UNI SPK
UNISPEAK ISSUE 2 JULY 2014
IF At FIRST
EASY STREET IS A DEAD END. You’ve got a lot of decisions coming up. Know yourself and choose bravely: the rest will work out.
UNI SPK UNISPEAK / ISSUE 2 JULY 2014
Contributors
BRAD PARKINSON PROF GEOFF SPINKS SOPHIA OH-TOGNETTI A trio who know you can’t predict the future (but there are some great things waiting there).
SAMMY NASTA
KEVIN LOO
Psychology graduate and youth mental health counsellor, knows it pays to listen.
Physics graduate in the Czech Republic, making magazines in his spare time.
NICHOLAS WATTS Writing graduate helping friends and co-workers realise their dreams.
MICHAEL TYRPENOU International studies graduate working in community services. Is all about making connections.
CLAIRE LANE Early years student who believes you should stick to your passions.
smoothrough sailing riding Things aren’t always what they look like. They’re often better.
THE PhD BRAD PARKINSON Bachelor of Science – Bachelor of Commerce (Psychology, Management) PhD, School of Psychology
University was for other people. Brad didn’t go to uni straight out of high school and had no reason to believe he’d ever make it there. After all, he had a reading disability, limited education and a boss that told him ‘we’re not paying you to think’. He also had a family to look after: three children, as a sole parent. Running out of options for employment, he completed a Diploma in Business. He was student of the year. With some persuasion from friends and family, he came to UOW: first for a Bachelor of Commerce, then a Bachelor of Science in psychology. He eventually finished both, earning a double degree. Now Brad’s working on a PhD thesis exploring psychological barriers to tertiary study. “Uni is the best place I’ve ever been, I love it. It was a big struggle for me to get my education. I’m hoping to use that to help understand what the barriers might be for others.”
THE PROFESSOR PROF GEOFF SPINKS Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences
Nearly missed a ground-breaking research discovery. To be fair, it wasn’t much to look at—an unclear video of a wiggling fibre. But the cameraman, PhD candidate Javad Foroughi, didn’t give up, and Geoff realised the potential. It took three years of work to understand that wiggle: a tiny carbon nanotube spinning under electric charge. With development it could power future tech like self-propelled medical nanobots. Then another surprise: the fibres could contract. But the now Dr Foroughi was leaving, having finished his PhD. Geoff could have let the lead go for someone else to research. After all, he had a full-time teaching load, as well as research commitments. A professor going back into the lab like that was almost unheard of.
THE undergrad SOPHIA OH-TOGNETTI Bachelor of International Studies – Bachelor of Laws
Didn’t enrol in her dream degree even though she had the marks. Sophia wanted to work in human rights ever since she read Geoffrey Robertson’s Crimes Against Humanity in Year 9, and a law degree was her ticket there. She wasn’t sure she could handle the challenge though, and despite having the ATAR, enrolled in another degree. Her lack of confidence had in part to do with her poor health, a mysterious illness that took four years to successfully diagnose as thyroid cancer. She never threw in the towel. She never even took a reduced subject load. “When it got hard—got very tough—studying kept me sane. I knew that in the long run it would help me, it was a light at the end of the tunnel. But I also just loved what I was studying.” Now she’s completing her law degree, on the other side of a successful cancer surgery and headed for a career with a body like Human Rights Watch. Her outlook? “Now I don’t take crap, don’t sweat the little things and I won’t back down from people saying no.”
“By then I was fully committed to it, and I convinced myself that we were onto something.” The result was another three full years of work—and a prototype artificial muscle made from ordinary fishing line, a muscle that could power futuristic replacement limbs or next-generation green homes. “Other aspects of my research took a hit, but in the end it’s about putting priorities where you think it’s best to put them.”
Art by Askew One
FIRST IMPRESSIONS Up to one in four young people live with a mental health issue. There are trained mental health workers like UOW grad Sammy Nasta working in organisations like headspace offering free care to those who need it. But before all that, the challenge is convincing young people there’s nothing mental about seeking help. WORDS by SAMMY NASTA Youth Access Clinician, Counsellor headspace Wollongong Bachelor of Science (Population Health and Psychology)
For many young people, seeking help and engaging in mental health care can be scary and overwhelming. It’s important they engage with help when they feel ready to: if they’re forced to attend an appointment it’s often detrimental to them seeking help in the future.
I always knew I wanted to help people. My friends said I was a good listener, and they came to me for support and advice, so studying psychology seemed a good fit: and I knew it would open doors in the career I wanted.
That’s why as a youth access clinician and a counsellor, a lot of it is about making that good first impression—making sure the client feels comfortable and that they have a say in their care. At headspace we take a ‘client directed’ approach, which means it’s up to the client if they want to be here. No-one will force them to come.
Counselling in particular allowed me to have range in my work. Now I work with young people aged 12–25 in our offices here, in school visits and community programs.
We’re often the first port of call for phone and face-to-face contact, handling intakes and referrals for clients, and offering ongoing supportive counselling. There’s generally good access to services these days in places like the Illawarra and South Sydney, so it’s more about the client wanting to access them. Things have improved, but for some kids there’s still that stigma attached to mental health issues. Stigma is a powerful barrier. It’s not necessarily like other health care, like going to a GP, who might say someone has an infection and give them some pills—most people think that’s fine. But if they are told it’s a mental health issue, that can scare them further. They may have issues they haven’t told their friends about, or may have opened up to their parents who are concerned. Reasons for referrals—or simply advice—are varied, and every person deals with things in a different way. No two days are the same. That’s why it’s so important that the young people here know they’re in control of their care. That means listening to them and hearing their stories.
MORE headspace.org.au go.uow.edu.au/bsci-psych
You need to be adaptable. That’s something I learned about in my degree, about recognising what’s important to a person and focusing on that. There’s not a great deal of certainty with a lot of this work, no single solution. And that’s ok—it’s about identifying what’s affecting a person, how it is affecting them, and working with them to overcome it. The hardest thing for me, though, is when clients are being affected by bullying. We always say we need the bullies to come here, not the kids they’re attacking. Often it goes back to the school, and schools are getting quite good at putting in place strategies for dealing with bullying. At the end of the day, we can’t make the victim’s problem go away, which is hard. But we can help them be more assertive, to reduce the harm it does, and improve their own self-esteem. This type of work can seem a bit grim and challenging at times, but I really enjoy my job. I get to meet different kids every day. And I get to help them reach good outcomes, overcome their fears and problems, and improve their mental health—even if that’s just letting them know they have someone to support them, and that they’re not alone.
Magazines and restaurants share the top spots on the list of startups most likely to fail. So what do you do when you have a story to tell and no experience? You make a magazine.
P A
T U R N
WORDS by Kevin Loo Managing Editor Future Perfect magazine Bachelor of Medical and Radiation Physics Advanced Honours
The other Future Perfect founders and I met up in a bar in Prague six months ago and started talking and sharing ideas. Now here we are with a magazine. When we started we saw a lack of engagement with news and current affairs in Australian young people. Things are definitely shifting, though. We thought this was a good time to take that next step into print, to discuss issues like multiculturalism and immigration, the earth and its climate, feminism: these are conversations happening right now.
My day job is still a physics PhD, currently researching medical radiation physics in the Czech Republic. But that’s not all I am: you’re not just what you do. That’s something I really believe in.
If we can have these conversation and expose people to new ideas without bashing them over the head—in a way that’s entertaining—even better.
Was it Confucius who said “he who loves his work never works a day in his life”? At any rate, if you can find a way to align your passions and your work it’s the best thing you can do in your career and your life.
Both mum and dad are journos though, so now they joke, “the journalist blood is strong in this one!”
G E UOW graduates Kevin Loo and Nicholas Watts are part of the print renaissance defying the odds. Kevin founded Future Perfect to entertain and open minds, and Nicholas is helping bring that vision to life.
N E R S
WORDS by Nicholas Watts Editor/Creative Director Future Perfect magazine Bachelor of Creative Arts (Creative Writing)
There’s a running joke in the team that if I had my way, the first issue would have been 120 blank pages. As a consulting editor I’m helping them realise what they want, so I try to be critical and won’t let something slide unless the writer can explain it. The team knew I would harass them to actually do what they wanted to do. That I was keen to be part of the project had a lot to do with the tireless optimism of Kevin and the others. I could trust that with them, the magazine would actually happen: that they wouldn’t be derailed by difficulties or give up.
I can be very cynical, to the extent that I won’t do something if I can even imagine a part of it not being properly realised. The effort of making the first Future Perfect has been formative. In the past I have not had much time for the idea that people should be praised or rewarded for effort regardless of the results. Now I’m not so harsh. I know that if they keep going, that effort will come to light in however oblique or unexpected a way.
MORE futureperfect.today go.uow.edu.au/bmrphys go.uow.edu.au/barts-crwrit
TAKING THE LONG VIEW Michael Tyrpenou sees connections, like how international policy can offer lessons on local problems such as how a family gets access to public housing. He completed UOW degrees in journalism and international studies before working with the UN in Canberra. Then, a job with NSW Government before a stint with City of Westminster in London while completing his second Masters. He’s just come back to Wollongong with new ideas—about community services, and how looking deeper can take you places. WORDS by MICHAEL TYRPENOU Senior Project Officer NSW Department of Family & Community Services – Illawarra Shoalhaven District Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies (Journalism) Master of International Studies
When I was working for the City of Westminster in London, we had some of the richest streets in the UK in our neighbourhood—and right behind them, housing commission. While you’re working in London you see a lot of stuff that goes on in the gaps that aren’t in TV shows or on postcards, real social problems in the city. Social housing was a big one, and there’s a lot of pressure on other infrastructure: the city’s growing but there’s no space. I’m glad I got to see it. Not happy it was there, but glad to work with a team trying to correct it and see how they apply theory to real problems. I was drawn back to my current job with the Department of Family & Community Services in part to contribute to changing how community services happen here. There’s a general move here in the Department to localise service provision: that means empowering local centres to make sure that people get what they need when they need it. It’s exciting, it’s a different way to think about things, but it’s a big change. For me that means communicating with lots of front line staff to make sure everyone’s working together. In my experience, ‘one size fits all’ doesn’t work. I got to see Westminster being very good at finding out what’s happening in their local area and coming up with positive outcomes for the people involved. I hope to use that experience here. The fact is, everyone’s different. Wollongong has issues specific to its community that they don’t have in North Sydney or the Blue Mountains. Tailoring how you meet those issues and improve the community is more interesting to me. That’s what got me into international studies in the first place. I grew up looking towards what was happening everywhere else, what other people were going through.
MORE go.uow.edu.au/bcms go.uow.edu.au/bistud
International studies can seem a bit mystical, abstract at times. It’s such a broad field: it spans aid and development, security and intelligence, finance, law, culture. Things are so dynamic that in the end working at the international level means being aware of where you are and what’s coming up. Really, being curious is the point. If I could do my schooling again I would change a couple of things. I’d definitely learn another language: being at least bilingual opens up so many doors. You have a massive leg-up being able to speak more than one language. It’s funny—or crazy—to think we grow up in Australia not learning Asian languages as a matter of course. We are geographically and culturally stuck between the USA and the UK, while essentially located in Asia. Another thing I think young Australians have to deal with is how we see ourselves. I think sometimes Australians don’t take international relations seriously enough. We can get very caught up in this idea of ‘punching above our weight’, and the media beats this up. The thing is, Australia’s got a history of being involved. Bob Hawke was the one who started the push for APEC (the Asia – Pacific Economic Corporation) back in the 80s, for example. Australia has a great reputation and there are a lot of opportunities for young Australians to go out and make a big difference. You need to step out, though. Going to UOW really opened my eyes. We have a huge advantage in Australia, with access to consistent, quality education. I got to be around different people and see things I never really had access to before. You become more inquisitive, and that’s when things start to change.
Photo by Liliana Zaharia
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stick to your guns Knowing what you want to do and believing in it makes for a good teacher. It’s also how early years student Claire Lane knew the people telling her she was wasting her ATAR were dead wrong. WORDS by CLAIRE LANE Bachelor of Education – The Early Years
My parents always wanted me to study further, and I did too. From Dad’s perspective, it was in case we wanted to be farmers—I grew up in Lockhart, a farming town of about 600 people. For him, an education meant options if the farming industry ever collapsed. There was never any pressure to do anything in particular, though. Mum always said: “There’s no point in doing something if you don’t love it. You’ll hate going to work in the morning and won’t be able to wait to leave in the afternoon”.
We learn as much as other types of teachers about why students do what they do, looking at topics like psychology and sociology, really understanding what’s happening when a child learns. As well as every theory you learn, at UOW the lecturers really want us to be passionate.
Though at the start of Year 12 I had no idea what I wanted to do.
The thing is, every time you’re teaching and you see something benefit a child, that’s a eureka moment. Even if another child has already done it, doing something for the first time is important, and you need to be supportive.
Discovery Day at UOW was when I decided early childhood teaching was what I wanted. I remember the lecturer who spoke was so excited to be there, so enthusiastic, that caught my attention. I had thought I wanted to work helping people, considered teaching or nursing, but that talk helped me decide.
Everyone has those inspirational teachers in their pasts, and when you’re studying teaching you want to take on different aspects of these role models. I still remember my preschool teacher, Ms Fealy, and how she didn’t treat us like just another number. She recognised every child has their own strengths and I liked that idea, of students as individuals.
After that, though, I heard the idea that I should ‘do more’ with my ATAR. What was hard about that was hearing this from people you’d expect more from.
I want to be like that, personal and remembered for making a difference.
I just thought: “you don’t know me”. It was great to be pushed to perform well academically and get high marks, but not so great to be told what to do with it. Unfortunately there’s this perception that early childhood educators are just glorified babysitters. To be fair, I don’t think I gave these educators enough credit myself when I was in high school. I didn’t realise how much they know. MORE go.uow.edu.au/bed-eyears
I think teachers need to be passionate, because it’s not just about lessons with early childhood, it’s about making the kids feel nurtured and safe so they’re free to learn. I believe that’s important because education gives you what you need to get where you want to be.
coming soon & things to do
Photo by Wikipedia/J Bar
Photo by Wikipedia/Bidgee
REGIONAL CAMPUS INFORMATION EVENINGS We’re opening our campuses up for information evenings—come along to learn about degree options at your local UOW campus. Meet UOW staff and students and find out how you can earn an internationally recognised UOW Bachelor degree in your home town. UOW Bega – Tuesday 19 August from 6:30pm
UOW Shoalhaven – Wednesday 27 August from 6:30pm
UOW Batemans Bay – Wednesday 20 August from 6:30pm
UOW Southern Highlands – Thursday 6 November from 6:00pm
UOW Southern Sydney – Thursday 21 August from 6:30pm
Please note: each session will only cover degrees available at that particular campus.
SYDNEY BUSINESS SCHOOL OPEN DAY – SAT 30 AUG
New Degree: Bachelor of Social Work
Learn about our Sydney-based degrees in banking and financial services, and meet our lecturers, students and corporate partners at our Circular Quay campus.
go.uow.edu.au/bsocwork
Find more information at business.uow.edu.au or call the school on 02 4221 5661.
New Degree: Bachelor of Social Science go.uow.edu.au/bsocsci This three-year degree builds on a common first year in the social sciences before offering a range of majors: §§ Criminology §§ Community, Culture & Environment §§ Health Promotion §§ Human Geography §§ Psychology
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Indigenous Studies Public Health Social Marketing Social Policy Sociology
Social workers are informed by values that include respectful relationships, social justice, human rights and social inclusion. This four-year degree gives you the skills, theoretical and practical knowledge to work with people to enhance their collective safety, welfare and security.
New Degree: Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics (BPPE) go.uow.edu.au/bppe Study the world we live in, and learn how to make it better. The Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics will give you the skills to interpret world issues through a range of analytical methods. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of current political, economic and social issues and their environments.
Featured degrees Like what you see? These are the degrees helping our people get where they need to be. Brad is working on a PhD after his Bachelor of Science Honours (Psychology) – Bachelor of Commerce (Management) UAC: 751802 and Sophia is in the middle of her Bachelor of International Studies (Peace and Security Studies) – Bachelor of Laws UAC: 751212 Sammy graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Population Health, Psychology) UAC: 757651 Kevin is completing a PhD after finishing a Bachelor of Medical and Radiation Physics Advanced Honours UAC: 757603 and Nicholas completed a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Creative Writing) UAC: 754601 Michael earned a Master of International Studies after finishing a Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies (Journalism) UAC: 753110 Claire is on the last leg of a Bachelor of Education – The Early Years UAC:755111
The University of Wollongong attempts to ensure the information presented here is correct at the time of production (July 2014); however, information may be amended without notice by the University. Check with the University at the time of application/enrolment for any updated information. The University does not warrant or endorse the content of any external websites linked to. UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG CRICOS: 00102E
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