasibility of the girls’ ideas.

Encouraging girls in STEM

While some progress has been made, STEM fields are still largely dominated by men, says Paloma.

This is something she experiences first hand, often being one of the only girls in her classes.

“I look around in my lectures, and I don’t see many girls,” she says.

“However this shouldn’t deter girls from choosing to study a STEM field.”

The RoboCats and their robot ‘Valentina’ which they will compete with at the FIRST Robotics Competition.

The RoboCats’ mentors are helping to get more girls involved in STEM.

“The best part about being a mentor is getting girls excited about participating in STEM,” says Eamonn.

“It’s awesome to see their enthusiasm about building a robot, and to know you’ve helped foster that.”

So, what’s their advice for girls who are interested in STEM?

“Talk about your interests with your parents and your teachers so they can help you seek out related opportunities,” says Stephanie.

“There has been an increase in opportunities targeted at girls, but unfortunately many of them exist outside of the school system, so it’s important to speak up.”

“I also think many young girls are afraid of being the only girl participating in an activity, but they shouldn’t be. Just give it a go!”

Introducing ‘Valentina’. 

To learn more about the RoboCats and the competition visit their website. 

[swinburne]

Embedding Indigenous knowledge into design

More than 40 interior design students recently submitted designs for Swinburne’s new Moondani Toombadool Centre, as well as an existing Indigenous student space. Student Justin Lack, who was awarded ‘Best Design’, reflects on the exciting opportunity and incorporating Indigenous design principles into his concept.

Written by Kaitlyn Blanchard, Bachelor of Media and Communication (Public Relations).

Everyone involved knew from the start that this collaboration would be exciting. However, what they didn’t expect, was the depth and breadth of the learning that would take place.

Before they began designing, Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration student Justin and his classmates were guided by The Moondani Toombadool Centre and their teachers to gather as much knowledge about Indigenous history, culture and design as they could.

This was achieved through embedding Indigenous knowledge into the curriculum and speaking with Indigenous team members at Swinburne, as well as visits to the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Blak Designs Matter exhibition.

They also participated in yarning circles – an Indigenous dialogue practice - to discuss and develop their ideas together.

Describing the opportunity as a ‘foot in the door’ to the interior design industry, Justin says it has taught him about the importance of researching your client.

“If something is important to the client, then it should be important to you, and indeed Indigenous knowledge and perspectives became important to me,” he says.

Designing for Indigenous peoples

To ensure the spaces they designed would be functional and welcoming for Swinburne’s Indigenous staff, students and friends, the students were sure to incorporate Indigenous design principles.

After learning that fishing is a part of the deep cultural and spiritual connection many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have with their waters and marine resources, Justin decided to include key pieces that reflected this throughout his designs.

In his winning design, he used clustered pendant lighting with woven shades inspired by fishing nets and cages.

He also included circular centralised seating which not only could be used for yarning and to encourage connectivity and reconciliation, but also acts as a metaphorical island separating the space into land and sea.

Justin’s winning design. 

A night to remember  

The students’ designs were first shortlisted by the interior design and decoration course coordinators, Verges Chan and Kathleen Estoesta, before staff from the Moondani Toombadool Centre chose the winning designs.

Winners were then presented with awards by Swinburne Vice-Chancellor Professor Linda Kristjanson AO at an awards night in the proposed site for the new Moondani Toombadool Centre.

Justin was ecstatic to see all his hard work pay off and be recognised by the Moondani Toombadool Centre.

However, the announcement that he had won Best Design for the Moondani Toombadool Centre, didn’t go as smoothly as he would have liked.

“As they were announcing the winner, my mum’s phone began to ring,” he says.

“So, when they read out my name, I was going red faced because her phone was ringing out.”

Other winners on the evening were Kirsten Neagle taking out Best Design for the centre’s courtyard, and Bernadette Whitehead who won Best Design for the Indigenous student space.

Everyone involved knew from the start that this collaboration would be exciting.

Moondani Toombadool Centre Indigenous Strategy Manager Angela Burt says the centre was privileged to work with students who were talented, creative, trusting and most importantly reflective.

“Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing are complex, so we commend the persistence of the students and staff who have embraced this complexity,” she says.

“We are all really looking forward to seeing where this project goes next.”

She was also keen to sing the praises of Vicky Peters, Manager of Indigenous Student services.

“Without her vision and creativity, this collaboration wouldn’t have been possible.”

Angela Burt says the Moondani Toombadool Centre is looking forward to see where this project goes next.

About the Moondani Toombadool Centre

The Moondani Toombadool Centre will work with the wider Swinburne community to build a university culture that promotes and practically supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

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Esports at Swinburne

Competitive video games have come a long way from arguments with your older brother in the living room over a game of Mario Kart. Known as esports, they’re now being played competitively in arenas worldwide, with thousands of fans watching on. Jenny Williams, President of Swinburne’s Esports club, explains what the deal is with esports and why joining the club at uni changed her life.

Written by Kaitlyn Blanchard, Bachelor of Media and Communication (Public Relations).

What is esports?

Short for electronic sports, esports is basically competitive video game playing.

Esports tournaments can take place in arenas all over the world and attract tens of thousands of fans, as well as millions of online viewers.

Teams compete for glory and sometimes, in the bigger tournaments, for prize money and sponsorship deals too.

Studying a Bachelor of Business through Swinburne Online, Jenny first began participating in esports while working in Canberra several years ago.

“The company I was a manager at had a real gaming and esports focus, so when they found out I was passionate about League of Legends, they asked me to run a competitive team on behalf of the company,” she says.

“As soon as I began putting the team together, I knew that this was an industry I wanted to be more involved in.”

She went on to work at esports reality TV show: The Next Gamer, and also got to work at some of Australia’s biggest esports events; IEM Sydney, PAX Australia and the Melbourne Esports Open.

Jenny hopes to work overseas for a global esports company once she graduates from Swinburne. 

Now Jenny is the President of Swinburne’s Esports club.

She joined the club in its first year and soon found herself using her industry experience to contribute to committee meetings and help get the club running.

Then, at the next annual general meeting she was nominated to become president.

“The Swinburne Esports club gives players and fans a place to share their passion,” she says.

“You can join to play video games casually with others, or to play in one of our competitive teams at nationwide esports competitions.”

Swinburne’s Esports club covers heaps of games for all types of players, including Fortnite, League of Legends, Call of Duty, Rocket League, Overwatch, Counter Strike, Rainbow Six, Smash Bros, FIFA and more.

They have also participated and performed well in several competitions throughout the past two years, including the Australian Esports League, Uni Games, the University eSports League and the Southern Cross Championship, among others.

Why esports?

Jenny believes Esports has become increasingly popular because it’s so accessible, and will only continue to grow.

“All you need is a digital device and the internet, to be able to connect with thousands of fans instantly. Anyone can also join a game and play in a tournament at any time,” she says.

“Esports has no bounds and will continue to grow for as long as gaming does.”

She also predicts there to be more and more live esports events in the future.

“Live esports events will eventually become as common as traditional live sporting events”.

Joining a club at Swinburne is a great way to meet likeminded people, discover new experiences and fill your social calendar with a bunch of cool activities throughout the year.

Get involved

Swinburne’s Esports club is just one of the many clubs Swinburne has to offer.

Others include Swinburne Design Collective, Academy of Street Dance, Swinburne Vegan Society, the Tango Club, Swinburne Drone Squad, the Japanese Club and Swinburne Explorers – just to name a few.

To learn more, visit the Student Life Portal or check out Clubs Day, Wednesday March 6, 11am – 2pm, at Swinburne’s Hawthorn campus.

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Start semester right with Welcome Back Week

Getting back into the books after an epic summer can be a struggle, but Swinburne Student Life is helping you kick-off 2019 with a bang. Join the good vibes at Welcome Back Week and start your semester off right.

Free food, live music, entertainment and giveaways

Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 March, 10am – 3pm

Hungry? Treat yourself to a mouth-watering feast at the Food Truck Fair brought to you by Swinburne Student Life. You’ll find a variety of cuisines ranging from Vietnamese to Mexican, Korean, Indian and more. And it’s all free for students!

There will be no shortage of Swinburne school spirit with a pep rally band, cheerleaders and a surprise flash mob to pump you up. There will also be DJ tunes and live music on stage in Wakefield Gardens, so grab your mates and a beanbag and sit back in the chill-out space to take it all in.

You can also try your luck at Razor’s Spinning Wheel for your chance to win free merch, get creative with face painting or challenge your mates to a game of giant chess or Jenga.

Clubs Day

Wednesday 6 March, 11am - 2pm

Keen to try something new this year? Joining a club at Swinburne is a great way to meet likeminded people, discover new experiences and fill your social calendar with a bunch of cool activities throughout the semester.

If you’re not sure what clubs spark your interest, Clubs Day is an awesome opportunity to discover the variety that Swinburne has to offer. Get creative with the Swinburne Design Collective, discuss the art of a plant-based lifestyle with the Swinburne Vegan Society, get your game on with the eSports club, or try your hand at archery with the Swinburne Archer’s Club. From sport to cultural and social clubs, there’s something here for everyone.

Get ahead of the pack and register an account before Clubs Day to speed up the joining process. Simply head to Swinburne Student Life Portal, click 'Register' and follow the prompts. It’ll only take a ‘sec!

Volunteer Fair

Thursday 7 March, 11am - 2pm

If you’re interested in meeting new people, learning new skills and giving back to the community, head along to the Volunteer Fair to discover what opportunities are available to you.

Connect with various not-for-profit organisations to learn how you can support their cause, including the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, the Australian Red Cross, Boroondara Cares Foundation, Friends of Same, e.motion21, Food Without Borders, Variety the Children's Charity, Amnesty International and more.

The Student Life Volunteers will also be there to chat to you about what it’s like to volunteer, and share first-hand advice on how to get the most from the experience.

If you like what you hear, you can sign-up to become a Student Life volunteer on the day!

Razor’s Amazing Race

Thursday 7 March, 12 - 4pm

Like a bit of friendly competition? Grab your mates or join a team and race your way around campus, collecting goodies and making friends as you go!

With loads of awesome prizes to be won, Razor’s Amazing Race will have you exploring the ins and outs of your new campus, while figuring out who’s who and what services are available to help you get the most from your time at Swinburne.

Sign up today, and meet us at the George Corner and get racing!

Written by Anthony Artusa, Bachelor of Multimedia (Business Marketing).  

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Making the most of O-Week Festival 2019

O-Week Festival is all about you and discovering your new campus. Whether you’re keen to meet new mates, join a club or sporting team, or simply get involved in the good vibes of the week - Swinburne Student Life is bringing it all to you.

Free food

One of the perks of being a student is all the free stuff you can get, right? Swinburne Student Life is putting on a spread like no other with their Food Truck Fair. Think sushi, burritos, noodles, pasta and more. Load up on these mouth-watering eats for a self-induced food coma and enjoy. 

Check out the full schedule at the end of this story!

Pep rally marching band, live music and DJ tunes

There’s nothing like the drumming beats of a pep rally band marching around campus to get you pumped up and into the Swinburne school spirit.

If you’re feeling like something a little more relaxed, head to the chill-out space in Wakefield Gardens, where you can kick back in a bean bag and treat your ears to DJ tunes and live music on stage. Razor the Razorback will be hanging around, so be sure to say hey and give him a high five!

Speed Friending, photo booth and lawn games

If you’re feeling social and want to get to know your new uni crew, why not get involved in some Speed Friending? It’s just like speed dating, except for friends. Then grab your new mates and get some insta-worthy shots at the Instagram printer, or sit back and get stuck into a game of giant Jenga or chess.

Exclusive offers, competitions and prizes

Keen to win some sweet merchandise and prizes? Try your luck at Razor’s Spinning Wheel for your chance win Razor merch that will have you looking the part. We’ve also rounded up a bunch of our favourite promoters who will be on campus to chat to you and provide discounts, giveaways and offers exclusive to Swinburne students.

Traditional Aboriginal Games

These games are a bridge between those who do not know about the Indigenous culture and Indigenous people who are willing to share aspects of their culture.

Designed to get people active while incorporating aspects of Indigenous languages and culture, you can take part Monday 25 February at Central Gardens next to the Hawthorn campus, the games kick off at 3.30pm. Registration is essential! 

Knowing the details

Don’t miss out on all of the action, be sure to head to the George Corner and Wakefield Gardens at Hawthorn Campus from Tuesday 26 February to Friday 1 March, 11.30am-2.30pm.

For all the info, follow Razor the Razorback on Facebook or visit the Swinburne Student Life Portal.

Written by Anthony Artusa, Bachelor of Multimedia (Business Marketing).

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Becoming a Global Citizen

From seeing Beyoncé to meeting Oprah, Politics and International Relations student William Naughton-Gravette never imagined a three-month internship with Global Citizen would take him to such high places.

Written by Kaitlyn Blanchard, Bachelor of Media and Communication (Public Relations) 

William, who is studying for a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Politics and International Relations, first learned of Global Citizen internships from a poster hanging in the library.

Global Citizen is an international education and advocacy organisation working towards ending extreme poverty by 2030. Through grassroots organising and digital channels, using everything from emails, tweets, petition signatures, phone calls and events, Global Citizen is building the world’s largest movement for social action.

Excited to finally see an internship that was relevant to his studies, William applied. After two successful interviews, he jetted off to New York in August 2018.

At the heart of the action

William’s internship took place within the organisation’s Global Policy and Government Affairs team.

There, each intern was assigned to work with a manager in the team.  Although most interns got one, William was assigned to three!

Dividing his time between the team’s Vice President, the Grants and Foundation Partnerships manager, and the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) manager, William got valuable insights into the organisation from several different perspectives.

“Working with the Vice President meant I was involved in a lot of high-level work, whereas with the WASH manager it was a very policy-driven role. Working with the Grants and Foundation Partnerships manager also gave me a behind-the-scenes look at how an NGO such as Global Citizen operates,” says William.

A changing tempo

Thanks to his internship, William was fortunate enough to attend not one, but two Global Citizen festivals.

The first was the Global Citizen Festival in Central Park, New York. The event was hosted by Hollywood actor Hugh Jackman and his wife, actress and producer, Deborra-Lee Furness. It featured musical performances from The Weeknd, Janet Jackson, Shawn Mendes, Cardi B, Janelle Monáe, and John Legend.

William was involved in two Global Citizen festivals last year. Here he is pre-show at the Global Citizen Festival held on The Great Lawn in Central Park, New York last September.  

It was the responsibility of the Global Policy and Government Affairs team to ensure notable political figures were invited, and of course, attended these festivals.

They also had to ensure every one of their very important guests had a Global Citizen chaperone for the day.  

William was assigned to look after President of the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim, as well as President of the United Nations General Assembly, Maria Espinosa.

“It was a hectic day ensuring that everything ran smoothly, but it was also an honour to be in the company of such influential figures,” he says.

In December, William travelled to Johannesburg, South Africa to be a part of another Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100.

The festival was Global Citizen’s largest ever, featuring performances from Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Ed Sheeran, Pharrell Williams and Chris Martin, Usher, Kacey Musgraves and Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, as well as several local artists.  

“To be a part of it was incredible,” William says.

“My days in South Africa were probably some of the hardest in my life, but also exceptionally rewarding.”

At the event, William got to meet Oprah, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Kweku Mandela.

This led to William accompanying Kweku to ‘Mandela My Life: The Official Exhibition’ at Melbourne Museum during his visit to Australia in December 2018.

“It was surreal to see the amazing exhibition devoted to Nelson Mandela, and have his grandson standing next to me,” he says.

William also accompanied Kweku to Swinburne where he made a speech to new graduates of the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was just one of the many important people William met through his internship at Global Citizen. 

Going forward

After completing his internship, William was offered a full-time position in New York by Global Citizen.

Unfortunately, he was unable to accept because to obtain a work visa, he needed to have completed his degree.

Instead, William is now working in Global Citizen’s Melbourne office while preparing for his last semester at university, and is absolutely loving it.

“We have a lot of exciting plans for the next few years, so stay tuned!” he says.

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Raising expectations: from care to Swinburne

Few Australian care leavers access tertiary education. Two inspiring Swinburne students share their lived experience and thoughts on what should change, as well as show how they’re raising expectations. 

Written by Kaitlyn Blanchard, Bachelor of Media and Communication (Public Relations).

According to psychology student Cherie, there are many reasons why care leavers are less likely to pursue tertiary education.

“It’s extremely difficult to complete a course of study whilst homeless or with inadequate income to meet the basic costs of living,” says Cherie, who left care when she was 15-years-old.

The term ‘care leavers’ refers to people who have spent time in some type of care outside their immediate or extended family before the age of 18.

“Most school-leaver university entrants are supported either wholly or in part by their families to meet students’ basic needs for food, shelter and safety,” she says.

“Care leavers, on the other hand, tend to be unable to live with family after leaving care for the same reasons which led to them being placed in care in the first place, and have to be fully self-supporting at a far younger age than most”.

This is echoed by plumbing apprentice Danny Hoekstra, whose living situation has been unstable since leaving care on his 18th birthday.

“Most kids leaving care are less concerned about their education and more worried about where they're going to sleep or when their next meal will be,” he says.

Cherie also believes a lack of role models is another reason why so few care leavers access tertiary education.

“If young people in care never meet adult care leavers who have completed university or TAFE then it simply does not occur to them that such a thing is within the realm of possibility for them,” she says.

“Tertiary education risks being thought of as ‘just another thing’ which everyone else gets to do, but not them.”

Taking charge

Despite the challenges, Cherie was motivated to pursue tertiary education so that she could establish herself in a career and support herself financially.

“When I left care, I had no family support or after care support to help me transition into adulthood. Hence, I was of the view that tertiary education was critical to my future wellbeing,” she says.

In the early 90s, she completed an Advanced Certificate in Residential and Community Services (Youth/Child) at Swinburne. Next, she undertook an Associate Diploma in Social Science (Community Development), while working part-time as a youth worker with young people in care.

She later returned to study at Swinburne, and has now earned a coveted spot in the Bachelor of Psychology Honours program with advanced standing.

Cherie was also involved in the creation of Swinburne’s Access Scholarship for Care Leavers.

“Knowing that care leavers are greatly underrepresented in tertiary education and having advocated for social justice for care leavers in the past, in 2014, I decided to educate Swinburne about the level of disadvantage experienced by care leavers attempting to access and complete tertiary education,” she says.

Cherie submitted a presentation making a case for the creation of a scholarship and, after some internal discussion, in 2015, Swinburne became the first Australian university to offer a scholarship for care leavers.

Further to this, Swinburne has entered a partnership with the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare and the Raising Expectations program, offering more scholarships and additional support to reach more students.

Cherie was influential in creating Swinburne’s scholarship for care leavers.

Trying a trade

Danny wanted to pursue further study to help fulfill his childhood dream of getting a job that would one day enable him to travel and buy his own home.

His journey at Swinburne began when he took part in the four day Try-a-Trade program in 2016. When the program was brought to his attention by a job support agency, he was unsure of what he wanted to do career-wise and thought at the very least it would help him meet his obligations as a job seeker.

To his surprise, he enjoyed trying a different trade each day over the four days and committed to a 10-week pre-apprenticeship in plumbing.

“I realised doing a trade might be something I would enjoy and it would also create a pathway for me to achieve some of my childhood dreams,” he says.

During the last week of his pre-apprenticeship, Danny was approached by his teacher with a job opportunity. His application was successful and he continues to work for the same employer today, while he completes his Certificate III and Certificate IV in Plumbing. Once he’s a qualified plumber, Danny plans to pursue further education in either building or engineering.

Thinking differently

Danny believes the biggest issue is actually getting young people in care and care leavers to consider tertiary education in the first place.

“I don’t have advice for those entertaining the idea of studying, because most are not,” he says.

Instead, he urges those who aren’t considering tertiary education, to take responsibility for themselves and understand that when they turn 18, there may not be anyone to support them but themselves.

“How can they expect to achieve any of their dreams if they don’t go to school and gain the necessary qualifications to get a good job or make more than just minimum wage for the rest of their lives?” he says.

“Most kids in care believe that the government will always support them, and while that may be true to a certain degree - such as getting permanent community housing - I realised this is a false sense of security and more importantly, happiness.”

Danny’s advice for care leavers is to seriously consider tertiary education. 

Finding a mentor

For those young people in care wanting to pursue tertiary education, Cherie strongly recommends finding a mentor, whether it be a counsellor or someone whose achievements you really admire.

“Ask the person if they would be willing to meet or talk with you occasionally to help guide you to make good decisions about your studies and career going forward,” she says.

“Studying can be stressful at times, and students lacking family and other support networks due to being raised in care will invariably find managing this more challenging than those who are adequately supported. Therefore, having a mentor you can turn to for advice is invaluable.”

Cherie also emphasises the importance of not being afraid to ask for help with your studies.

“Due to the itinerant nature of care, most care leavers have a disrupted educational history,” she says.

“Coupled with needing to support themselves in independent living from a young age, many also leave secondary school at the first available opportunity hoping to secure employment.”

“This typically means care leavers who do make it to university or TAFE, tend to start well behind their peers, so they should never ever feel ashamed or embarrassed about asking for help.”

For resources and support services dedicated to care leavers, please see: Care leaver support.

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Building Australia and Indonesia’s future

Law student Jack Purvis had the chance to shape Swinburne’s future. With guidance from the Swinburne Law School, he was able to work with a team to help shape the university’s strategy for engaging in Indonesia. Not to mention a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit the region.

Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Business student Jack worked with a group that was responsible for orchestrating a strategy for Swinburne which could be implemented to create a sustainable Transnational Education Program, a program taught outside Australia, in partnership with an overseas institution or organisation.

“After performing several risk and solution assessments amongst other opportunity cost valuations, we concluded that collaborating with Gadjah Mada University would be most advantageous,” says Jack.

Communication is key

A large part of the project involved keeping communication open between all parties, says Jack.

“This included balancing the views and aspiration of Dr Jeremy Kingsley, a senior lecturer and anthropologist in the Swinburne Law School and Bill Damachis, the Dean of Transnational Education at Swinburne. We also had to stay true to the group’s vision.”

Communication skills were also key when it came to presenting the final strategy.

“The project required students to present projects at the standard expected of a practising lawyer. The final presentation consisted of a detailed written proposal, a twenty-minute speech in front of senior members of the University’s International office and a question and answer session,” he says.

Presenting to Swinburne’s International team gave Jack an extra boost of confidence. 

Australia and Indonesia

But this project was about more than just communicating, says Jack. It gave him the chance to look at how Australia and Indonesia could collaborate into the future.

“Our focus on Indonesia was enthralling,” says Jack.

“Indonesia is Australia’s next door neighbour and is forecasted to have an economy three times the size of Australia’s by 2030.”  

“The benefits of collaborating and building relationships with Indonesia go far beyond this project, to the extent of helping both Australia and Indonesia pave a mutually prosperous future.”  

Studying abroad

Not only did Jack study Indonesia, he lived and breathed it as part of Swinburne’s Indonesian Law, Governance and Cultural study tour which helped inform his work.  

“The highlight of the tour was being exposed to the court system and the role of lawyers in Indonesia,” says Jack.

“Unlike in Australia, the courts function in an inquisitorial manner, basically meaning that the lawyer takes a backseat in court while a panel of judges question the accused directly.”

His visit also gave him a greater understanding of Indonesia’s vibrant culture.

“Having the opportunity to travel to Jakarta allowed me to understand the cultural difference between how an Australian city functions compared to an Indonesian city. Understanding the quality of the infrastructure, traffic conditions and religious influences among many other factors.”

While visiting Indonesia, Jack was able to get a deeper understanding of how Australia and Indonesia's legal systems vary. 

Gaining confidence

As a result of his experiences, Jack says he gained confidence in many areas.

“I now feel confident in my ability to communicate with clients and other parties about the rights and obligations arising out of Indonesian commercial dealings, particularly Transnational Education,” he says.

After presenting the group’s project to the Swinburne International team, Jack felt his presentation skills level up.

“I believe I can present in a more clear, concise and professional manner,” he says.

“The subject also presented me with the opportunity (and challenge) to learn more about the Indonesian civil law jurisdiction which is undoubtedly very different to Australia’s legal system.”

He says that this Asian Commercial Law unit was more than just a subject, as it challenged him to think outside the box and gain practical experience.

“Due to the practical nature of the unit, it doubles as a placement for the Law School’s Placement Program. This is because the syllabus focuses on experiential learning applied to real-world problems.”

“This experience has given me the foundations to build upon, to one day become a great international advocate for Indonesian relations, whether it be in law or commerce.”

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From Albury to America

Amy Schultz was ‘a country kid’ from Albury, NSW when she moved to Melbourne to attend Swinburne – a move she says almost didn’t happen but one that has been ‘absolutely defining’.

Jobs in Melbourne, Shanghai and Singapore led Amy to her current gig that she describes on LinkedIn as her ‘dream job’.

LinkedIn is more than just a profile for Amy – she works for them! Based at their San Francisco head office, Amy is the Talent Acquisition Director and hires the people that design and build LinkedIn products.

It was Amy’s first overseas move to Shanghai that set her life (personal and professional) on a different course.

“It showed me that when you do take those big, scary risks you realise things about yourself you never knew – mainly that we are more resilient and adaptable than we often realise,” she says.

“The stuff I used to worry about, like comparing myself to others, kind of went out the window and I started living my life, my way and haven’t looked back.”

The culture, team and mission at LinkedIn make it Amy’s ‘dream job’.

“The mission to create economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce is what gets me out of bed each day,” Amy says on her LinkedIn profile.

“That and great coffee, for as the saying goes, you can take the girl out of Melbourne but not Melbourne and a love of coffee out of the girl!”

A defining experience

Amy completed a Bachelor of Media and Communication at Swinburne – a course which wasn’t actually her first preference.

“There was an error and I missed selection for my first preference. So I came down to Melbourne to check out Swinburne. I did a tour and visited the residences and just knew I wanted to go there,” she says.  

Amy especially loved the diversity of subjects and the fact lecturers came from industry. Even though she’s not working directly in the media and communications field, Amy says she uses the skills she learnt in her degree every day.

Amy’s role at LinkedIn in the San Francisco Bay Area is her ‘dream job’

“I’m communicating via social media channels every day and marketing LinkedIn as a great place to work – which it is. Effective communication is one of the most in-demand soft skills today.”  

Swinburne was more than just an education for Amy – it was her home. Coming from the country, she lived on residence and met people who are still some of her best friends today.

“I can’t imagine my life without them all in it. My level three floor buddies are still some of my best friends and one of them just stayed with me in San Francisco,” she says.

“We had some really fun days and nights living on res. I can’t hear the theme song of Dawson’s Creek and not think about Tuesday nights in the level three TV room before heading out to Cheers.”

Take calculated risks and opportunities

Amy’s career path (and life) has deviated greatly from the plan she had when she finished Year 12.

“That went out the window and it’s been a series of calculated risks and taking opportunities,” she says.

Her philosophy has been to go where she knows she can learn valuable skills from great people, rather than have the fancy job title.

“I have done lots of very un-glamourous jobs! There’s been a lot of hard work, but the harder I work, the luckier I feel,” she says.  

Be a ‘learn it all’

As someone who hires people for a living, Amy says that having the right attitude is everything.

“When I hire people I look for a ‘learn it all’ rather than a ‘know it all’. Being adaptable, curious, resilient and humble will set you up.”

“Don’t worry if all your friends have ‘cooler’ jobs than you. I remember beating myself up about that a lot.”

“A career is a long journey and I promise you, you’ll catch up and get on that path that was meant just for you. And remember, it’s your life!”

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Advice from an award-winning director and a Nobel Peace Prize winner

One is the director behind the Oscar-nominated Lion; the other co-founded the Nobel Peace Prize-winning movement ICAN, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. Now Swinburne grad Garth Davis and PhD candidate Dimity Hawkins share insights into how they got to where they are today.

Written by Kaitlyn Blanchard, Bachelor of Media and Communication (Public Relations).

Critically recognised film, television and commercial director Garth Davis, never planned to be a director.

“I got into directing kind of by mistake,” says Garth, whose feature directorial debut Lion was nominated for six Oscars including Best Picture.  

Garth graduated from Swinburne in 1995 as a graphic designer, but as graphic design moved largely into computers he soon realised it wasn’t for him.

Instead, he fell in love with filmmaking, playing around with the video camera his father had bought him.

Garth began directing commercials and his career took off.

In 2008, he won a Gold Lion at Cannes for his Schweppes ‘Burst’ commercial.

Another perspective

Dimity Hawkins however, always knew she wanted to be an activist.

A co-founder of ICAN, Dimity says nuclear testing was a big part of the dialogue when she was growing up.

“I grew up during the Cold War where there was this pressing sense of nuclear Armageddon being possible at any time,” she says.

Dimity has been recognised for her nuclear weapons activism as a co-founder of ICAN. 

She also spent time living in Fiji where nuclear testing was being strongly protested.

Although her activism began much earlier, it wasn’t until she was working at the Medical Association for Prevention of War (MAPWA) in 2005, that she conceived the idea for ICAN with some colleagues who shared her frustration about nuclear weapons.

In 2017, nine years after ICAN was established it was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize, the first Australian organisation to do so.   

Award-winning advice

Garth says it’s hard to give advice to aspiring filmmakers because if you were to speak to every director they would each have got there a completely different way.

“Directing is just one of those professions where there’s no real one way to do it,” he says.

But, what worked for him?

“Definitely an education,” he says.

“Those four years at Swinburne and in Melbourne completely changed my life.”

Garth was fortunate to have some incredible teachers who taught him so much more than the curriculum. He credits his fine art and life drawing teacher, Patsy, for instilling him with the courage to make mistakes.

“Today I see so many filmmakers and people afraid to make mistakes,” he says.

“Their focus for perfection paralyses their work and they end up making nothing as they judge themselves so heavily before even getting started.”

Garth’s film ‘Lion’ was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar in 2016. 

During his industry placement in his final year at university, he also learned many life skills including how to do things you’re are not necessarily excited about.

“This was an important lesson as it made me more determined to reach what I dreamed of doing, but I reached for that place with respect and a hard work ethic.”

“Don’t be afraid to work in jobs you don’t like. Remember it is a journey, and it’s not forever. Use it to get you there. If it means you can fund the computer you need or get the backpacking trip you want, it’s all serving your destiny.”

Getting active

Becoming an activist is a journey that starts within, says Dimity.

“The first step is really knowing what matters to you,” she says.

“There is so much to care about in the world…find something that resonates within you and go with that.”

Next, she says, is to find your people who will help you make that change.

“Creating change is work, it’s really hard work. You’ve got to be committed to working with it,” she says.

“You have to consult really widely and understand where different people are coming from.”

But most importantly, says Dimity, is to never give up.