Verse Magazine Edition 42 - The Mental Health Edition by Verse Magazine

One on One with Batyr Breathing Easy...er Recipe: Chocolate Cake

Expiration Dates The After This Playlist Saved My Life

Edition 42 Free

VERSE

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Verse Magazine acknowledges the Kaurna, Boandik and Barngarla First Nations People as the tradition custodians of the unceded lands that are now home to the University of South Australia’s campuses in Adelaide, Mount Gambier and Whyalla. Verse Magazine respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past, present and emerging. Verse Magazine also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and nwaters across Australia. It was and always will be Aboriginal land.

Contents Cover Image Instagram People by Sonia Zanatta

Editor’s Letter

A timelapse of smells from the corner of West Terrace and North Terrace to Port Road

Verse Spotify Presents... Just a Big Ol’ Mood

An Open Letter to My Mental Ill Health

Humans of UniSA

In[ter]view with Brodie Winning

Imag[in]e with Elise Lewis

Patchwork People

Expiration Dates

The Great UniSA 30th Anniversary Countdown

Healing From Sexual Harm

The After

Outside Inside

This Playlist Saved My Life

Taboo: Perfection on Social Media

Looks of UniSA: In Conversation with Lucy Turczynowicz

Understanding Online Safety for Students

Recipe: Chocolate Cake

THat FeeLING

The Signs as Self-Care Methods

Eyes of The Innocent Chapter Five: Shatter

A One On One with Batyr

Breathing Easy...er

President’s Letter

Edition 42 | 2021

Verse Spotify Presents...

Just a Big Ol’ Mood We’re no strangers to using music as a way to express ourselves, and chances are neither are you. We all have our uplifting playlists, our sad playlists, our scream-in-your-car playlists, the list goes on... This edition, we’ve put together a compliation of songs that remind us it’s okay if not every day is a good day. Things do get better. Follow us @versemag on Spotify or scan our QR code to listen.

Artwork Nikki Sztolc Playlist Stephanie Montatore, Nahum Gale & Nikki Sztolc

Playlist

Edition 42 | 2021

An Open Letter to My Mental Ill Health Words Annabelle Tang

Dear mental ill health, Here you are again. You don’t visit me as much as you used to, and I must say it feels nice. For as long as I remember you have been a part of my life in some way, shape or form. You were there when I started school, and you made me feel so afraid. You were there when I overheard those comments, and you led me to quit swimming. You were there when I stood up for my class presentation. You were there when friends gave up on me. You were there when school became difficult. You were there when he left. You were there when I moved away from home. You were there through it all. You have always taken. Taken friendships, taken experiences, taken love, taken hope. You have taken days, weeks, months, and even years, but you will never take me. As much as you’re a part of my life, you don’t define me. I am still the me who accidentally kills all my house plants except for the basil, cries during movies, is awful at public speaking but will do it anyway, keeps every Christmas card (even ones written on gift tag and wrapping paper), laughs way too easily in serious moments, gets really competitive about Mario and Sonic and the London Olympic Games on the Wii, and sings way too loud any Conan Gray song. I am intelligent. I am beautiful. I am compassionate. I am strong. I am brave. I am everything you ever said I couldn’t be. I know I will never truly get rid of you and that circumstances such as this global pandemic will undoubtedly bring you back into my life, but that’s okay. That’s okay because I know now that I will fight, that I will bounce back and be stronger than ever. And even though sometimes you make that hard to believe, history speaks for itself, it shows that I’m on a winning streak and I have everyone rooting for me. You have never and will never stop me from achieving everything I want to achieve. So watch me, mental ill health. Watch me change the world. Yours sincerely, Me

Artwork Madeline Blake

Edition 42 | 2021

Imag[in]e Elise Lewis

Artwork Elise Lewis Interviewer Miriam Sims

Elise Lewis is a figurative based artist whose work focuses on depicting the many faces of human emotion with, predominantly, oil and pencil. She hopes to translate her technical skills and illustrative style into tattooing in the future. I was lucky to catch up with her recently to speak on her practice and future aspirations.

to convey emotion. Because we are used to seeing faces anyways, I feel like it’s just natural to be able to look at a face and know what it’s maybe feeling, or at least be able to sort of get something from it. But sometimes, like with landscapes and stuff, if you try and make them “emotional”, obviously, with different people, they are going to get different ideas. So, it’s as though there’s more direct messaging when you are using people as your subject? Yeah, like portraiture, it feels a lot more direct. I have just always really liked faces; I like how detailed they are. It always feels like there’s something to keep learning and keep trying to perfect. I just want them to be interesting paintings, but, in fact, literally, [the subjects] are all different and interesting as well. I also noticed with your work, you often include a lot of text, like over the top of portraits. Where do these messages come from and what do they mean to you? A lot of them end up being like lyrics from songs that I am listening to while I am making the piece, and then a line of text will just stand out. Or sometimes it will be something that I just ended up thinking of and it just sort of ends up sounding cool, so, I’m like, ‘let’s just do that.’ It’s usually a bit of an afterthought, but I feel like it connects with how I want the piece to feel anyways, but it rarely will start with text. It will always start with the image and then follow up with text.

Hi Elly, thank you for meeting with me today! Would you be able to describe your current practice to me; what kind of mediums do you enjoy working with at the moment? I tend to work with a lot of traditional mediums. I don’t experiment to the extent that a lot of other people I know do. I prefer to mainly work with oils and even just pencil. I sometimes do a bit of collage, but not all the time. That’s probably more in like book work stuff, which I do a little bit of, artist books and journaling.

It’s interesting to me, because even though you work on pieces in a way that is considered quiet and slow, there is probably also a fair bit of planning involved. This part of the larger works feels like it’s quite intuitive as well, and quite process based. Am I correct in assuming this? Yeah, I think, at least for me it is. I think the planned ones often look better, but they don’t feel as rewarding because you know the whole time what you are going to get. If you just sort of sit down with a canvas, you start to get the reward of being able to view the art as just anybody else would. And then you get to pull it apart for yourself a bit, instead of just always having a clear idea to run off of. Obviously, I do both. The planning is also good because then you feel like you are getting messages across directly, but you are able to dissect yourself as well.

Oil painting is something, and drawing as well. They are both practices that take a lot of patience. What do you think about the process of art making as cathartic, and to do with mental health? I think it’s a good way to just think. I like to use painting, especially with the oils, as just a good way to process thoughts. [Painting] is a way to make thinking not be as overwhelming as it is to just, like... sort of sit and think. So, the fact that you are doing something at the same time, I usually just end up daydreaming the whole time, and I don’t really realise that I am painting. I guess you are just switching off, but also, you are thinking about more. I don’t know, it’s odd, because it’s not essentially switching off [and] it’s not essentially switching on either. But it is good, sometimes, the fact that it is so long. It can be really frustrating as well. Especially if you have got that idea of what you want it to look like at the end and it’s just not there yet. It can be really disheartening. And then you just end up wanting to rush, but rushing means you feel like what you end up making is terrible.

I FIND PEOPLE JUST A LOT MORE INTERESTING THAN OTHER S U B J E C T S , ESPECIALLYFACES.

I notice you paint a lot of figures. What significance do portraiture and figurative practice have to works? I find people just a lot more interesting than other subjects, especially faces; they are the easiest way, for me at least,

I FEEL LIKE IT’S JUST NATURAL TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT A FACE AND KNOW WHAT IT’S MAYBE FEELING What do you think people take from your works? Direct messages of emotional impact? Is this accurate to the meanings you feel you are embedding? I think just from where I have grown up, being in the middle of nowhere, a lot of people just immediately think, ‘oh this is really dark’, and they don’t really like it. They would ask, ‘why is it sad?’ It was useful to think about how I used to get that a lot, not being there. Now, I don’t get it. But I think that thought has still stuck with it. It’s just like, ‘oh yeah, my work is just sad looking.’ I guess I am sort of still stuck in that mindset, because I haven’t had as much criticism of my work while in the city. Being at home I got a bit more, because people just genuinely didn’t really like it.

contemporary, which, while I really enjoy looking at [them], I don’t think my art can quite fit into [them]. So, I plan at the moment on going into tattooing. I think that fits my style the best, and allows me to do some of that more “grunge” inspired work. Also, to get a profit from it and still be able to live off of it sounds fun. But yeah, at the moment, I can’t see myself in a gallery. I don’t picture that yet. That is really interesting, especially because you do figurative work which is about bodies and people and then, eventually, you are going to work “on” people. Thinking about mental health, that immediately brings to mind the connections between tattoos, and mental health and healing. What do you think about this? I think that the internet has really had a huge impact, especially now that the taboo of it is slowly diminishing. I think that it is a really good industry. It is one that I am excited by. So that is where I am planning to go, because it just feels right. I just don’t suit gallery settings!

Yeah. So, it is interesting that you say it’s perceived as sad, because I also think a lot of it is quite hopeful. It is definitely heavy and emotional, but I think it is hopeful in the material palette, especially in some of the colours you use, and figures like butterflies. Is there a lot of symbolism in there? It is like... I know it’s not as dark as it could be. But I definitely am inspired by a lot of work that is darker, like Francis Bacon, even though my stuff looks nothing like his. I like the sort of vibe that his work gave off.

Well, there are lots of different kinds of artists and there are lots of different kinds of art, and I think if we all just made work that would suit a particular set of circumstances, the visual landscape would be a very different space, and, frankly, a bit boring. So, yeah, it is good you are interested in forging your own path!

Yeah, your paintings seem to express ideas around this, the self and emotional intensity and depicting that honestly. Where do you see your paintings and drawings going in the future and throughout your studies? I just can’t picture my work in gallery settings. I think it’s because I think a lot of galleries now are really

Poetry

A Collection of Poetry from Kerrie Lacey

A collection of poems about the experience of living with mental ill health as a young woman.

Beautiful Pain

Life in the Shadows

Your pain is beautiful, my dear Listen, not just to its screams but also to its whispers It has many stories to tell Feel it blaze and rage at the silent injustice of it all There is no shame in pain, my dear Pain is beautiful, telling and wise It softens, it melts, and it binds It was never meant for torment Not torturer but teacher Transformation is its aim Pain is the path, my dear Rise up to meet it Grace waits for you there.

Boxed in, yet walled out Seen, but not recognised Heard, but not understood Conversation, without connection

Trail of Tears

Stillness Speaks

If I follow the trail of tears will I find my way home? Warm and glowing, soft and sweet How do I live there? My face is pressed against the glass My breath turns to ice How do I get into this damn place? Be right where you are, I hear you say Be here now; You are home. May we all find our way home.

The crunch of gravel under foot A sweet earthy smell of pine cones and freshly cut grass Beneath the trees my problems are small, Beneath the mountains, smaller still Cool shade grazes my skin, in between bursts of warmth and dappled light A rustling in the bushes and a flutter overhead Blessed stillness of the green It whispers, all is well and always has been.

Free verse

A raised eyebrow A throw-away line An uncomfortable laugh A shadow self, reflected in the mirror Is glimpsed and buried To rot and fester But rarely, if ever, Owned, and brought into the light.

Free verse

Artwork Zachary Benn

Edition 42 | 2021

Expiration Dates Words Neive Jones

I lost count of my birthday’s years ago when I started taking others away. I have stolen so many moments and things that weren’t mine over time, but there were opportunities for people to walk side by side with me. Each human I have conversed with all believed they had a time. A purpose. It’s difficult for me to have empathy for others. I believe this is why I’m constantly running off with different humans to help feel pain in happiness. I view humans as dandelions. They always seem comfortably composed when they are grounded. Yet, when I pick them up, they are just floating in their own minds, no worries. These humans have lost all their colour and growth; turning into me, a monochrome emotionless omnipresent being. I’ve met so many dandelions, yet Neive had a unique sense of style to our interactions, like no one else before her. We met about 15 years ago. She’s a girl with at least 9 lives. Each time we meet, she always finds a way to take back what I stole. ... Expired 2005: The Colours of Heartbreak

The second time Neive lost a piece of her heart, it wasn’t her fault. I didn’t get to properly meet her, but I met her essence. Her soul was just whisked away from a relationship she’d lost all control over. I didn’t even get credit for this one. She was always trying to take back what I stole, even if I didn’t steal this one. In all my years, I have never heard of anyone giving them their leftover soul, but Lenny did. As she began losing her essence, still being in her physical body, he did all the paperwork to let her borrow his, just for her to continue and be herself as he knew her. He couldn’t bear to see her crying in her room every time he came over. She wasn’t strong enough to walk away. Souls regrow over time. It took him a few years to get back before her’s regrew. Souls regrow only if a human lets it. Depression may not be curable, but it forces a fixed or growth mindset to be the basis for regrowth. Not everyone knows that secret though, which is why people get stuck. But that’s okay. The only cure is to become part of society. Although if their essence has died inside their physical body there’s no return. The feeling that they are accommodating my happiness makes them... perhaps in more pain than I’d have liked. Not everyone has a “guardian angel” who is kind enough to lend their soul. Not everyone has a Lenny who is willing to fight through documents to help a human recover. In this part of her story, she’s already had two extra lives than I would’ve hoped. She’s skipped her own death from her

Our first encounter was through Lenny Piro, a beautiful Italian man from a small town near Naples. A hardworker and hard-lover to Olga, Lenny’s heart was filled with gold. He gave so much of it to Neive before he left his legacy behind. I was woken from my sleep from a frantically calm mother on the phone. It was her mum. Her face was sheet white, much like Lenny’s when we came back to meet him. He was declared dead for an hour before he spoke to Neive. He was clutching my hand as he slowly lifted himself up to talk to her, whispering, ‘Go grab an ice cream out of the freezer,’ before physically leaving her forever. A piece of her heart and mind died with Lenny when he passed. The dude was quite funny. I mean, he tried to take her with him. He already knew he couldn’t, but… he was beyond fond of her. Which is why I encouraged him to give her a goodbye. Classic ending. I probably shouldn’t have interfered, but I thought that instead of taking her, she could get that closure. She did not. I think it made it worse. She pushed back. Constantly cried for him. It was horrendous. The piercing sounds of a 5-year-old shredding through tissue boxes. Imagine being 5 years old and wanting to join the only one who’s not physically with her on earth. I watched Lenny watch over her, like some sort of guardian angel, for every mistake she made. There were so many already!

Expiration Dates

saviour. Although… I think all the women that stay with me would’ve been the first to save her from this, because everyone has been through it. The process of giving your soul to a living human once they’ve met me is truly difficult, the documents are as long as you have lived. Some women would’ve been 15, the same as Neive, and they would’ve fought for her. It’s been done before, I’ve seen it so many times. It’s a bit ridiculous. I might’ve gotten over the emotions that I sometimes feel but I will never get over the amount of men who have a lack of respect for women. Although she was still functioning in her physical body with her essence back, she still felt inconsistent in her movements. She tried everything to find the root of the issue. She tried counselling, therapy, going for walks, reading, music, running... nothing was sticking. She was a broken record; scratched and broken. Feeling stuck and lost. I was a bit sick of the complaining and whinging. Like, c’mon, darl, we get it, your grandpa died when you were 5 and then a boy was a total dick to you... welcome to your life! The poetry started when the therapy stopped. Neive became entranced with being trapped inside her own mind. Just writing what she knew. She knew she needed help sorting her thoughts. She knew she couldn’t go on if she were to progress her career. She knew she would have to jump out of her comfort zone. The moment she became awakened with my presence, I was summoned in a small room, through the lady with the white eyes. Neive knew, at that moment, this was where she needed to be. The lady’s shrieks surrounded with crystals and lavender oils almost brought out my asthma. Her eyes lit up the dull room chanting:

The Lady’s chanting was drowned out as I was floating in the air. I was being pulled in and out of the aura. Neive saw a glimpse of me. That same figure she saw holding Lenny’s hand all those years ago. That same figure that’s appeared in her memories of Lenny at the footy ground. Before she could ask who I was, the chants blared into sounds of That’s Amore. Lenny Lenny come out wherever you are Push everyone out the way Come sit with us, I can hear you cough with clouds of smoke Alas that’s amore, amore, amore... that’s amore. Lenny Lenny come out wherever you are Be here with us Come sit with us Alas that’s amore. Lenny elbowed his way through the mosh of Neive’s negative aura that surrounded her. He heard his great granddaughter’s tears streaming over his name. Her body practically rose off the table as the lady and Lenny held her with love. I stood just rolling my eyes. It would be so easy to steal her. She’s vulnerable. I was locked out with a barrier. The lady’s chants weren’t just rhymes, it felt like a spell. I couldn’t get in. The wavelengths of our movements had changed as if the healer had shoved her into a portal into the other dimension. So, I just fucked off. I promised myself in that lair that I would take her one day, when she’s not ready and the clouds are grey. The healer and the angel saved her this time, but I’m not sure if they’ll be there the next. ...

Negative negative energies with Neive Come forth or so hear my roar With a flick and a kick Be gone Or so hear my roar Leave her mind, let her be Be gone We are not naïve. Negative negative energies with Neive Let her grieve and leave her be.

I AS

VIEW

HUMANS DANDELIONS. 15

Edition 42 | 2021

Expired 2018: Paris in the Rain

The next day, snow hit her nose with a soft good morning kiss. The clouds were no longer silver but black and the buildings were glistening with the shade of death. She stood waiting for her friend, Angela, at La Tour Eiffel. But Angela never showed. She’d ended up going to the museum, forgetting to tell Neive. The snow slushed away her dreams of the picturesque city view, so she slushed her way to the next iconic destination. Ali stopped her. He wasn’t like the tales told by mum. He smiled and just wanted to chat. He seemed lonely. Neive was feeling lonely. I was feeling lonely and a bit pissed. She could’ve come with me yesterday, but she outsmarted Mohammed. I began to panic. If she can’t escape this, she’ll have to come with me. I don’t think I’m ready for that. She’ll bug me with questions. I walked a few steps behind in case I needed to intervene. She stated her name was Mia from London just visiting her friend; she went through a whole backstory emphasising she was late to her meeting. He tugged at her arm and turned her around, pulling her close to his face. His eyes were red. No incoming calls could save her today. She spoke with a calm voice, she didn’t wanna alarm him. His grip was tight. She could see something sticking out of his pocket. So, she stood as still as a flamingo. There were no tourists around to help her. It was just the two of them. She took two breaths in and out and politely thanked him for saying hi and that she’d come back, but she needed to go to the loo before they hung out. He started following her, his red eyes glowing. I don’t normally do this, but I intervened. I might’ve just tripped him enough so she could power walk out of there. She was so strong. To say I had found empathy after meeting Neive would be untrue. She just had a way with people, consistently finding a magical way to escape me. But she was not escaping the pain these men had caused her. It was nothing in comparison to losing her soul. When she broke down, I knew I’d done my job. I could take her pain for my happiness. I whispered softly into the snow that she was strong, before I whisked away. She left Paris days later, feeling disillusioned. The picture perfect Paris was anything but and now is painted in her mind with a cynical charcoal. She wanted cinnamon skies and delectable dining, yet she got foul men with ugly hearts and faces. Her heart dropped with an ‘Oh,’ and she let out her emotions in an ode to Paris...

The second time I met her in the flesh, I bumped into her in Paris, where the walls ran fast. I felt squashed against the cold bricks. With a RRRGHH, the train came to a halt and I heard the words ‘Vous etes arrivees a Central Paris!’ Some unclean man tensed his body against her, as he ran his hands down her back. But she was so speedy; the benefits of being as tall as a dining room table. Crawling under the maze of humans, sneaking up the stairs, I blended into the white marbled staircase. It’s hard watching her get lost in a moment, recollecting the past when she was a borrowed soul. I see her skin tense as this happens. I guess it’s just something all women go through - I’m a bit sick of it. The journey to reach above ground felt like a video game. She was on fast play as she ducked right, left, left, right, up, back, stop. Every second was determining her future. She glided to the open air. We emerged glorious, standing with the silver clouds that surrounded the city. The buildings winked at us with their golden complexions that shone through the clouds. I felt so scandalous. Ratatouille and Monte Carlo were so wrong about this place. There are no swarms of rats and it is not consistently radiating love, though it feels powerful. Powerful enough to change a life. Like it did hers. Everything happened only within minutes of being in Paris. Sometimes when you dream and create an imaginary reality in your mind, you forget life isn’t a film. Her mum warned her about the men, and she’d lived with an exchange student for 6 weeks in Australia, but this was different. Mum had told her a tale of the Nigerian men looking for a wife and how she convinced them that she was a lesbian with her best friend. But nothing could’ve compared to this. The first time she noticed was right in between le Louvre et Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel. She looked like a tourist. That was the issue. It wasn’t her fault though. It was the same unclean man as before on the train. He introduced himself. His name was Mohammed. He’d caught up to her. Normally, I’m pretty good at picking up danger. Not this time though. It felt like a comfortable environment. Shivers trickled down her neck. Neive introduced herself as an exchange student from Australia. Speedy thinking, like the pace on her. She stated, ‘I’m actually leaving tonight, I’m just on my way to say goodbye to all my favourite places.’ Mohammed started walking with her. She winced and waved her hand. ‘No.’ Heart pounding and body full of adrenaline. He believed that he was her guardian. He clutched her bags and grabbed her incoming call from Australia. I almost couldn’t save her from this touch of death. She “Kath and Kel” power-walked away from Mohammed. She was safe... for this day.

Expiration Dates

THERE’S SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL ABOUT THE WAY THAT HUMANS BELIEVE IN THINGS. An ode to Paris by Neive: Oh Paris! I see your desire and I long to return With a glass of champagne on a golden terrace In the hopes of getting a fresh, crisp sunburn Feeling as though nothing can scare us

The obnoxious child acts all prestigious and superior. Classic gen z; doesn’t give a fuck about anyone else. It didn’t help that the uniform he’s wearing paints R I C H in the sky after every step. We get it bro; you go to Prince Alfred College. He left her there, in the car, in the middle of the road, in peak hour traffic. The words her dad said replayed to me as she saw a glimpse of me, ‘If you’re ever going to ruin the car, you better write it off otherwise it’s not worth it.’ Not only was this our third proper encounter, it was her third car accident; one for every year she’s had her license. It’s just unfortunate. What was fortunate was the fact that she got to meet me and see my face. Or what’s left of it. She heard my voice and felt my presence, but this was the first time we met face-to-face. The white ute flashed into my living room and she looked so lost. I quickly grabbed my dressing gown and told her to take a seat on the couch. Neive paced in circles. She finally saw the light. My lord, was she annoying. She kept yelling, ‘I need to get to school, I have placement!’ Everyone always does this, they’re usually in the middle of something important. Occasionally, I just like to take them during this time because it’s a bit funny... they’re always extra devastated. No more important human work. No more life. Ha ha, I like ruining things. Except this. She worked really hard to not get here. I have heard her voice screeching in the car about what it felt like or crying herself to sleep wishing she could die. I don’t think she ever pictured this, and I just didn’t want her there. It’s as though she always needs someone to save her and, this time, she just had no one. I couldn’t save her. We had a chat. In the seconds it took for the boy in the PAC uniform to get off his high horse and come help push her car. Her hands and body were shaking, I promised her I didn’t want her to come with me yet, I wanted to spare

Oh Paris! How I wish to see your face again, Everything last time was honestly a menace. Although I wish to not be taunted like the purge Oh Paris! I see the way you look at me A second chance to feel your shimmering love Be poured down onto me In a moment I will be hypnotised With the way that they say grace about your beauty and complexion To forever be in lust with the city of love To never feel broken or bruised, beat up or wound To be locked in a spell screaming ‘Je t’aime Paris beaucoup, s’il te plait, J’ecire mes amies pour venir me trouver.’ An ode to Paris, for what I long for it to be encapsulated in my memories. ... Expired 2019: Chasing Cars I got her! It wasn’t her fault. They do say that bad things come in threes. She’s screaming simultaneously. ARGH, it’s so loud. Her internal thoughts are heard all round. I can see the words she is spewing. I feel terrible for her, I didn’t want to meet her this way. Everything happened within seconds before it was over. You could feel every emotion in her heart and see it in her eyes. She woke me up so early.

Edition 42 | 2021

her and explained that I’d already done it once and if I did it twice, I’d lose my job. I told her this was a choice she needed to make.

What is truth if I’ve experienced two out of body experiences? Is it when we experience natural elements deemed illegal or is it when we stop drinking the government infested waters? Do we find the truth with a loss of love and life when a part of you feels missing?

Are you ready to go? Have you finished your time on earth? Are you satisfied? Have you lived your life to all your potential? Are you in love? Have you got people in your life that still love and care for you? Will they miss you if you leave?

~ Although she feels more anxious and confused now after writing, I was proud of her for stumping. She has so much more potential and she’s going to make something of herself. That day was a turning point for her. It brought her a new life, much like all her other near-death experiences had. She has slipped my grasp too many times. The first time Lenny saved her and the second I saved her, but this last time she saved herself. She knows that there’s too much ambiguity to not go searching and grab what she’s always wanted – someone who loves her as much as Lenny did. I think this boy does. I lost count of how many people I’ve taken years ago; it was as if meeting Neive just changed my whole demeanour and understanding of the way I perceive my own life. I didn’t spare her life because I saw the potential in her eyes. I spared her life because I know we will continue to meet, and I want to see her fight for it. There’s something beautiful about the way that humans believe in things, like having faith that what’s happening is for a greater purpose. It’s cute. It’s unrealistic, but I understand the premise of it. They just don’t know about their guardian angels and souls until they meet me, where they come to find peace. People want to fight to hold on, even if they have convinced themselves otherwise. It’s like how when you blow out a dandelion and you always get one strand that stays. ▪︎

If human’s stump on the last question I send them back straight away, because secretly they know that there is someone who will miss them – there always will be. Neive was stumped. On every question. She claimed she’d been in love, but even I knew the love wasn’t reciprocated. Neive woke up in her car screaming, ‘ARGHHHHH.’ Everything happened within seconds and it was over. You could feel every emotion in her heart and see it in her eyes. That evening, I convinced her to message that boy from work. And, by convince, I mean followed her around all day to make sure she was okay, and to tell her to talk to him. I don’t know his name, but Neive’s interested. I can see it in her eyes and feel it in her heart. Writing is her process of trying to make sense of the world and control her emotions. She posed a bunch of questions in relation to ‘How to be Human?’ ~ What does it mean to be human? I don’t want to live in a world that could break because it’s stuck together with sticky tape when it really needs super glue. I’m tearing my soul from the inside out trying to piece together the purpose we have. Do we live in cycles? Does fashion become a cycle too? Are we all pretending to not lose it and just smile and say, ‘I know what I’m doing?’ Do we really become human when we find real love or is all love just lust, like Paris? What comes after? I’ve seen glimpses, but is that the human eye? Do we have a different eye? Or at least a new perspective of being? What does “after” even mean and for how long are we there? Does the figure take everyone, or do we get assigned a figure to be our guardian angel? It keeps happening to others around me, something inside me keeps screaming, ‘you should be here with us.’ I feel monochrome in emotions. I feel damaged.

Artwork Sonia Zanatta

Edition 42 | 2021

Great UniSA 30th Anniversary Countdown The

Volume Five (10-6)

30 years. 30 Degrees. 30 students. 30 accomplishments. Oh my gosh, here we go; we are properly in Top 10 territory. As we enter the single digits of the UniSA 30th Anniversary Countdown, we are now only pages away from rounding out this tapestry of some awesome students with their awesome degrees. In our Mental Health Edition, we have made sure to bring to the forefront OT’s, speechies, and the creative minds behind TVs. From number 30, this countdown has all been about purely representing the intimate and powerful accomplishments of students that keep succeeding and, finally, we are coming close to the culmination of it all. So, enjoy this newest hub before we reach the final chapter; I am proud to say the five names you will read on about now are super deserving of all the accomplishments they have to their name now and, furtherly, the accomplishments of their future vocations. Watch this space, Volume Six is coming fast!

Image Nicholas Centofanti

Nicholas Centofanti – Bachelor of Film and Television Studying the Bachelor of Film and Television at UniSA has been a fantastic experience. I have been able to learn and expand my knowledge of the film and television industry through practical based learning and industry centred experiences. My biggest accomplishment while studying at UniSA has been the opportunity to complete my third year with industry partner, Rising Sun Pictures (RSP). Completing the VFX Specialisation courses through the degree has been both an invaluable and eye-opening experience. RSP has provided me with the skills and knowledge needed to work in visual effects. I have also been afforded opportunities to network within the industry and receive mentorship to produce industry-standard work. If it were not for the collaboration between UniSA and RSP then I would not have been able to gain the skills, knowledge, and real-world experience of the visual effects industry.

30th Anniversary

Hannah Hill – Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) Although I have only experienced one semester at university, my greatest achievement so far would be how much my knowledge base has grown! I have learned so much about myself (my study habits, how to put myself out there and all about the fun filled aspects of uni life!) and my chosen field of speech pathology over the last semester. For instance, I recently studied all the veins and arteries within the neck. A few years ago, my grandmother had a stroke in her carotid artery, which thankfully did not dramatically affect her speech, but for many others the impact is significant. It was eye opening to learn the intricacies of this specific area and apply that knowledge to my life outside of university. I am determined to continue this trend over the next three and a half years of my degree, putting my best abilities, knowledge, and effort forward to become the greatest speechie I can! Photo Mai Nguyen

Mai Nguyen – Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) My biggest accomplishment is studying a degree that is highly applicable in real life. Occupational therapy is all about helping people live meaningful lives and do what they love, despite their situation, illness, or disability. Therefore, even if I don’t end up being an OT in the future, I can apply many OT concepts into my personal life. I have learnt so much, from how to manage a stroke at home to helping someone with burns cook again. Through this program, I have come to understand the vital importance of doing, which is at the core of OT. Perhaps what makes this degree even more worthwhile is that I am not just helping people give meaning back into their lives, this process makes my own so much more meaningful, which is one of my biggest goals in life.

Photo Victoria Knight

Victoria Knight – Doctor of Philosophy There is not really one moment I can pin down as my “biggest” accomplishment – even the littlest things still have impact. A mental health crisis ended my first university experience, so even simply returning was massive. I was lucky enough to come back, this time attending UniSA, and I discovered cultural studies. It was as if everything suddenly became clear – this field was my passion, this is what I wanted to do. Since then, I have finished my Bachelor of Arts, then received First Class Honours, and now I am working towards my PhD. Through those years of study, I received commendations, I won an undergraduate award and was a UniSA ambassador. But most importantly, I have met and been with the most amazing people – unbelievably supportive friends, wonderfully brilliant mentors, and wickedly talented colleagues. My accomplishments could not have happened without them. So really, knowing them is the real accomplishment.

Brodie Winning – Bachelor of Social Work My biggest accomplishment at UniSA was recently finishing a 500-hour placement at the Department for Child Protection as part of the course requirements. It was a challenge, emotionally and financially, given it took over 3 months to complete, but served as an excellent source of practical, hands-on experience. It was a character-building experience that allowed me to put 2 years’ worth of studying social work theory into practice in a real-world setting, whilst also learning things that would be difficult to learn in a classroom environment. [For further features of Brodie’s work in Edition 42, check out In[ter]view: The Warmest Shade of Blue with Brodie Winning on pages 40-45]

Edition 42 | 2021

Outside Inside

The thing is, the mental breakdowns Burnham suffers in Inside are not staged or falsified. They are not scripted or rewritten. The descent into madness is real and the pain of isolation seeps through. Inside did more than I anticipated an artist to do in commentary of the pandemic. For Inside is not exactly an artistic commentary on the pandemic at all, but an insight into how the pandemic has created the perfect stepping stone for art to become content without anyone noticing. Art was once attending the cinema for a film, buying records for music and joining energised crowds for a comedy special. There once was no barrier, no middle man, between the artist and their audience. But since our retreat back into our rooms for the pandemic, we needed not fret, for all art, entertainment, adventures, friendships, relationships, connections, experiences and life have been condensed down for us into our phones. Yes, we have everything in our hands, all of the time. And it’s not just art that we are finding digitised in this modern age, but connections with family and friends and the outside world that is becoming more and more of an echo. Our experiences become shallow; the real becomes fake and the fake becomes real. Burnham jokes of his weary mental health, clicking a laugh track button as he does it, in search for any kind of reaction he can reach. And, maybe, we are doing the exact same thing, reaching for a falsified laugh track to add levity to our suffering. And as Burnham parodies his mental ill health, as opposed to regular comedian pisstakes, the irony remains that this Truman Show-like deep dive is just another consumable piece of media up next on Netflix. Just another slice of entertainment added to the pile... And maybe I am just being overdramatic, but that “funny feeling” is, I think, what has touched me the most about this film. I was in quarantine for the majority of editing and writing this Mental Health Edition, left to just self-actualise in a lonely corner reading lonely submissions that comment on the state of our world. I was left wondering if any of what we wrote and read was impactful or just another form of content. But, the thing is, Inside was never just content for me. It spurred me on to edit this edition, to write this article, to leave my room. I realised the distinguishing factor between art and content is that content can never exist forever; it’s disposable. True art – true connection – will forever impact you and help you see a world beyond your anxieties and, help you understand, there is someone else out there who feels the exact same as you. Like Burnham. So, when you self-actualise next time, don’t just look inside. Look outside too. You’d be surprised, it will stop any day now. ▪︎

Words Nahum Gale

Hi and welcome to... whatever this is. I have been working for the last couple of months, reading, editing, writing for Verse, and I have decided to try and pen a new article on Bo Burnham’s Inside. Yep, its just me and my ideas. And you and your page... or screen... the way that our Lord intended. When COVID-19 hit early last year, I remember, amidst all the serious reporting and investigative journalism on what the world would look like post the pandemic, I was more curious about how the art world would respond. I find, usually, the truest, most raw, commentaries and portrayals of real-world dilemmas and trauma are depicted within artistry. But what happens when that art becomes just, well... content? That brings us to our main topic. Burnham’s Inside is a tricky contraption. It is sold as a comedy special, edited like an album length music video, adopts a thematic cinematic relevance, but also creates the intimate setting of a one-man theatre performance. I was initially drawn to the Netflix special after wordof-mouth, mid-June 2021. I only recently found my way back to it over the last few weeks for the fact that, without knowing it, it was exactly what I was looking for. It confirmed every article, theory, or idea I dipped my feet into during the pandemic; the idea that eventually artists will respond to this modern age of living. And the insane nature of the special in its mashing of genres, tones, music and visuals, only go to show that this inventive artist’s statement is, basically, everything all of the time. The artist, Burnham, creates the ultimate form of content in his artistic commentary of content on Netflix, a content platform. He portrays the chaos of the internet in sharply purposed and detailed vignettes of infinite flavours, all whilst descending into madness as a result of solitude. His anxieties of being both the artist and the consumer are visualised and lyricised in accessible pop and inviting lights. Lines concerning his derailed mental states are dressed in flamboyancy and colour, as if a mental breakdown is just another episode cued up to play once the last one ends. And like the algorithm that will never leave you lonely, transitioning you to the next half an hour of television, there becomes no line between art and content. The two eventually blur together in an endless loop – a streaming, if you will – until Netflix asks you whether you are still watching.

Outside Inside

Top 5 Songs from Inside Words Nikki Sztolc

Bo reminds us of his wit in this final triumph, summarising the last hour and a half with little nods to previous songs and forcing us to question everything we just watched. It’s the ‘well, well, look who’s inside again’ for me.

If you haven’t seen Inside but spend any amount of time on TikTok, you have probably already heard Bezos I. Bo knew exactly what he was doing when he wrote this song, where taking the piss out of the richest man alive is guaranteed to secure anyone millions of Spotify streams. 45,055,646 to be exact.

The opening song. Catchy and entertaining, it perfectly prepares us for the journey we are about to embark on. If ‘daddy made you some content, open wide’ doesn’t play through your head at least once a day, you haven’t listened to this song enough times. Despite Bo announcing that he can’t sing or play guitar very well in the intro, the song plays through with a simultaneous sense of ease and discomfort as the audience patiently listens to find out the next thing that causes Bo to disassociate. And now it’s time to make a mental list of your own.

This song is only allowed to be played in a dark room at maximum volume. I still can’t tell if ‘you say the ocean’s rising like I give a shit, you say the whole world’s ending; honey, it already did’ is comforting or breakdown inducing.

Edition 42 | 2021

Taboo: Perfection on Social Media Words Jordan White

We all want to post our best lives on social media. Filtered avocado toast for Sunday brunch, your latest cop, the best of three hundred selfies you took amongst the Van Gogh Alive sunflowers. I could go on. It’s no secret social media is bad for our mental health. The technology designed to bring us together has been found to increase feelings of inadequacy, loneliness, and the fear of missing out (FOMO) time and time again. One landmark University of Pennsylvania study found a causal link between time spent on social media and increased depression and loneliness. Of course, it isn’t all bad – social media can help us connect with others and keep up with friends – but this seems to only be the case when we approach it in moderation. And much like retirees at property auctions, our generation sucks at exercising moderation. We spend an average of 145 minutes a day on social networking apps, according to We Are Social. This isn’t about screen time, though. That conversation was had in 2018 when Apple and Android (followed by many other tech platforms) introduced screen time measures with mixed results. This is what happens when all our screen time is spent viewing the best versions of ourselves. Maybe you don’t need me citing studies to know what comparing yourself to others on social media feels like. I recently realised I check social media in the exact same order – a “loop”, I call it – when I wake up each morning. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, emails, TikTok. Almost subconsciously. And on each of these platforms is my dose of other people’s perfection for the day; photos in golden sunsets, strong jawlines, perfect figures, days-in-the-life of an absurdly young and successful something-year-old entrepreneur (seriously, what is up with that? I can barely water my plants). Comparison really is the thief of joy. And with so much perfection to compare to on social media, Marie Kondo is going to run out of business.

But the grass isn’t really greener on the other side. What we see on social media is only a glimpse of reality and people can use this to warp how we perceive reality. Behind each aesthetic #InteriorDesign is a hidden bundle of washing. For each selfie is two dozen more that didn’t make the cut. A seemingly fun day at the beach might’ve been miserable. We all know this but seem to forget it. We see perfect lives and perfect bodies and obsess over them, even if we know they might not be real. Recently, a friend sent me a selfie. ‘Is this okay? I spent a week editing it,’ she wrote. It was, of course, fine. Like all her photos. Fine – just as things are without filters and selective posting. You don’t need to stop using social media. We don’t need to boycott or punish posts that seem “perfect”. And I checked my phone about 56,000 times while writing this article so don’t worry about me lecturing you on screen time, either. We just need to remember this: that life is a mess at the best of times. Maybe it won’t hurt to show this on social media for a change. If you are feeling down, post about it instead of saying nothing. Choose the selfie that’s just good enough. Question why you need to delete a post shortly after publishing it. Sure, show us the Van Gogh Alive sunflowers. But show us the graffiti in the carpark and the painfully slow line outside, too.

I RECENTLY REALISED I CHECK SOCIAL MEDIA IN THE EXACT SAME ORDER – A “LOOP”, I CALL IT. 24

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Edition 42 | 2021

Understanding Online Safety for Students

Interviewer Ashleigh Buck

with eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant Trigger warning: Cyberbullying, sexual harassement, sexual assault, child abuse, self-harm, suicide. Living in a pandemic age has supercharged our online lives. With in-person events and catch-ups constantly up in the air, we’re spending more and more time online. While this can be a great way to connect, we have to be aware of the increased risk of online harm and harassment. Online safety addresses a broad spectrum of issues that may lead to personal harm of citizens. These harms are enabled through online interactive communication, which is where the role of our eSafety Commissioner comes into play to assist in decreasing and preventing cases of cyberbullying and harassment. Julie Inman Grant is Australia’s eSafety Commissioner. She is a part of the first government agency in the world that is purely dedicated to online safety. They are committed to helping all Australians have safer experiences online by removing harmful content from the internet through a range of prevention, education, and early intervention measures. With the power to compel online platforms to remove image-based abuse and cyberbullying that targets youth and adults, this organisation will soon have new powers to help adult victims of cyber abuse. ____

Could you give an overview of what online safety incorporates? What are the key areas people should be aware of? People of all ages need to know that eSafety is there to help them. We act as a safety net for all Australians. eSafety’s investigative teams have a range of civil powers to compel takedowns of illegal or harmful content, whether that’s child sexual abuse material, pro-terrorist content, serious cyberbullying of a child, and image-based abuse – sometimes wrongly referred to as “revenge porn” – possibly one of the worst invasions of an individual’s privacy we see here at eSafety. These schemes provide a vital safety net for Australians when their reports for help to the platforms fall through the cracks. Our pending Online Safety Act reforms promise some exciting new schemes around serious adult cyber abuse and the basic online safety expectations we have around the platforms providing interactive online services to Australians. Our current generation is living in a very online world; do you have any advice or tips on the ways university students can remain safe whilst online? More than 35% of reports of image-based-abuse made to eSafety relate to young adults in the 18-24 age group; this same age group accounts for over 60% of all enrolments at Australian universities. We have a Toolkit for universities. Our resources are designed for use by students. These are focused on helping students understand the types of online abuse they could encounter and how to take action to prevent and respond to online safety incidents. The information is useful at uni, at home, in the workplace and while hanging out. The first two resources are universal. They cover the basics of online safety, and targeted information for supporting women (who are more likely than men to experience online abuse).

Online Safety

The remaining resources are specific to this audience. They include tips for building your confidence while navigating the online world, managing your time online and how to take action if you or someone you know experiences online abuse. How do you implement safety online? We approach our work through the “three p’s”: Prevention, Protection and Proactive Change. The first “p” is Prevention. Developing evidence-based resources and programmes to prevent online harms from happening in the first place. We know that meaningful behavioural change can take decades, so our work with Australians is audience-focused but also age and context appropriate, including resources specifically for women, older Australians, and children. The second eSafety “p” is Protection – and protection is what we provide our citizens through our regulatory and reporting schemes. And the final “p” in eSafety’s three p’s is Proactive Change. We believe if we are truly going to make the online world a safer place into the future, we’ve got to minimise how many threats are out there. To achieve this, the responsibility for online safety cannot continue to fall solely upon the shoulders of users. More responsibility needs to be put back on the technology platforms themselves.

range of risks, from the serious harmful and illegal content we deal with which may include exposure, risky self-harm, pro-ana or suicide sites or may cause young people to have a skewed or unrealistic view about what their everyday life should look like. I view my job as trying to promote the benefits of the internet whilst minimising the risks. For instance, during 2020 our investigators received 21,000 public reports with the majority involve child sexual abuse material. We also saw a 114% increase in reports of image-based abuse or the non-consensual sharing of intimate images – with 30% of these reports coming from minors. Are you and your team working on anything that would allow for safer interactions with online medias for not only students but the wider community? For any budding tech developers out there, we want to make sure that online safety is up front and thought about from the start to stop online harms from occurring in the first place. Safety risks should be assessed upfront. Protective measures need to be put in at the start of the product design and development process. We call this Safety by Design. In a world first, eSafety have recently released two interactive assessment tools for both early-stage technology companies (Start-up edition) and one for midtier or enterprise companies (Enterprise edition). The tools provide guidance for companies of all sizes and structure to help them along the way in developing safe products, assisting them to embed safety into the culture, ethos and operations of their business. Building in sound safety practices up front, rather than retrofitting safeguards after any damage has been done - after a “tech wreck” moment – mitigates any further revenue, regulatory or reputational damage down the line.

What should/could students be doing better to remain safe online? Any one of us might have a negative experience, ranging from relatively low impact issues like mild criticism or feedback, to more damaging experiences such as cyberbullying (up to 18 years old), adult cyber abuse (18 years and older), image-based abuse or being scammed. This is where the eSafety Commissioner can help. eSafety’s role is to help safeguard Australians at risk from online harms and to promote safer, more positive online experiences. This includes providing advice, information, and resources on the eSafety website and helping people who report online abuse.

Are there people, places etc., that students can contact if they are experiencing bullying or feeling unsafe online? If you are experiencing online abuse the first stop should be to report that to the platform, and then to us at eSafety. Helplines include Headspace, which is for 12- to 25-yearolds. Phone counselling is available all day, every day. Online chat is available 9am to 1am EST daily. UniSA students also have access to free and confidential counselling, as well as an out-of-hours crisis line. Head to unisa.edu.au/counselling for more info. ▪︎

As most are aware, the future is looking to become even more reliant on the internet. Do you believe this will have positive or negative effects on the future adolescents? Why or why not? The internet has become an essential utility and there’s no going back! In fact, the COVID-19 pandemic has supercharged online use and online harms in ways we weren’t entirely prepared for, and in Australia we’ve seen spikes across all our reporting areas. We cannot forget that the internet provides so many benefits – it keeps us connected, entertained, has enabled us to work, be educated and explore in ways that weren’t possible even 30 years ago. We know there are also a

To help you stay safe online, we recommend following your university’s complaint and reporting processes for inappropriate behaviour, supplemented by eSafety’s range of recommended safety strategies. Check out the guide on the eSafety Commissioner’s website https://www.esafety. gov.au/key-issues/esafety-guide for more info.

Artwork Madeline Blake

Poetry

THat feelING Words Alan Curry

As children, our self-worth is determined by our most trusted and significant relationships; the message received is the lesson learned.

THat feelING, you know the one? pulling, dragging, suffocating, silencing.

he smiles. i want to be him. blonde hair. blue eyes. white teeth. happy.

passing the town hall, pinching for broken crumbs in the bottom of a crisp packet, there it was, THat feelING.

but not for boys like me. there it was, THat feelING. pulling, dragging, suffocating, silencing.

thinking of the boy in the tv ad. blonde hair. blue eyes. white teeth. happy.

passing phil kennedy’s pub, on my way home? from school, i was six years old

sliding his thumb over the surface of the silver foil wrapping, leaving an imprint of the name we all know.

Edition 42 | 2021

Artwork Ariana Cannan

Poetry

Breathing Easy...er Words Tayla Elliott

Eager to leave now. Boxes surround me filled high. Remember to breathe. Packing tape sticking to my feet, I look for clothes I have already packed away and labelled. I look at walls now empty and marked from years of memories when I was happy. When I was naïve. The car horn tells me, I have no more time to think. It is time to leave. Daydreaming of the future, I remind myself that those words needed to be said. I couldn’t stay here much longer without breaking down. Without losing. I’m so sick of losing. So long I’ve waited. Now that it’s here I’m lost. Happily depressed.

Edition 42 | 2021

Review:

A timelapse of smells from the corner of West Terrace and North Terrace to Port Road Words Anisha Pillarisetty Artwork Matilda Renaudin Andrews

5.50 am July 8, 2021: The smell is laden, congealing in the pre-dawn gaze of the Royal Adelaide Hospital. For the time it takes to cross West Terrace, I can’t remember anything before the smell. The crisp, bright yellow “M” hoisted into the sky and the headlights on a solitary car are the only interruptions. My stomach turns, empty. The smell seems to have settled on everything, like the grime on high-up surfaces that no one ever bothers to clean. It reminds me of beginning to eat meat again after moving here, and watching the edges of the bacon ooze white in the pan for the first time. *** 9.00 pm July 12, 2021: The smell is gone. The air is wet. Old sheets of the sky are torn into cleaning rags. The grass looks polished, new. I notice a cockatoo, lying on its side. I look away. Cold wind darts between the blur of my bicycle spokes and I hang one arm to the side – a strange compulsion that does nothing to help the blood rushing away from my fingers. I look to my left across the empty cricket ground, and I remember when I first moved here, half a lifetime ago, and looked out over similar buzz-cut grass. It was a Sunday morning. I would later tell my friends I thought there was a curfew. The eerie silence. The smell: just-mowed, just-mulched, just-renovated, peeled back by the dry air, razor-sharp, a hush-hush. ***

Review

Much later, I would learn how we had driven first through unceded Kaurna, and then Ngarrindjeri lands. Ngarrindjeri, Kaurna and Italian poet and health worker, Dominic Guerrera, speaking at the South Australian Rainbow Advocacy Alliance’s IDAHOBIT 2021 event said: ‘Invasion and genocide continue to take place. So, you’ve been welcomed, now what?’ Falling down to the South, towards the cemetery, the sky is blue – almost the same bright blue as the plastic net draped across the temporary fencing. To my right, the sky furrows into a storm, cleaved in half, where I stand. The parklands stretch ahead, screeching with the loud smell of grass. The RAH is stoic, grey clouds looming above, like a superhero in the movies who can control the weather. I’ve looked up Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) many times, and it’s always the same. Health Direct doesn’t really tell you SADness isn’t just sad. It’s: 1. panic 2. resignation 3. clawing through the laden air I don’t know if I have it. Maybe it’s just plain, old depression. But SAD seems better somehow, on paper. Contained by seasons. More manageable. I remember hearing on the radio that 2020 was the first year ever that was: 1. not only the third warmest, but also 2. the fifth wettest 3. AND the eighth sunniest.

I wonder if Health Direct will update their SAD webpage to factor in climate disaster. I wonder if the colony will listen. I wonder if I’m truly listening. I wonder if the colony will factor in colonisation when writing reports on climate disaster. The (first) SADdest day this winter, I’m sitting up in bed with the lights turned off. The moon is hurled against the window. I can’t smell the wind, but it reminds me of home, the sound of a train if it had no wheels. It’s strange that I smell home here, on the (third?) windiest day, staring at the tops of gum trees unspooling. I imagine it smells warm, like a monsoon ballooning in curtains. I can’t imagine what the winds smelt like before I was here, before this window was here. I’m here, settling, like the smell of deep fryers before sunrise. Now what? ▪︎

I’VE LOOKED UP SEASONAL A F F E C T I V E DISORDER (SAD) MANY TIMES, AND IT’S ALWAYS THE SAME. 35

Edition 42 | 2021

Humans of UniSA Presented by On The Record

Everyone has a story... On the Record have returned for Verse’s very special Mental Health Edition. Touching base with some really unique students to understand exactly how they tick within a theme that stages conversation on health and well-being, the OTR reporters have continued to specialise in finding voice within a sea of sounds. Flip through these next few pages to get a taste of who OTR have gone one on one with this edition.

Want more? Scan the QR code to visit OTR’s website!

Humans of UniSA

Interview by Rylee Cooper

Jo Newbury

Photo Jo Newbury

Bachelor of Journalism and Professional Writing When we talk about mental health, something that comes up a lot is looking after ourselves and putting down boundaries and respecting others’ boundaries. What is a boundary and why are they important? I think [boundaries] come in a lot of different forms and that they exist within your relationships and workplaces and study. You need to have boundaries and all of those things, otherwise burnout is inevitable. I think it’s a really important thing to remember that you can’t pour from an empty cup. And when you’re giving so much of yourself to your work or uni or friends all at the same time that’s it, it’s going to make you a very sad and low vibrational person. I think being able to say no to that extra shift or the extra course or lunch with your friend that day, just because you would rather stay in bed and eat noodles and watch movies is really, really important. Establishing those boundaries in your life and knowing how much you can give is super important.

assignments to do’, but reiterating that you would still like to see them and that that catch up is not something that’s off the table. I think being able to say to your friend, ‘That is something that I would like to do, can we look at our calendars?’ And even if it doesn’t happen soon, throwing some days out in the future that actually do work for you makes them feel confident in knowing that you do want to see them. Sometimes, for me, it can be up to a few months and that really does suck but, when you put it out on the table, really honestly and openly, people will receive it better. So, what is that first step in setting those boundaries? Is it just saying no to something you don’t feel you have the energy for? Like a chore or a workrelated thing? Exactly. Just say no and get comfortable in that idea that you are affirming yourself in a situation where you probably would have said yes. And know that it would have taken more emotional labour from you than to not do the thing. I think that’s the really important part is distinguishing when is enough and being okay with that and not looking at other people around you and going, ‘Oh wow, they do 45 hours a week in five courses, and have a thriving friendship group. How do they do that and I’m not able to?’ That was a big part of it for me, as well, was the comparison of how much other people were able to handle because I was trying to take it all on. It was sometime during second year I turned around and just said, ‘No, I’m comfortable with a couple of courses a couple hours a week.’ And you know, that, that is my quota.

I absolutely agree. Can you share some personal boundaries that you have? I’ve had to set boundaries, because I’ve gone into things thinking that I could cope and handle all of it and be the superstar. But sometimes it’s just not realistic. I started off as a five-course student full-time. That very quickly became unrealistic, and I dropped down to three or four. I definitely have had to say no to more work, especially when uni gets busy at the end of those couple last weeks. So, establishing those boundaries are really important for me. I think that a lot of people are worried about the negative reaction they could get, when they try and set those boundaries, from people who don’t quite understand. How do you communicate that it’s not a “them” issue – it’s you just looking after yourself? A hundred percent. I think it’s about the pure honesty as well. Like honesty is the best policy. And it goes a long way. I feel when people communicate that they just don’t have time or that they’re really busy right now. That’s such a broad and easily interpretable statement. But being able to be honest and say, ‘look, I actually have X-amount of

YOU CAN’T POUR FROM AN EMPTY CUP. 37

Edition 42 | 2021

Interview by Ashleigh Buck

Morgan Jones

Photo Morgan Jones

Bachelor of Law & Bachelor of Journalism and Professional Writing Tell me a bit about your degree and why you chose to study it? I study a double Bachelor’s degree of Laws and Journalism and Professional Writing. I actually had a fair bit of trouble selecting my degree. I have always been a pretty good writer, so I knew I wanted to do something along that path. I landed on Journalism as an option pretty early in my life, probably around the age of 12. When it came time to doing SATAC selections, my number one preference was actually a double degree of Journalism and Professional Writing and International Relations; the course was cut, and I was forced to choose something else. Law was suggested as the best replacement. I wasn’t sure I would reach the ATAR needed for law entry, but here I am! So long story short, completely by accident!

What are you favourite things to do that help you wind down? How can these relate to other students? I really struggle to “wind down” because I live my life in constant stress (again, therapy), but I find revisiting my accomplishments for the day can really help to separate rest time and busy time. Sometimes this is crossing things off a to-do list, telling my partner what I’ve achieved for the day or journaling. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture, but more of a reminder that I can allow myself to rest now. For those studying, what sort of tips or advice would you give to them regarding managing their mental health and university life? It’s easier said than done, but writing out a calendar of due dates, tests, important notes, somewhere you can’t ignore it absolutely helps. My roommate made a table last semester and put it on the fridge, whenever she finished an assignment, she put a sticker next to it. Simple but very effective! A big tip I’m coming to terms with is that sometimes half done is good enough. Half cleaning the house is better than not; eating toast is better than nothing; having a shower but not washing your hair is better than lying in bed feeling gross. It’s the small things!

Why is it important to maintain a good work/ life balance? I find especially doing heavy Law subjects that it can be so easy to neglect certain areas of your life. These areas seem to change for me, but they are typically all the classics: self-care, studies, social life and health. I have noticed that when one of these areas start slipping, it can quickly cascade into a landslide and bring down a few others with it. Having a good work/ life balance stops these landslides from happening. It’s important to check in with yourself and make sure you’re spreading yourself evenly over different aspects of your life to take some stress away.

What do you hope to achieve in your future career through your degree? I’m starting to think I would like to get into government work. I always wanted to be a political journalist and I still have hopes to achieve this one day. I would also like to do some advising as well as just getting into the ranks of government. I don’t know if I’ve got what it takes to be a politician, but I would like to know the inner workings of parliament.

How do you prioritise self-care alongside your studies? I find this to be one of the most challenging things to do. With the help of therapy, I’m learning to simplify my perfectionist habits and learn that self-care isn’t always a face mask, long bath, massage kind of thing. Sometimes its tackling the mountain of washing that’s accumulated or finally changing those sheets. Sometimes it can be as simple as saying no.

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Humans of UniSA

Interview by Anisha Pillarisetty

Mussa Ahmedi

Photo Mussa Ahmedi

Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Business

To begin with, what are you studying at UniSA and why did you choose to study this? I’m studying a Bachelor of Law and a Bachelor of Business. I suppose I chose Law because it had an element where you had to constantly learn new things, and consistently update your knowledge with all the relevant laws. I chose to do a double with Business because I heard that Law is very intense with reading, whereas other courses you don’t have to do as much. And I figured with Business, I was pretty good with numbers, and I liked the analytical aspect of things whilst I was in high school.

With COVID, some routines changed, especially during lockdown, how have you dealt with all the challenges across the last year and a half? With online study, you really had to be independent. It’s not like you could go to your mate’s house or go meet up at uni. But I was fortunate. I know a few people who aren’t on HECS, so they have to work in order to get funds for uni which makes it harder for them to prioritise uni. Whereas I get HECS, and I was pretty much working to spend over the weekend or buy myself some new shoes or something like that. So, when I was in lockdown and I couldn’t work – it allowed me to focus on uni, and when I was consistently getting good results they improved my morale, which improved my dedication. Do you have a go-to comfort food, or do you have a go-to comfort thing that you watch or listen to, if you’re feeling down or you need a break? Regarding comfort food, pretty much whatever’s in the pantry. We live in a house full of boys, so it’s first in, first served. You can’t really risk being the last person, otherwise there’s nothing. Regarding movies, I suppose I started watching all the classics, so like, Big Bang Theory, Friends - I finished those during lockdown, and also moved on to Prison Break. Those are the go-to things that I kind of relied on. Finally, did you have any role models as a kid that you looked up to? If you cannot think of role models as a kid, do you have role models now whether they are famous or not? Muhammad Ali comes first to mind, and Martin Luther King Jr and pretty much anyone who defied societal expectations.

Uni is stressful as it is, but you are also working full-time and you are the Treasurer for the Afghan Students Club. How do you manage stress and deadlines? So, I have got a contract gig that started midway through May and during that time I had exams, so I was only doing it part-time. I started working full-time after exams finished, so it was easier to balance uni. And with being part of a student club, there is a lot of work, especially when you are one of the executive members. I suppose, the way that I manage it is to be on top of as much as possible. And when I do fall behind, I just have to be confident that eventually things will work out. I suppose booking work off is pivotal; it really does help you out a lot. Also, trying to take yourself away from distractions. So, let’s say, you’re in a household where you have younger siblings and they are constantly running around when you have an assignment due, obviously, you can’t focus as well. Going to uni, particularly on those quiet levels, does help you focus a bit more.

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Edition 42 | 2021

In[ter]view The Warmest Shade of Blue with Brodie Winning Photos + Interview Nahum Gale

It was the first major South Australian lockdown in 2021. My friend, Brodie Winning, a student of Social Work, had just completed his 500-hour placement with the Department of Child Protection and, I must admit, I had not actually seen him for any of those 500-hours, or the minutes in between. In fact, I forgot the last time I actually sat down with Brodie and had any sort of intimate conversation with the man. Brodie and I once hung out almost every second day of our weeks. We met at school and pursued a friendship ever since. We talked movies and music, old memes and travel stories (on the topic of which we even trekked around South East Asia twice together). But I am ashamed to say that, lately, we have not really had the time to just one-on-one chat like we used to. And it’s a shame, really. We were two young men, fresh out of school, and conversing as if we had the wisdom of much older, experienced people. We had the intimate conversations we were coming to learn a lot of men did not, and I doubt we recognised how important that connection was until now. Because now, we are adults with commitments to handfuls of work, whether that be uni work, “work” work, or just personal, intimate work on ourselves and close relationships. Sad to say, but the work on our relationship has taken second fiddle in some circumstances. But, like I said, it was the first major lockdown for SA in 2021 and I was working on the Mental Health Edition when I had an idea. I approached Brodie with the offer to discuss social work through the lens of mental health for our Interview segment of the magazine. Now, Brodie was never always a Social Work student. Initially, Brodie secured a Diploma in Screen and Media at MAPS (Media Arts Production Skills) Film School with the intention of being a filmmaker. His sudden move into a Social Work degree almost came out of nowhere to me. The intention was to discuss social work, mental ill health, men’s health and a series of other topics that bound Brodie to the edition’s theme, but the other intention was to just have a one-on-one with my friend for the first time in a long time and understand, for myself, why he chose Social Work.

In[ter]view

I have known you for around six years now and, out of everyone I have met in that span of time, nobody has shifted aspirations and commitments more so than yourself. When I met you, you wanted to be a film director, now you are committed to social work. Tell us a bit about that journey and what changed for you over those years that made you tilt towards social work? Probably a lot of contributing factors, but I think one of the things that drew me to film in particular is that it is such an accessible medium and it is, generally speaking, a popular and widely accessible way of communicating ideas. From the outset, my aspiration in film had always been to tell stories I thought were generally worth telling in both an emotional and thematic sense, and I guess I really wanted to, through that, raise awareness of certain issues or stories that maybe are not typically depicted in media. So, there was always that social work lens attached to that aspiration. And I think, as I went through that journey, I found it to be a really difficult, really abstract process trying to kind of convey that through an artistic medium. The more I kind of worked on film sets, the more I realised my favourite aspect of the work, and maybe the most meaningful, was working alongside other people and building those relationships. And I think as well, as I have gotten older, I have become a better communicator and a better listener. More extraverted. So, I think as that skillset developed, I really began to see myself in a way that was maybe less aligned with those original artistic ambitions. I found myself, through filmmaking, the whole time really feeling, not unfulfilled, but as though I had strength that led elsewhere. I had a great mentor at film school and speaking to him about it, his wife was a social worker and he was like, ‘if that is the kind of environment you see yourself working in you should study social work.’ And he was probably one of the first people to plant that seed in my head. And that seed kind of just grew and grew and grew until I graduated film school, fully well knowing I was never going to put that Diploma to any practical use, and then I enrolled at UniSA, pretty much immediately afterwards, knowing I wanted to work alongside people in more “that” kind of role than a filmmaking or artistic type of role. So, going from helping people through film to helping people more hands on and being that you just completed a 500-hour placement at the Department for Child Protection, how has that changed, altered or progressed your perception of social work? Placement was a massive learning curve. I have worked as an SSO (Student Support Officer) for the last almost 2 years, so I felt as though I had a handle on it when it came to working alongside people and working in support roles, particularly again when working with children. But with the Department for Child Protection, there was just heaps to learn about the specifics of being a social worker and how that differed from my own expectations.

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It is really easy, during my studies, to look at those case studies and social issues or dilemmas and think of them as an academic idea and you can kind of write that in an essay. But when those dilemmas are unfolding in front of you personally and its genuinely your responsibility to come up with some sort of outcome, it can be confronting. I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by a really good supportive team there and, being a student, it wasn’t like the weight of the world was on my shoulders. It was pretty light caseloads, in comparison to the professionals. But it was definitely confronting to have to navigate those ethical dilemmas.

are feeling about it. That probably helped a bit having that professional debrief. I did get through it and I did really enjoy it and the learning, but I would be lying if I said it was not a massive, massive challenge. On the topic of the challenges you have faced in the past few months, how would you navigate your own mental health? How do you basically piece back together the shattered pieces at the end of the day? And answer only if you are comfortable. I don’t know how detailed you want me to get, but I do take antidepressants. I have for about a year now. I realise they are not a magical cure. They were always something I was apprehensive about taking because I had heaps of mental health problems in the past, but I am glad I started taking them. I think they probably stabilise my baseline a bit. I have struggled with depression in the past and I find it probably prevents me from spiralling quite badly. In terms of quite on a chemical level, that has been pretty helpful. But I also quite like spirituality. Not as much in a religious sense, but meditation and breath work and staying present in the moment. I think that is tremendously important and really overlooked. For myself, I have always naturally tended to be an overthinker. I have a massively active brain and I find stepping back and almost watching your own thoughts as opposed to being consumed by them is a strategy easier said than done, but that is certainly something I like to do. I think talking to people is important, like I said, that supervision processes during placement, for example, and having that one-on-one debrief was heaps important for me to unpack how I was feeling as well. I think emotions are super abstract and often we, and for me personally, I am not even 100% sure how I am feeling. If I am feeling upset, sometimes I am not even sure why. So, talking through things and kind of understanding what has been a trigger, what has been upsetting, what has been difficult to manage, all that can really help name and identify those emotions and the things you are struggling with and the things you need to work on. That strategy I really like. And, I suppose, in the last couple of years, I have really gotten quite into exercise. I go to the gym, five or six times a week, and I found that helps me unwind quite a bit and, again, kind of keeps me present in the moment. It is hard to really overthink when you are physically exerting yourself. And, again, it has been proven to be good for your mental health, in terms of your hormones and endorphins. So that’s probably my main coping strategies.

Considering the placement was not entirely aligned with expectations and, on top of that, was hours and hours of your time, taking out of your pocket and taking out of you mentally, how did that affect your mental health in general? I found it such a hard experience. It was long working hours doing a role I was less used to or not quite expecting. And then there was coming home at the end of the day and knowing I made zero dollars from it and then having to get up and do it again the next day... I was juggling part time work on the weekends. So it was, for a while there, a seven-day working week. And I just found that whole process really exhausting and I remember speaking to my supervisor at my placement about it and I think he tried identifying some strengths in me. He said, ‘you are probably working harder than anyone here, because this is all completely new to you. You are having to learn all of this for the first time as opposed to people here having worked in this environment for a longer period of time who are more accustomed to it and have built those better relationships with clients.’ So, I felt like I spent the whole-time treading water. I did end up reducing my placement from 5 days a week to 4 days a week just to give myself a day off. That was probably one of my biggest self-care strategies to help myself unwind a bit. It was heaps hard to find the time to do anything, juggling that and work and not really making any money. Apart from being physically time consuming as well, it consumes a lot of your emotional energy, like you spend a lot of the day really trying to actively listen to and emphasise with other people and think about a lot of moral dilemmas and sitting in front of a screen typing all day. I think it used so much of my brain, like I would come home at the end of the day and feel shattered. But, in terms of mental health, I certainly noticed there were some days that I was in a genuinely foul mood due to lack of sleep or genuinely feeling burnt out or overwhelmed, particularly in those first few weeks where everything was still new to me and I was doing seven days a week, with no time to recover. I think it’s fair to say I was irritable and kind of heighted, and just finishing the day I would be feeling heaps negative, but I think reducing the workload helped. As part of the placement every fortnight you would get two hours of supervision where you would just talk through with your supervisor how things are going and how you

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In[ter]view

WE ARE LIVING IN A MENTAL HEALTH EPIDEMIC.

Being that you have to deal with your mental health and then your whole career is going out and dealing with other’s mental health, how have you found the strains of mental health has impacted your chosen field of social work? When I first enrolled in social work at UniSA, I had this sense of imposter syndrome, in a way. It felt almost hypocritical to want to go and assess and intervene in other people’s mental health problems, knowing full well I had my own. And it was always in the back of my mind, like I said everyone brings their values and biases into a conversation and my mental health may impact my perception of others and my general mood and ability to cope with it all. But I think we live in a society where we are slowly normalising mental health a bit, like I feel a lot more comfortable talking about it than I did five or so years ago and I think we are getting better at that. And I think, even in terms of social work as well, speaking with people I was working alongside in placement or even fellow students, it’s so common to hear about other people’s lived experience with mental health and mental health issues and diagnoses. I think recognising that every individual does have their own struggles in that area probably brought me a great deal of solace in that I wasn’t alone and I don’t think it is impossible, I actually think it’s quite common, to go into social work or human services fields with struggles of your own.

health, but we are still having a long way to go when it comes to appropriately responding to those mental health concerns. I think it is certainly doable to encourage your friends to speak up about their concerns, but then it can be really hard to know how to respond to that and what is the right thing to say. I think as well when we are addressing people’s mental health concerns and mental health at large, we are always thinking about what we might call the symptoms. If someone is experiencing depression, we are thinking about how we can bring them into a more stable and happier state of mind and address their negative feelings, but I think, as a whole, and this is maybe more opinion and value based, we are not doing enough to address what makes people feel that way in the first place. I think it is common knowledge at this point that rates of mental health diagnoses have skyrocketed in the last few decades. It has reached the point that some mental health professionals and politicians are effectively saying we are living in a mental health epidemic, particularly affecting marginalised communities like the LGBTIQA+ community as a whole and Indigenous communities. I think we are just not doing enough to ask the questions about what is causing that and how we could make society and the world at large a more equitable and less stressful place to live.

What are your thoughts on the systemic influences of mental health? One of the big things about mental health currently, as a society, is we are growing a lot more aware of mental health issues. Like I said, I think we have substantially normalised talking about it and there are a lot of ad campaigns, like RUOK, particularly around men’s mental health and how it is “not weak to speak”. I think we are really encouraging people to open up about their mental

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Let’s talk about men’s mental health. This is the Mental Health Edition and I have chosen to sit here and talk to yourself, a straight white man on issues surrounding this edition’s theme. There is a lot of stigma surrounding the idea of a man, like yourself, not being able to express themselves or talk out. What are your thoughts and opinions on that? I recognise the tremendous power imbalance even through just working with clients on my placement, in the Department of Child Protection. There is just this tremendous sensitivity about not wanting to come in feeling as though my perspective or opinion holds any more weight than other people’s. I do think that is genuinely a misconception a lot of straight white men have. We are so overrepresented in the media. And I think a lot of men have this tremendous expectation that the world should just revolve around them, but in saying that, there is also this expectation that, through being a male, we should have those classically masculine features of being tough, physically and mentally, and being, in terms of a family dynamic, that sort of provider figure that looks out for people. I think a lot of that creates a culture where men do, maybe, find it difficult to articulate or speak about mental health problems and ultimately feel a lot less comfortable seeking professional support because of that stigma around mental health. I think that it’s kind of this weak idea that it is somehow not applicable to us. I think that it is all still a part of the modern male identity, even today, which is really unfortunate. And I think a lot of these conversations really help to break a lot of that stigma and help to hopefully raise a bit of awareness around the fact that, as the slogan goes, it’s not weak to speak, and I hope as the generations progress, it is something we become better at as opposed to worse at.

I feel like when someone has a mental health concern, a lot of the time the ownness is put on them to fix it or that they are in some way responsible for their own mental health, which is true to an extent, but I think you cannot look at these skyrocketing figures and think they are just individual problems. I think the simplest way of seeing systemic issues explained is if one person has a problem, it’s their problem, but if thousands of people have a problem, then it is a societal problem. It is a systemic problem. And I think the fact we are seeing just millions of people around the world diagnosed with mental health conditions... I just think there is heaps of work that needs to be done in terms of addressing those broader causes. So, would you say society has a fixation with treating symptoms of mental health rather than preventing the potential causes or contributing factors of it? Yeah, I think it is really important to work to treat the symptoms of mental health and work to support others through their lived experience of mental health issues, but I think I would really, and I again this is really an opinion and value-based statement, I would love to see more work and more funding put into that early prevention and intervention kind of strategy. I would really like a lot more awareness about social issues that might be impacting on people’s mental health as well as inequalities we face in modern society. We live in what many call the “information age” where we are just saturated with content and information all the time. I think with those negative influences and the state of the world effectively beaming into our brain 24/7, we are so enlightened with the amount of information we currently have about the state of our world. I think it would be really hard not to be affected by that and I personally think that would be a massive contributing factor to the rates of mental health increases we are seeing around the world.

In[ter]view

And being a regular gym goer, do you think being physically healthy is as important to you as mental health? Does it come hand in hand for you? I do think there is a direct correlation between lifestyle and health and mental health. That is probably something that took me a long time to learn/ I remember the first time I saw a psychologist in 2015 or 2016, one of the first questions she asked me was, ‘what is your diet like’, and I remember thinking, ‘what the fuck... like how is that relevant at all?’ It genuinely triggered me and I think there is real merit to people who say that kind of thinking is fatphobic or damaging, but I can’t deny, since making adjustments to my diet, I have felt mentally better. It is certainly not a solution, but just a strategy. It’s a tool that can be used.

depression, I think genuinely opening up about that and accepting and recognising that as a current lived experience you are going through and identifying strategies to help, that is the light at the end of the tunnel. Knowing that no matter how dark things get, you have tools to use and support people you can rely on to help you get through those tough times. It will be different for everyone. And now that you are in that role of the tool – the support person – does that change anything in your journey? I think trying to empower other people can be really empowering for yourself. Feeling as though you get to be a part of other people’s journey and progress is really inspiring. I remember my first or second year of uni, one of the tutors said that being involved in one of the most intimate and vulnerable parts of a person’s life is a true privilege. It is so rare for people to learn so much about a person’s life or journey, so to be involved in that, even if it is in the tiniest way, it’s like a real genuine privilege. I will always have that in my head, that whether being involved with a social worker is beneficial for a person, being involved in someone’s life is a genuine gift and blessing. It really enriches the quality of my life. and I would hope it enriches the quality of others.

What is heavier: lifting a weight or lifting a phone? Definitely, lifting a phone to call someone. It does really take a lot of mental and internal strength to admit that things are not going well. To identify and label those feelings can be heaps challenging, especially when your feelings and emotions and mental health in general is what you might consider a real mess, something really hard to put your finger on. It can be heaps hard trying to open up to people. And even navigating the mental health sector, medically, is tremendously difficult. You have to go to a GP and get a mental health care plan and you get a referral to a psychological service and you have to go on a waiting list. A lot of people are deterred just by that process, and I think it can be really scary... but it is also worthwhile, lifesaving, life changing, empowering, educational and just a great introspective experience to be able to dissect those emotions and start working towards recovery.

Well, that’s about it. However, I just want to end by saying one thing; we are two guys here, so I think it is important to say, I love you mate and if you need to speak about anything ever, let me know. I really appreciate that, man. I love you too and straight back at you. ▪︎

When we finish this conversation, tonight what would be your best remedy for chilling out, self-actualising and finding your identity? There is no perfect answer, because what works for one person may not for someone else. I think mental health is rarely a linear journey. I think being aware of what you can and cannot change is really important. I almost want to quote Harry Potter, but I can’t think of the exact quote. It is something like, ‘if you worry about an event you have to suffer through it twice.’ I think there is a lot of wisdom in recognising the destructive nature our thoughts can have, and, I think, working in taking a step back and observing those thoughts as opposed to letting them run your entire life is really key and easier said than done. It’s important to take time for selfcare, whether that means taking a day off work, doing some meditation, going for a walk, time with others, socialising, picking up a new hobby. I think a lot of people’s personal care strategies are really different, but I think all of those have real genuine merit and benefit. I think the light at the end of the tunnel is learning to effectively manage your [mental ill health] and accepting living with it. For example, if you are going through

I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF WISDOM IN RECOGNISING THE DESTRUCTIVE NATURE OUR T H O U G H T S CAN HAVE. 45

Edition 42 | 2021

Artwork Madeline Blake

Poetry

Patchwork People Words Stephanie Montatore

Another night spent waiting by the phone, Praying my words, the wishes I’ve cried On a million different nights, Could seep through and reach you – Stitch back together Broken skin. If only you could see, You are a patchwork quilt Built to last by soft hands and Treacherous moments. We are patchwork people, Seamstresses forming Beauty from blood. Never will we be brand new, But there’s a story which lies In every inch of black & blue.

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Healing from Sexual Harm:

Impacts, Tips, and Things You Should Know Words Emma Mellett

Trigger warnings: Sexual assault, sexual harm, sexual harassment. Sexual assault and sexual harassment are major health and welfare issues in Australia; we also know that mental health affects so many aspects of our lives. So, we wanted to better understand the mental health implications for victimsurvivors of sexual assault and sexual harassment (SASH). The statistics show that almost two million Australian adults have experienced at least one sexual assault since the age of 15. This is an issue that disproportionately affects women, with 1 in 2 subjected to sexual harassment and 1 in 5 subjected to sexual assault. 1 in 20 men have also experienced at least 1 sexual assault since the age of 15. When you take a closer look at the issue, the intersection with other minority groups also becomes clear (and even more concerning). For example, the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) Change the Course survey revealed that within Australian university communities, students who identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, LGBTIQA+ and students with disabilities were more likely to have been subjected to sexual assault or sexual harassment*. One of the other things we know is that most survivors would have been in a known, trusting relationship with the perpetrator, and the sexual assault or sexual harassment was a betrayal of that trust. This can cause tensions within friendships groups or families and can also have a silencing effect on survivors; they might not be sure whether they will be believed and supported by the people in their lives who also know the perpetrator.

If you are reading this and have experience with sexual harm, or know someone who has, firstly there are a huge range of support services available to you both at UniSA and in the community – head to the end of this article for more info on these. But the number one thing we want you all to take away from this article: it’s never the survivor’s fault. Survivors may wonder if they are to blame in some way for what happened because of the “victim blaming attitudes” which have been around in society for so long. Responsibility always lies with the person who perpetrated the sexual harm. With 30 years’ experience in crisis response and counselling for survivors of SASH, UniSA Counsellor, Sharon Lockwood, is our in-house expert when it comes to survivor-centric and trauma-informed approaches to SASH services and training. She lent her considerable expertise to us for this article in providing tips and info for survivors and friends, Lockwood importantly notes, ‘You won’t always feel like this. It is so important that survivors know that no matter how overwhelming things feel now it can and will get better with time, support and information about the effects, healing process and reporting options available to them.’ So, considering that so many of us have been or know someone subjected to sexual harm, what kind of impact does this have on mental health? ‘People subjected to sexual assault or sexual harassment may experience a range of effects, and there is no

Healing from Sexual Harm

predictable way that everyone “should” expect to feel – responses are as unique as people are, but there are some common effects people may experience which can impact their mental health, such as sleeping difficulties, intrusive thoughts about what happened, appetite fluctuations, concentration difficulties and forgetfulness or short-term memory loss,’ explains Lockwood. This can have a huge impact on the ability to keep up with study and/ or work commitments. Plus, the intensity and duration of the range of reactions that people can experience varies as they come to terms with what their experiences mean for them, and who they can trust and feel safe with as they move forward. Lockwood’s number one tip to victim-survivors, in looking after their mental health, is being kind to yourself. Lockwood said, ‘The effects of sexual harm can make people wonder if things will ever go back to normal. Have patience for the time it can take to heal from the effects of sexual harm.’ Some of her other key tips include: •Spend time with the people in your support network you know you can rely on and trust because it is too difficult to work through this on your own. •It can really help to talk about your struggles with someone who provides you with unconditional acceptance and support. It can also help to talk things through with someone like a counsellor who understands the range of effects that sexual harm can have and is independent from your circle of friends and family. All UniSA students can access free and confidential counselling at UniSA or in the community (head to the end of the article for a list of support services). •Try to strike the balance between time spent focusing on working through the effects of the sexual harm and what this means for you as well as continuing to spend time doing the things you enjoy. •Try to maintain routines, if possible, particularly around sleep and food. Sleep and good nutrition are critical building blocks for physical and mental health.

Everyone involved in a survivor’s support network can contribute to their healing by supporting survivors to feel safe and to make whatever decisions they feel they need to make without criticism or judgement. If you haven’t been subjected to sexual harm but know someone who has, Lockwood also has some tips and steps you can take to support your family member or friend: •Offering non-judgemental, unconditional acceptance and support is vital. If you’re not sure about how to offer support to your loved one don’t be afraid to ask them directly about what they would find helpful. •Provide choices and options for people – for example, ask them ‘would you like me to ask you about this whenever we speak or wait for you to bring it up in conversation?’ Survivors often say that it can become “the unmentionable”, that their friends or family know about it, but don’t ever ask how they are or bring it up in conversation. Or it can go too far the other way too, that people only see the survivor through the lens of the experience of SASH and keep asking/ checking in on them and assuming them to be more fragile than they actually are. •It may also be the case that there may be certain places they don’t want to go to or activities they no longer want to do, because it has a connection to their experience of sexual harm. So, understand this and discuss alternatives rather than leaving them out of social activities. Social isolation will not help them to heal, but maintaining social connection certainly will. •Nurturing a connection to hope is another essential form of support that allies/ family/ friends can do to support their loved one. Messages of hope like, ‘things will get better in time, and I am here to support you through this’ can go a long way towards keeping that hope alive. •Sometimes the way we describe the effects of sexual harm can acknowledge the significance of the range of impacts it can have, but leave little room for hope and post-traumatic growth. For example, messages like, ‘you will never get over this or never be the same again’, or in reference to the criminal justice system, ‘perpetrators get let off (i.e., not convicted), but the victim gets a life sentence.’

Remember that the sexual harm is what was done to them – it is not who they are, and your loved one is still the same person they were before this happened and they need time and your support as they heal. During September, you will also have another way to help other students out. The National Student Safety Survey (NSSS) is an independent survey running throughout September (6 September – 3 October 2021). It’s collecting data on the scale and nature of student experiences of sexual assault and sexual harassment.

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Support services: We have counselling available at UniSA and there are also free, confidential counselling options available within the community too. UniSA counsellors can help too if these or other personal issues are affecting your studies. UniSA counsellors can also help in terms of exploring any safety strategies needed if the perpetrator of the sexual harm is a staff member or student at UniSA. It doesn’t matter if the incident occurred recently or a long time ago, or if it happened on-campus or off-campus – no matter what, support is available. You can visit our website for a full list of support services (unisa.edu.au/sash), but here’s a list of some key ones:

The Social Research Centre (SRC) who are running the survey will be randomly selecting 10,000 UniSA students to participate. So, check your student emails from 6 September to see if you have been asked to take part. It is important that we hear about the full range of students’ experiences. This means hearing from people of different ages, sexualities, genders, cultures, degree pathways, modes of study, and countries of origin. We want to hear from you, whether you have or haven’t experienced sexual violence, coercion or harassment of any kind. If you don’t get invited to participate via email, you can still share your story from 6 September via the nsss.edu.au website. While this is an undeniably heavy topic, and an intense and overwhelming experience for victim-survivors, Lockwood wants you to know that these feelings can and will change over time. ‘One of the most satisfying aspects of my counselling work with SASH survivors over the past 30 years is that it is such a privilege to witness and be able to play a part in people’s recovery journey from the effects of sexual harm.’

•UniSA has free and confidential professional counselling for students Monday - Friday 9am-5pm. You can book an appointment online or by phone. We also have an out-of-hours crisis line outside of those hours: 1300 107 441. •1800RESPECT, the national sexual assault, family and domestic counselling service, available 24 hours, 7 days a week on 1800 737 732 or 1800respect.org.au •QLife, an anonymous and free peer support and referral service for the LGBTIQA+ community, on 1800 184 527 or qlife.org.au. •Men can access anonymous confidential telephone counselling to help to stop using violent and controlling behaviour through the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491. ▪︎

Disclosing and/or reporting an incident of sexual assault or sexual harassment: You will be believed and supported if you disclose your experience of sexual assault or sexual harassment. We can talk about the reporting options available within and external to UniSA and any interim measures that can be put in place to enable you to feel safer so that you can remain engaged with your studies. It’s important you know that you have control of what action you take (including no action) and you can change your mind at any time. You do not have to make a decision quickly and it is important that you make the decision that is right for you. Whatever you decide to do, you do not have to go through this alone. If you wish to disclose or report an incident to the University, we encourage you to make contact with one of our designated First Responders who are specially trained to respond to disclosures or reports of sexual assault and sexual harassment and can advise you of your options: unisa.edu.au/firstresponders If you choose to make a formal report, you can do so via our simple online form: unisa.edu.au/sashreport

*https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/0375553f0395-46cc-9574-d54c74fa601a/aihw-fdv-5.pdf. aspx?inline=true

Poetry

The After Words Isla Franchesca

Artwork Shachi Shah

two years since her fourth article was published, franchesca reflects on the after.

laced in adaptation, versions of who i have been linger from frame to frame. i see greyscale seasons, and catch sight of how raw and vivid life is for the girl in the pictures. i know her sorrows; i hear her cries; but i feel her unwavering courage. i see her partake in the truly illuminating experience of what it means to be alive; and i watch her study, relentlessly, the subject she now knows most intimately - herself. the girl in the pictures grew; she became a woman. you can find her deep in a melody, across glistening skies that never feel far. she lives in a light blue painted home, and her land flows with milk and honey. although she is still, occasionally, met with trial, her life is no longer measured by it. she lets the wind, in all its mystery, come and go as it pleases; and immerses herself in willing the good of others. context is always deserved, and persecution does not exist because we have already been through enough. it is the winter solstice everyday, and there is nothing left to fear. her love, as countless as the stars, has no end - and that is her freedom.

Edition 42 | 2021

This Playlist Saved My Life Words Ana Maria Liarakos + Nahum Gale

... and in this moment, I swear, we are infinite... That is a line from the 2012 indie, The Perks of Being a Wallflower. It comes in a moment in the film where the protagonist, Charlie, realises he is not a sad story. He is alive. He stands up and sees the lights on the buildings and everything that makes him wonder. And he is listening to that song on that drive with the people he loves most in this world. And it is this moment, this infinite moment, that Colombian-born psychology student, Ana Maria Liarakos and Ethiopian-born journalism student, Nahum Gale, try to replicate in their Spotify playlist, Book Club. This is Ana and Nahum’s story of how this playlist saved their lives... ... Ana: On the 5th of May, 2019, my Spotify rotation consisted of two albums. The first was Go Farther in Lightness by Gang of Youths. May 2019 was also just after my old man’s one year anniversary of his passing. Listening to Gang of Youths in the midst of grief provided indescribable comfort. Their lyrics resemble the humble philosophy my father believed in. One that acknowledges the pain of life while simultaneously urging you to push forward for its beauty. Album number two, you ask? It was Bad Bunny’s X100PRE. His beats reminded me I was still a badass. Que yo soy sola de mi. That I am only my own (person). Bad Bunny’s energy was strongly needed after leaving an abusive relationship six months prior. That was when I started sharing my music with Nahum. Nahum: On the 5th of May, 2019, my Spotify rotation consisted of one band: Bon Iver. I was moving on from my first official relationship which ended super abruptly and Bon Iver songs perfectly captured how I felt. In fact, they always did. So that is all I let play upon my eardrums. Alongside personal dramas as well, I was slowly losing any sense of a solid identity. I turned to film soundtracks to form character and find a style to base the “new me” on. But nothing was really working. My persona was fractured and I was feeling angsty. That was when I started sharing my music with Ana. Ana: Book Club was formed on said date of May 5th, 2019. It provided us a way to share music with one another as somewhat of a coping strategy. So, what did the first Book Club songs mean to us? Comfort. I think they prepared us for the change we had to face in our lives. They possessed a blissful escapism. Take our first pick, Welcome Home, Son by Radical Face.

Its build-up is crafted so magically that when the first chorus hits, it feels like you are flying. There’s a similar undertone colouring most of our first picks, like, White Winter Hymnal by Fleet Foxes, Like the Dawn by The Oh Hellos, and of course, Blood by The Middle East. We recognised these songs had an indie folk genre when we first started exchanging music. However, when Book Club was created, we needed criteria. Nahum: The essential criteria we set ourselves to navigate this newly formed playlist was simple. We decided we would both add a song every Monday morning. It functioned kind of like, funnily enough, a book club. The whole idea was to make Mondays sentimental. We wanted to be emotionally ready for the next seven days of our lives, and what better way to do that than to start the week with introducing the other to a new song. And so, the philosophies of Garfield soon flew out the door as Mondays became a day of anticipation. Mondays became the best day of the week because, in those precious mornings, we could be completely, and unapologetically, emotionally vulnerable with one another. Ana: By June 2019, Book Club had become experimental; first, by sharing odes to our teenage years. Nahum did so through rap, and I, through alternative rock, and we were delightfully shocked to see that Mac Miller’s Aquarium and Green Day’s Redundant fit in our playlist. But that wasn’t the end of it. Nahum started adding Icelandic indie music (yes, you read that correctly). Through Sigur Ros, I learnt how Nahum’s passion for film and travel had been a gateway for him to connect to unexpected genres. On the other hand, Latin and Spanish music were intrinsically part of who I am, a gateway to my culture. Adding Gipsy

This Playlist Saved My Life

Kings, my parent’s favourite band, was a milestone in Book Club for me. It made our playlist feel like home. Over time, Book Club has become our own log of identity defining moments. For example, the day Nahum interviewed Thelma Plum is my favourite moment captured in Book Club. This was Nahum’s first journalistic interview with someone of high significance to him. He experienced how journalism worked, and it matched every hope he had. That day Nahum lived his dream. Just seeing his smile afterwards, I knew it was a moment he would treasure forever. And seeing Thelma perform that night was also special for me. She was so expressive; I was wholeheartedly captivated. Above all, she was comforting; a master storyteller. While Thelma was singing Nick Cave, I had an epiphany. If seeing her perform felt so great, I wondered how healing it must be for her. Me dio envidia pero de la Buena (it’s a saying in Spanish meaning, I was filled with good envy). I wanted to feel what she was feeling. That gig prompted me to write my own songs... and I am bloody glad I did. Narrating stories to myself while cradling my guitar has transformed into something sacred, if you will. Something healing. Especially when my stories are in Spanish. Nahum: It’s true. The playlist began to expand beyond just the playlist. We were no longer coping; we were properly healing. I got to watch Ana bloom. She was no longer quiet, she was loud. And the music we shared was making it so. She was finding her voice through those of Iron & Wine’s, Ball Park Music’s, and others of that ilk. And for me, I was no longer looking for personal identity and character in movie moments and soundtracks. We were making our own movie moments. And Ana was my soundtrack. Even when I travelled from places as far as Peru to Japan, and Ana would cruise through the Pacific Islands, we would make sure the moments we were experiencing apart were moments worth time capsuling.

Maybe the biggest moment for me was when I found myself finally in the crowd of a Bon Iver concert, and the first person I needed to tell was... Ana: I remember getting that video of Bon Iver playing. You were so hyped and couldn’t stop messaging. I was let into another special moment of yours, and it made me feel trusted. I guess that’s what this playlist is about. We are not just exchanging music, we are exchanging the moments that have made us who we are and, simultaneously, sharing the ones which will make us the people we will be. There is a level of transparency that accompanies sharing songs like that every week. And it has expanded beyond the realms of a playlist and into our daily life. Nothing says trust to me like the fact that Nahum was the first person I showed my own personally written music to. He has cheered me on since day one. He has believed in my creativity. That’s a gift not many people can find in friendship. Being received with their warmth, comfort, and validation. It’s just a beautiful feeling. I can’t put it into words. I know this is going to sound corny (and that I am), but I think Nahum and I were really destined to be friends. And I think it was destined to happen over creativity. I think our dream world of Book Club has helped us craft the identities we have today – the ones that have propelled us forward – where Nahum is a freelance writer and editor and an outstanding photographer and where I am an aspiring musician, an aspiring podcaster and fucking content with being alive. Nahum: And, trust me when I say, Ana is more alive now than she has ever been in the last few years I have known her. A few months ago, I got to see Ana perform with her guitar before a large crowd. I saw the girl I met two years ago become the woman whose life had changed thanks to one small alteration to our Monday mornings. And when she sang the songs of our playlist, I felt, for those moments, we were better. We were alive. We were infinite.

... Epilogue: Ana: So, what albums do I have on repeat now? Gossaner by Passion Pit and Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) by Kali Uchis. I think they reflect my current emotional state. There’s a lot of light and insight piercing through after a period of monochrome rigidity. I’m really proud of where I am. It hasn’t been easy. Now that I’m savouring the realisation that I am worthy of what I long for, I’m beyond excited for the experiences I’m yet to encounter. What about you, Nahumster? Nahum: I still listen to Bon Iver, 24/7. I would be lying if I said I didn’t. But now Justin Vernon’s music is no longer just a sombre affair. Like the band, I feel I have escaped the winter and am now basking in the suns of spring. I feel the joy of Arcade Fire, the liveliness of Vampire Weekend and the soul of Death Cab for Cutie or Bombay Bicycle Club. I feel invigorated. I feel found. I feel an identity entirely my own. And it would not be without you, Ana. And this infinite playlist. ▪︎

Edition 42 | 2021

In Conversation Interviewer Stephanie Montatore Artwork + Photos Lucy Turczynowicz

with

Lucy Turczynowicz

What does clothing/ fashion mean to you? Is it an important means of your self-expression, why or why not? Clothes and fashion are a massive part of my self-expression! It’s how I present myself to the world. Because I’m really into art and design, I’m naturally drawn to interesting clothes that incorporate cool shapes and colours and textures. I don’t claim to be a fashionista, but I think my personal style expresses my personality really well! I have recently sworn off supporting fast fashion, and have moved towards buying my clothes sustainably. This is something that greatly impacts what I wear and how I wear it because it makes me think more critically about the fashion that I am buying. I feel really strongly about slow fashion and supporting it is a way that I can live authentically and express my values. How would you describe your personal style today? Has it changed over time? How so? My style is definitely eclectic - I can’t think of a single word to sum it up. I wear lots of different things! I wear things that catch my eye. I don’t know how to explain it! I’ll just see something and picture myself wearing it instantly. I love big chunky earrings and brightly coloured eyeliner too. I think accessories level up any outfit, and are a great way to create variety, especially if you have a smaller wardrobe. My style has definitely changed over time. In the last 6 months it’s levelled up and now my wardrobe is at a point where everything is cohesive, and I feel like I have found “my style”. Not participating in fast fashion means that the clothes that I’m wearing I genuinely love, and they are pieces that I can see myself wearing for a long time.

OK S

How has clothing helped or hindered your relationship with your body throughout your mental health journey? Clothing has helped me to stop thinking about my body as part of me, but rather something that is helping me get around. My body is here so I can dress it up! My own self-confidence and feelings of anxiety are really helped by my outfit. Instead of the feeling of “everyone is looking at me” being an anxious one, I can wear an outfit that I feel amazing in and then think, ‘yeah – they’re looking at me!’ This might sound really self-centred, but it’s my life – I’m the one existing in it and I’m running the show so why can’t I wear whatever I want, wherever I want? I realised that there is no reason why not. My self-confidence was really helped by the realisation that my “desirability” to other people was not something that I needed to base my self-worth on. This helped me to start dressing for me, and wear shapes and colours that I liked, not things that I thought would make me attractive or desirable to other people. In saying this, it is super hard to get into this mindset and work through the anxiety surrounding how you feel you are perceived by people. It’s not a fast or easy thing to work through.

IS UN

How would you describe body neutrality and how have you achieved this? It’s taken a long time, but a big part of getting to the mindset that I have with my body currently has been to really question why I was doing the things I was doing. Why was I shaving my legs? Why did I dress a certain way? Once I figured out that a lot of the pressure I felt around my body was as a result of a beauty standard created to control women I realised that me being “desirable” was not something I wanted to cater to anymore. This was the first step that helped me to understand how I felt about my body. I realised that this is how my body was supposed to look – that I had an adult body, and I wasn’t supposed to look like I did when I was a teenager. I stopped shaving my body hair, and I started to listen to how my body felt. Beyond that, to achieve some sort of body neutrality, I tried to think of my body as a vessel to get me around, rather than “me”. I am not what my body looks like, rather my body is just the being to get me around and I’m proud of it for doing the things it does! I stopped focusing on the way it looks but why it looks that way, and generally the answer is because those parts of my body help me do the things I want to! What do you think the media could be doing differently to encourage body positivity across all genders, body types and means of self-expression? Breaking down gender norms and sexist societal “rules” (and actual rules – sporting uniforms and school dress codes being a prime example of this) around clothing is something that needs to happen for people to be able to express themselves properly. While these ideas that only certain people can wear certain clothes, and that women have to subscribe to this impossible (and frankly paedophilic) beauty standard – for example, removing their body hair and looking forever young in order to be considered attractive and worth something – are still circulating, it’s really difficult for people to accept their bodies!

MEN

MY OWN SELFCONFIDENCE AND FEELINGS OF ANXIETY ARE REALLY HELPED BY MY OUTFIT.

EA LT

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Speaking from a woman’s perspective, I would love to live in a world where the advertisement of unnecessary “beauty” products wasn’t a thing. I would love for young girls to know that being “presentable” and desirable are not defining factors in their self-worth. I would love to see companies stop promoting an unattainable beauty standard and stop catering to people’s insecurities. I wish I had never felt that I needed to shave my entire body and be perfectly toned and have perfect skin to be beautiful. To break through and stop accepting this standard is a difficult thing, especially when we literally grow up with it and it’s presented to us as normal and required. I think it’s very important to think deeply about why we do the things we do with our bodies, rather than just accepting what we’re being told is normal. What advice would you give to fellow uni students struggling with their body image? It’s important to remember that body neutrality is not looking in the mirror every morning and loving everything you see (although, I do like to look in the mirror and tell myself I love myself simply because it makes me feel better!). I see it as accepting that I’m never going to love some parts of my body, but it doesn’t matter because my body is just getting me around. It doesn’t matter what it can or can’t do, or what it looks like. It’s here for me to wear cool clothes, get tattoos, and swim at the beach! This looks different for everyone as well – everyone’s body has different abilities, so it’s important to figure out what things you enjoy doing, and how your body feels doing them. And, finally, what clothing pieces make you feel the most confident and why? I love my denim jeans – I have three pairs of the same style in different colours! I really struggle finding bottoms to fit and this type fitted me and my style perfectly. I also love turtlenecks for winter because they’re perfect for layering, and skirts and smock dresses for summer, because I can often find them in funky patterns and colours. My go-to look is something with layers, a statement pattern or colour, gold jewellery and some cool shoes to top it off. ▪︎

I TRIED TO THINK OF MY BODY AS A VESSEL TO GET ME AROUND, RATHER THAN “ME”. 56

Recipe

Recipe: Chocolate Cake Words Ashleigh Buck

When days get tough and things seem a little blue, we all need something sweet, warm, and chocolatey to pick us up. Choccy cake has been listed as a number one comfort food for years; the fluffy centre, rich chocolate flavour and crusty top is completely irresistible. So, if you, or someone you know is feeling down, you can be sure this recipe can bring a little light into the day.

You Will Need: Cake: 1 ¾ cups self-raising flour (sifted)

Method: Cake: 1. Set oven at 180°C 2. Sift dry ingredients into a large bowl and add sugar. 3. Add melted butter gradually and mix well.

½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

4. Add milk and vanilla and beat well.

½ cup cocoa (sifted)

5. Add lightly beaten eggs gradually, beating well after each addition.

1 ¼ cups white sugar 125g butter (melted) 1 cup milk 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 eggs (lightly beaten) Chocolate Icing: 1 ½ cups icing sugar (sifted) 2 teaspoons cocoa (sifted)

6. Pour mixture into a greased deep 20cm round cake tin. 7. Bake for 1 hour or until cooked when tested. Chocolate Icing: 1. Mix dry ingredients together. 2. Add melted butter and water.

2 teaspoons butter

3. Beat well together.

2 tablespoons water

4. Once the cake is completely cooled, spread evenly on top.

Edition 42 | 2021

The Signs as Self-Care Methods Words Stephanie Montatore

Let’s be real - we can ALL be taking better care of ourselves. You know the feeling when every single assignment on earth seems to be due, when that one friend lets us down (again), or when the whole “work-life balance” thing becomes a laughable suggestion. The truth is, self-care doesn’t have to be expensive, intimidating or time-consuming. If anything, it often serves best as small lifestyle changes that can easily be implemented into your own daily, weekly or monthly routines. Oh, and before I hear anymore negative self-talk from you, yes - you absolutely deserve it. So, take a breath and unwind. It’s time to try some new self-care methods tailored to you. Or, test out absolutely any on this list!

Aries

Cancer

21 Mar - 19 Apr Get active If I have learnt anything since getting into astrology, it is that you Aries placements absolutely love (and often need) some physical down time. Whether that means walking or running, simple stretches or yoga class, give that self-care method a try when you next need some you time. Chances are, there’s a lot of emotion you may be bottling up that getting physical can help release!

21 June - 22 Jul Take a relaxing bath It’s bath time Cancer! When life gets a bit too much, crawl back into that crab shell for a moment (or several hours) and let yourself indulge in all those feels. Make it pretty with a bathbomb - or don’t. The water alone is likely to feel really spiritual to those of you with a sign ruled by the moon. You can blast some sad songs, cry, and let it all out! The best thing? No family member or flatmate can do ANYTHING about it; lock that door (just in case though) to scream and sing in peace.

Taurus

20 Apr - 20 May Sleep & rise the right way Whether too much or too little sleep, both can be really harmful for our bodies. So, what better self-care method to focus on for the rest-loving Taurus? It’s super important to find a balanced sleep and wake routine that fits your needs and lifestyle best. Plus, imagine having time every morning to make that aesthetically pleasing bowl of oats you love - heaven!

Leo

23 Jul - 22 Aug Get some sun As a Leo, you’re literally ruled by the sun (yes, you’re ACTUALLY the centre of the universe), so spending time with that fiery space ball is likely to charge you right up in no time! Go for a walk on your lunch break, go for a picnic with a friend, or just find any excuse to get out while the sun is shining. Fun fact: if you’re into crystals you can even charge them and set your intentions in the sun, so you can give this a try!

Gemini

21 May - 20 June Schedule a monthly self-care day This one is a little more intense, but a wise Gemini friend of mine swears by it! Between a hectic schedule, taking a whole day out for yourself provides time to do all that selfcare you’ve been “too busy” for. My friend, she especially loves to go for long bike rides, make art and pick up new hobbies. Try out anything that gives you joy and see how much one day can recharge you!

Horoscopes

Virgo

Capricorn

Libra

Aquarius

Scorpio

Pisces

23 Aug - 22 Sept Say “no” Yes, I’m talking to you. As a fellow Virgo, I’m telling you to knock off those niceties (sometimes). Truth be told, giving all of yourself to everyone all the time isn’t actually helping anyone. Burning yourself out is just going to make being your best even harder! So, I challenge you to say “no” way more often. Say no to unnecessary family drama, to demanding colleges, to literally anything that doesn’t sit right with you.

22 Dec - 19 Jan Unplug for 24 hours This one might sound a little crazy, but hear me out. When we spend SO much time checking emails, replying to texts and scrolling aimlessly on social media in our spare time, we really aren’t prioritising ourselves. Plus, too much screen time has been found to increase rates of anxiety and depression in numerous studies. So, try unplugging - even if that just means for a few hours or a day, it may help you more than you’d think!

23 Sept - 22 Oct Form a skincare routine With your home sign of Venus providing a love for beauty and aesthetics, I would really encourage you Librans to develop a skincare routine that makes you feel pampered. The products don’t need to be crazy expensive or extensive, but I bet taking 5-10 minutes out of your morning and night to nourish your skin will make facing the day a little bit easier. You can even light a candle and make it a daily ritual to really treat yourself!

20 Jan - 18 Feb Try out some meditation For the dreamy and philosophical Aquarius, I would recommend some good old fashioned meditation to put that brain to good use! There are so many types of meditation techniques you can try, and plenty that are guided and free on YouTube. So why not test out what works for you? Meditation has been proven to improve concentration, self-esteem and even increase selfawareness - perfect for such an imaginative star sign!

23 Oct - 21 Nov Schedule some self love time Yeah, I’m not kidding, a little “self love” time (if you catch my drift) is super beneficial for your body. According to Better Health Australia, masturbation helps us relax, de-stress, promotes better sleep, and even releases those feel good hormones called endorphins you always hear about. You don’t need a partner to be pleased in this department, just a little alone time to hang out with that wonderful body that gets you through so much everyday.

19 Feb - 20 Mar Stay hydrated I know this one sounds painfully basic, but as a water sign (and as a human who is on average made of 70% water) you really need to take your water intake seriously. Your body deserves hydration, so treat yourself like a loved one and give it what it needs so you can function well. According to Health Direct Australia, most people need between 8-10 glasses a day. Literally every cell in your body is counting on you, so don’t let those little suckers down!

Sagittarius

22 Nov - 21 Dec Get out and explore It’s no secret that you love a little adventure, but guess what? You don’t need to stray far to get that kick! I would really encourage you Sagittarians to try a new hiking path with a friend, test out a new restaurant, or go explore that part of town you haven’t been to before. Sometimes COVID-19 restrictions have made getting out really difficult, but even from home you can visit the website Drive & Listen to be virtually driven around different cities across the world!

Self care can only go so far, if you require further support don’t hesitate to call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit their website via https://www.lifeline.org.au/

Edition 42 | 2021

A One On One with Batyr UniSA Interviewer Nahum Gale Interviewee Marta Mlot + Eliza Mortimer-Royle Photos UniSA

You may have turned the last page expecting an interview with a USASA Club, but for the Mental Health Edition, we decided to do something a little bit differently here at Verse. Batyr is a non-for-profit organisation created by young people for young people. Verse was lucky to catch up with Marta Mlot, the program coordinator for Batyr at UniSA, and Eliza Mortimer-Royle, the President of Batyr’s team of executives to learn just what Batyr does and how they continuously lend a helping hand to our student body. ____

What is Batyr? What is your general mission and purpose? M: It was founded in 2011 by a guy called Seb and, basically, Seb experienced mental ill health himself while he was at uni. He kind of reflected on that and pinpointed it as dating back to when he was in high school and really saw it as this kind of “elephant in the room”. He wondered if he would have been a lot better if someone had an honest and vulnerable conversation about it with him. So, he founded Batyr. [There was a] tie in with an elephant, because, in the 60s, there was this elephant in Kazakhstan [named Batyr] who was taught to speak 20 phrases in Russian. So, the idea was if you can teach an elephant to speak, surely, we can publicly talk about mental health. From there it grew to a pretty national organisation that really centres around empowering young people with mental health and supporting them through getting into schools and unis. Basically, it has been destigmatising mental health and talking about how it’s ok not to be ok and doing that on real peer to peer level. Not everyone is going to vibe with a doctor or a psych or some really clinical person coming in and talking to them and being like, you should talk about your mental health. But when those conversations happen peer to peer, not only are you empowering a whole generation of young people, but you are making that conversation way more accessible and normal as it should be. E: Rather than providing mental health services, Batyr is a bridge that connects people to mental health services that might be available to you in your area, or one that might work for you. So, it gives you those options, but it just more so is about putting young people’s voices at the forefront and really focusing on what it means to be a young person in Australia who might experience a mental health issue or might go through a rough patch. It is actually about centring on those voices which I think is really valuable and really exciting as a young person with lived experience. Since you have been working with Batyr, how big of a problem have you found mental ill health to be for students. Basically... how big is the elephant in the room? M: Statistically, and mind you this is pre-COVID, studies show that on average, in Australia, 83% of uni students reported feeling some kind of mental ill health during time studying. And there has been research since that shows that actually [that percentage] went up a fair bit during COVID as well with the chronic nature of that and how long lasting that stress and that experience of mental ill health was. So, that’s kind of from a statistical perspective. But, it’s an interesting question as well because it’s kind of like, well, how long is a piece of string? How do people identify when they are feeling mental ill health if maybe they don’t have the language for that? Just because someone has a diagnosis or a chronic experience with mental ill health, they might actually be in a really positive space and they might not really identify in being on that negative end of the spectrum. I think it’s a really tough one to answer.

One on One

How can people access Batyr and experience what you guys do? M: The exec is a volunteer opportunity and we are always looking to expand how we engage with volunteers and how we take volunteers on. I would say one of the biggest ways to get involved with Batyr at UniSA is keeping an eye out for workshops that we run. We will have quite a few student mental health leadership workshops coming up over the next few terms, pretty much right through to the end of Study Period 5. And there are always Being Heard workshops as well which is something Batyr runs on a national level. And those are free workshops that are open to anyone, 18 to 30 years old, and it’s a one-anda-half-day workshop that is all about really learning how to tell your story of mental ill health safely and being an advocate in your community. But it doesn’t have to be about that either, like some people just want to come to the workshop to make sense of their journey and their story and they might want to take it away and share that with their families and friends or it might just be for them. They might even choose to go on and continue what we call speaker development at Batyr, where we train them up a little bit extra, and they come on as a speaker who might go to schools and unis and share their story of their lived experience which is what everything that we do kind of centres around. So, I think on top of staying connected in that community sense, like through the execs and coming to events, the most practical way to be involved in something like this is having those conversations with your peers. I don’t think you need to be a part of something like formally volunteering with Batyr to do the work.

back into the world what I felt helped me as a young person. Joining UniSA psychology, Batyr did a program for that first year, entry level psych class and what Batyr did at this program was talk about mental health as this normal thing. The overall take away of the programs was, how do you have conversations about mental health and what can you do for your own mental health. It resonated with me as a young person who had lived experience. At the program they had lived experience speakers, who are people that come and share their own experience of living through mental ill health and mental health issues as a young person. Hearing those stories and hearing there was a way to learn how to share my story... I’m not kidding, during that program, while someone was sharing their story, it was so rude, but I got out my laptop and signed up for the next Being Heard workshop, because I thought this was something I could do as someone with lived experience. Figuring out how I could use that experience to give back without even needing the qualification of a degree was something I was really looking for in that first year of joining uni and Batyr kind of provided that avenue pretty perfectly and at the pretty perfect time for it as well. So, I kind of jumped on it straight away; went to my first workshop that was the one and a half day one back in March 2019. Then I went through speaker development and became a speaker at the end of 2019. Through being a speaker, I got to know the staff who worked at Batyr in South Australia which, at the time, was Alex in Marta’s role. He was running the exec and he was like, ‘you should get on it’ and I was like, ‘sure.’ And now, here I am. [When] you get up there and you are sharing your personal story, first of all, with the stigma around mental health, you are like, ‘who wants to hear this, this is really personal; is this even going to resonate with people.’ But the more you do it, the more you feel that people in that audience, whoever they might be, whether they resonate with the specifics of your story or not, they have felt your experience in some way or another, in some chapter of their lives. It is such a universal experience to go through struggles and to have tough times and to really be able to feel that and share that and have people in a room really resonate with your experiences is just something that you can’t put words to. It’s pretty magical. ▪︎

Personally, how did you both find Batyr and decide you wanted to commit to the organisation and their philosophies? E: I feel so lucky to have found Batyr when I did. Basically, coming out of high school, I went to uni straight away, studying psychology. During high school, I had some really intense mental ill health experiences. I was lucky enough to have a really supportive family and I got a lot of professional support for that, and I really came through. By the end of high school, I was enjoying myself. I was at a good high; a good level. But that is also exactly what shaped me to want to pursue psychology; trying to put

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Written by USASA SP2 Advocacy Intern, Riya Shetty

USASA Academic Advocacy In my most vulnerable days, I decided to grab onto an opportunity that made my life take a 180-degree turn. I saw the Advocacy internship advertised on USASA's Instagram page a day before the deadline, and after much hesitation followed by contemplation, I decided to go for it despite being an accounting student with no prior experience or future plans in this field, simply because I was desperate for experience given that I had none to begin with. So, imagine this: it was 30 minutes before the deadline for submitting the application form where I needed to answer a few questions and upload my resume, and I was almost done, but it took me so long to answer the questions that the website timed out. Not thinking much of it, I REFRESHED the page and all my answers disappeared! With only ten minutes in hand, I was on the verge of giving up. But, despite my low expectations for this application, I frantically typed what I could recall and submitted it, and I am so glad I did not give up because I would not be writing this article about my internship experience if I had. The USASA Advocacy internship is designed in such a way that it allows students to grow both personally and professionally, which is something I appreciated since it encouraged me to break out of my shell and gain confidence in myself while also teaching me professionalism and work ethics. Personally, I found this experience to be quite rewarding because I was able to observe the advocates during the meeting and contribute towards helping distressed students in times of difficulty and stress whilst also making them feel supported, which turned out to be something I was happy doing because I empathise with people and like empowering them. I learned a lot about my student rights in the process, and I am grateful that we have a student organisation l ike USASA to provide free, confidential, and nonjudgmental support. Support services such as USASA Advocacy are important because they help students who may be in trouble or just need advice while dealing with academic issues by educating them about their rights and advocating on their behalf. The advocates aim to make you feel supported throughout the process and help you achieve the best

USASA.sa.edu.au/Advocacy

possible outcome for your case because it can be a stressful process and you do not have to go through it alone. USASA advocacy can help you with a range of academic issues including but not limited to grade disputes, breaches of academic integrity, appeal of final grades, appeal against preclusions in case you have received a notice from the university informing that you are being precluded from your program due to unsatisfactory performance, issues with placements, amendment to enrollments if you are unable to continue your studies due to exceptional circumstances after the census date, complaints or issues regarding a lecturer, student and program. During my internship, I have witnessed a lot of cases, most of which could have been easily resolved if the students had sought the advocates sooner. Hence, my only advice for students would be that they make an appointment with the USASA advocates by filling out a form on the USASA website or directly emailing them at USASA.advocate@unisa.edu.au, rather than waiting until the problem escalates. Students have the option to meet with the advocates face to face on campus or have the meeting via zoom or phone, therefore, offshore students can also make use of this service. I am grateful to the advocacy team for their unwavering support and for making this such a wonderful experience for me. I admit that I still have a lot to learn, but this internship served as a steppingstone for me in my personal development. Since I found myself enjoying the work of USASA Advocacy and knew my personality traits, I realised this was a career that was well suited for me, and I plan to pursue that path in the future. In a way, I was able to discover my interest in student support through this internship. Plethora of opportunities and all it takes is a leap of faith. Embrace this invaluable opportunity if it comes your way and I hope the future interns make the most out of this opportunity and are able to cherish this experience as much as I have.

Written by USASA SP2 Advocacy Intern, Vida Lin

Here’s all you need to know about USASA Financial Counselling What is USASA Financial Counselling? It is a useful service for all UniSA students. Financial counselling is a free, confidential and non-judgmental service available to all UniSA students. Financial counselling provides information, guidance and advocacy to people in financial difficulty who want to gain insights about money management. It doesn’t matter if you are facing any financial difficulties or just looking for some professional advice for budgeting. USASA financial counselling is always providing support to guide students through the situation. Do I have to pay to speak to someone? You don’t have to. It’s a free, confidential and nonjudgmental service that you’re strongly encouraged to book when you need assistance. How can it help students? In many ways! Students are USASA’s priority, it is important to look after student’s mental health. Financial difficulties can directly lead to mental health problems, which can affect student’s well-being as well as their academic performances. Seeking professional advice can help students to find out their problems and learn to solve them. Through an empowerment approach, USASA financial counselling is there to support you with oneon-one financial counselling during challenging times. USASA’s aim is to prevent financial difficulty through consumer economics education by creating engaging content that students can connect with. Why would someone need to speak to a financial counsellor? Some students may not be able to work to earn stable income, or not being supported by family. It is also possible that students lack the skill to control their financial situation. Getting professional advices or assistance can help students to gain some financial literacy, look after their financial situation or to manage their money wisely, which can bring positive impact to every part of their life.

What is financial literacy? How can it help me and other students? This can be part of the financial counselling meeting. USASA financial counselling helps student to gain a broader knowledge of financial skill building on their individual situation, including financial management and budgeting. It is capable of helping students to feel empowered and learn to be responsible. How do students book an appointment? It’s a straightforward process: Head to USASA’s website and look for “Support” on the navigation bar. Then pop into financial support, and you can book an appointment by clicking “Request an appointment” and fill up the required information. Don’t worry, USASA financial counselling is a confidential service. All of the information provided by you will be protected. Students are strongly encouraged to make an appointment for financial counselling services to gain control of their finance. Apart from directing students to the right track to access further financial support, USASA financial counsellor is also preparing some exciting projects in the near future. Stay tuned!

USASA.sa.edu.au/FinancialCounselling

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