DEAKIN ALUMNI MAGAZINE ISSUE 6 2019 CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF ALUMNI 02 DKIN

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF ALUMNI IMPACT 1978

04 Message from 08 Christopher Kelly 24 Pasan Muthumala our President and Alumnus Class of 1969 Alumnus Class of Vice-Chancellor 2005 and 2007 Professor 10 Wayne Eason Jane den Hollander AO Alumnus Class of 1978 26 Jyoti Shekar Alumna Class of 2008 06 Stay 12 Tony Arnel Connected Alumnus Class of 1979 28 Lauren Hewitt Alumna Class of 2010 14 John Stanhope AM Alumnus Class of 1982 30 Naqib Azha 16 Sharn Bedi Alumnus Class of 2013 Alumna Class of 1995 32 Bennett Merriman 18 Renuke Coswatte Alumnus Class of 2009 Alumnus Class of 2003 +

20 Sadie-Jane Nunis Shannan Gove Alumna Class of 2003 Alumnus Class of 2014

22 Lawrence Lau 34 Melanie Orvis Alumnus Class of 2004 Alumna Class of 2016

Deakin University Information in this publication CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B was correct at time of printing. DKIN 03

AND RESEARCH THAT WILL CHANGE OUR 2018 FUTURE

36 Prison 60 Robots to 78 Giving break the rescue to Deakin Professor Joe Graffam Doctor Mick Fielding

42 Saving the 66 Sensing 79 Deakin Baw Baw frog motion Advancement Professor Don Driscoll and Associate Professor PhD student Thomas Burns Pubudu Pathirana

48 The magic 72 The dark of realism side of emoji Associate Professor Doctor Elizabeth Kirley Maria Takolander and Associate Professor Marilyn McMahon

54 Recalibrating multiculturalism Professor Fethi Mansouri

Creative direction and design: Writing: Photography: Studio Binocular Betty Vassiliadis Craig Newell unless otherwise credited 04 DKIN

Welcome to dKin 2018. This will be my last time and a sustainable car industry, and the neoteric. Sustainability and writing for dKin Magazine, together with stories on ecotourism, diversity continue, with an article on so perhaps you’ll forgive a the problems of plastic waste and multiculturalism from our UNESCO the Millennium Development Goals. Chair Alfred Deakin Professor Fethi little introspection. The past Internationalisation and India were Mansouri, and one from Professor eight years have been a time a focus, with articles on Deakin’s Don Driscoll and Thomas Burns of great change for Deakin engagement in India, the value on the threat to the Baw Baw frog and in the world, and it’s of international study and the and importance of maintaining fascinating to reflect on importance of teaching Asian our biodiversity. There is an article languages. There were also articles on emoji by Dr Elizabeth Kirley what has been achieved. on inclusion, diversity and the and Associate Professor Marilyn Our alumni magazine gives us a importance of our cultural heritage, McMahon (we knew about emoji snapshot of the issues that interest all issues that continue to be in 2010 but only just), and one us at a moment in time, and I found important to us today. There was on robotics and Deakin’s Ozbots it interesting to look back at the even an article on mobile phone by Michael Fields. An article contents of Deakin University banking – quite remarkable when by Associate Professor Pubudu Magazine 2010, the year I arrived you think the first generation iPhone Pathirana on a wireless motion at Deakin as its Vice-Chancellor. only became available in 2007. capture device the size of a matchbox is a reminder of how far A look at what’s in store for the Sustainability was a major interest technologies have advanced. Our 2018 edition of dKin Magazine in the 2010 Alumni Magazine. Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor There were articles on biodiesel is a fascinating mix of the familiar DKIN 05

Message from our PRESIDENT AND VICE-CHANCELLOR Jane den Hollander AO

Joe Graffam has contributed an the Geelong Future Economy Deakin entered the prestigious article on an innovative solution to Precinct on our Waurn Ponds Shanghai Jiao Tong Academic breaking the cycle of disadvantage Campus has led to the creation of ranking of World Universities top 500 for Australia’s prison population. almost 2000 jobs through industry for the first time in 2014 and in 2018 partnerships and co-location it was ranked 211 in the world, and These are important issues opportunities. We have made a top 10 in Australia! Of course you, for Australia, and a reminder significant contribution to assisting our alumni are the most important of how Deakin research is seeding the Geelong region’s transition to evidence of Deakin’s success, innovation and changing lives. advanced manufacturing and the and this year Deakin celebrates dKin Magazine is a very good knowledge economy. And in an 40 years of Deakin alumni. read indeed. Last year’s magazine increasingly complex market, Deakin competed against 52 universities I still have almost a year before has experienced strong growth in globally to be awarded gold in the I retire and I hope to meet some student numbers, now we have CASE Circle of Excellence Awards of you at the variety of functions 61,000 students (there were 39,600 for its design, photography and over this next period. Thank you in 2010). The best statistic? For all content – I think this year’s will for the significant role you continue eight years Deakin has ranked first be even better. to play in defining and shaping in Victoria for graduate satisfaction. the university Deakin is today. Reflecting back on my journey with Your University’s success is Deakin over the last eight-and-a-bit- Jane den Hollander AO reflected in its performance years, there are some successes that Vice-Chancellor in the international rankings. deserve mention. In just five years, Photography: Location: Scott McNaughton Morgan’s walk, Melbourne Burwood Campus 06 DKIN

40 1978 DEAKIN ALUMNI CELEBRATING 40 YEARS DKIN 07

2018 Stay Connected

Keep in touch with the Alumni Community by updating your contact details online  at engage.deakin.edu.au/alumni-home Our Alumni Community offers you a variety of benefits, including events, webinars, discounts and communications. To find out more visit deakin.edu.au/alumni 1969 08 40 YEARS OF ALUMNI

Christopher Kelly

Diploma of Commerce (Gordon Institute of Technology)

Graduate Diploma of Financial Management (UNE)

Master in Economics (UNE) Class of 1969 – Gordon Institute of Technology

Alumni of the Year Award 2012

In 2018 Deakin University celebrates Can you tell us about the Why did you decide the 40th anniversary of the first early days at Deakin? to teach at Deakin? graduation ceremony of students. Deakin was very fortunate from its When I first graduated I pursued Christopher Kelly was at that first outset to inherit many longstanding a career in chartered accounting, graduation ceremony and attended academic programs from the during that time I was approached subsequent Deakin University Gordon Institute of Technology by a former head of department graduations until his retirement in and the State College of Victoria, to undertake sessional teaching 2014. During his 40-year academic Geelong. In 1990 and 1991, at the Gordon Institute, that career in the Faculty of Business the academic programs of the was in February 1970 and by May and Law he taught innumerable Warrnambool Institute of Advanced that year I was teaching full-time! commerce graduates, many of Education and Victoria College I subsequently undertook higher whom have gone on to stellar were also incorporated into degree studies at the University careers in accounting, finance, the existing suite of programs. of New England and upon my banking and law. He has been In relating the history of the return from those studies I was honoured with a teaching award University it is worth recalling that offered a teaching position at the and was Alumnus of the Year in in these early days these institutional newly-minted Deakin University. 2012. We spoke to Christopher mergers, while challenging, So it was the case of being in the about those early years at contributed significantly to the right place at the right time insofar Deakin and his reflections current success of the University. as pursuing a teaching career. from his decades-long career. DKIN 09

Is there anything you especially What was a highlight remember about that time? of your career? When I reflect on the myriad of The Faculty has achieved roles that I have undertaken at accreditation with two international Deakin, the role that I have enjoyed bodies – the US Association to the most, without a doubt, has been Advance Collegiate Schools of my teaching. Graduates continue Business (AACSB) and the European to approach me after all these Foundation for Management years with fond memories of our Development (EFMD). Looking teaching and learning associations. back over my career, I could not have imagined that I would have How would someone describe you? had a lead role in what was a Having taught for 40 years, I found rigorous process to meet both myself teaching the children of the US and European quality former students! That has happened assurance standards of both to me four times. I recall one student these accreditation programs. telling me his father spoke of me as ‘firm but fair’, and I think that Photography: Location: was an apt description. Craig Newell Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus 1978 10 40 YEARS OF ALUMNI

Wayne Bachelor of Science (Information Technology) Eason Class of 1978

Wayne Eason recently retired after Why did you decide Can you tell us about your a distinguished 42-year career in to study at Deakin? time at Deakin? IT. He has been part of the Deakin I lived in Geelong and originally After I graduated I got a job at family since Deakin first opened studied at the Gordon Institute of BHP in Melbourne. When the its doors, being among the first Technology which later became job at Deakin came up I had been graduates and an employee for Deakin University. I graduated with commuting for three years and over 37 years. He also added to a Diploma of Information Processing was ready to work closer to home. the Deakin family with two sons which was a very early IT qualification. I distinctly remember that there who are graduates. Here he talks When Deakin was created Gordon were eight people on the interview about the enormous changes he students were offered a conversion panel! I managed to get the job witnessed during his career at course to a degree which required and stayed at Deakin for 37 years. Deakin and the many technology two weeks on campus plus a 2000 My field transformed massively over firsts attributed to Deakin IT. word thesis. I took up this offer and this time, I saw the introduction of in 1978 I graduated in Deakin’s first PCs and project-managed the first Did you always want to pursue the graduation ceremony. payroll system for the University. kind of career you embarked on? Is there anything you especially Back in the early 70s the concept remember about that time? of computers didn’t exist. It was my love of maths that got me into IT. My The first Deakin graduation ceremony degree included units in electrical, was held in a striped circus tent at the mechanical and civil engineering Waurn Ponds Campus. At the time and the highest possible maths. there were only three buildings on The belief was that we would assist campus and nothing big enough engineers or bankers with their to accommodate the numbers of mathematical calculations. graduands. For a new university there were a lot of graduands because of the transition courses that were offered to Gordon students. DKIN 11

What was a favourite aspect What did you enjoy about What are your passions of your career? working for a university? outside your work? Deakin was always at the forefront I enjoyed working in education. When my children were growing up of IT so I was always working on I regularly attended graduations and I was very involved with their schools the latest technology. At certain when I managed staff, I encouraged and sporting endeavours. These points we deployed some of the them to attend graduations so that days I enjoy my car. I belong to the first equipment ever in the world. they could see the result of our Renault Car Club and I am working In 1993, we were the first Victorian work – young people receiving on resurrecting the club magazine. and possibly Australian university their degrees and happy families. to employ microwave technology How do you think Deakin has between campuses. The microwaves Have any other family members changed since you studied there? went across the bay from Geelong attended Deakin University? When I first started working at to Burwood. In 2002 we were Both of my sons have graduated Deakin we had one campus, three the first to use a Cisco multilayer from Deakin. Ben graduated last programmer analysts and the director switch – basically a massive year with a degree in sports science University had 300 staff. These hard-drive. We had serial number and Sam graduated a few years days the University is much bigger one. Deakin has the lowest IP ago with a Bachelor of Education. but still has a welcoming feel. address of any organisation in Ben is currently an AFL trainer for Australia because we were the the Geelong footy club and Sam first to apply for one. We were was recently offered a permanent Photography: Location: leading the pack as far as the teaching role. Craig Newell Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus internet was concerned and that continues to this day. We were always a young, nimble IT department ready for change. 1979 12 40 YEARS OF ALUMNI

Among the first students to graduate from Deakin University, Tony Arnel has had a distinguished career with the Victorian TONY State Government, the City of Melbourne, Bachelor of Architecture and as the Victorian ARNELClass of 1979 Building Commissioner. DKIN 13

Tony Arnel has become an international leader in sustainable planning and design, was a founding Director and Chair of the Green Building Council of Australia, Chair of the World Green Building Council, and is the current President of the Energy Efficiency Council of Australia. He is an Industry Professor at Deakin’s Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment and is Chair of the School of Engineering advisory board. He is also Global Director of Sustainability at Norman, Disney & Young, a world-wide engineering company. Here he talks about his interest in sustainability, reviving the City of Melbourne and Deakin’s Geelong Waterfront Campus.

Why did you decide Can you tell us about your What are the challenges to to study at Deakin? time at Deakin? creating a sustainable city? Deakin University didn’t exist when I I enjoyed four fantastic years at the Melbourne has been a leader started architecture in 1973. I enrolled Waurn Ponds campus which was in terms of sustainable urban in the Bachelor of Architecture entirely surrounded by farmland planning and green buildings. degree at the Gordon Institute of filled with sheep and cows. There has been obvious success Technology which became Deakin in transforming the top end of University in my second year. The What has been the highlight the new building market, but more Gordon course was one of the oldest of your career? needs to be done in the housing architecture courses in Australia My work with the City of Melbourne section and existing building space. and was very highly regarded was a distinct highlight. Twenty I’m a trustee of the Sustainable by practitioners and the industry. years ago Melbourne was a very Melbourne Fund which provides different city. No one lived in the city low-cost loans to building owners so Is there anything you especially centre, Docklands was a wasteland, that they can retrofit their buildings remember about that time? commercial buildings were vacant to make them energy efficient. I was awarded a state government and retail shopping was a disaster. cadetship in the second year of the I worked with fellow directors of the How do you think Deakin has course. These cadetships paid tuition City of Melbourne on important urban changed since you studied there? fees and a living allowance with the policy and city planning initiatives Some 40 years after I walked out the requirement that you work for your that helped shape Melbourne into door of the Waurn Ponds Campus, nominated government department the vibrant world-class city it is today. it is unrecognisable. As an architect, during the holidays, and for two years I feel that one of the most significant after graduation. So when everyone How did you become interested things that Deakin has done is to else went surfing I was working at in sustainability? create the Waterfront Campus. the Housing Commission which later My interest in sustainability was The buildings are a great example became the Ministry of Housing. sparked by a building science lecturer of adaptive reuse of existing at Deakin. He talked about energy historic buildings and are also How has your Deakin degree efficiency, water saving and passive very sustainable. It was pure genius assisted you in your career? design at a time when the word from a planning and architectural Architecture was a six-year course. ‘sustainability’ wasn’t used. It was only point of view. It helped revitalise You had to do four years full time some years later that I realised what the Geelong Waterfront area, and then work for two years while an impact he had on me and many transform the old woolstores and studying part time. In the sixth year of my fellow students. When I got to it is an amazing facility for students. you also had to do a design thesis. the City of Melbourne and started to It was a very thorough and practical connect some of these ideas I realised course that gave me knowledge and that I could put them into practice skills that I have used throughout through some of the policy work I was my career. doing at the time. Melbourne was one of the first cities in the world to Photography: Location: pursue the idea of a sustainable city. Craig Newell Melbourne CBD 1982 14 40 YEARS OF ALUMNI

John Stanhope AM Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Economics) Class of 1982

Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award 2014 DKIN 15

John Stanhope AM is one of Deakin’s many successful alumni. Mr Stanhope had a long and successful career at Telstra culminating in the role of CFO and Group Managing Director, Finance, from 2003 until his retirement in 2011. He is currently Chairperson of a number of organisations including Australia Post, the Bionics Institute, the Melbourne International Jazz Festival and the Port of Melbourne. Mr Stanhope has been a proud member of the Geelong Cats for over 50 years and his passionate support has never wavered, through good times and bad. He has been a member of Deakin University’s Council since 2012 and was appointed the University’s sixth Chancellor in 2015. Here he talks about his memories of OWeek, making himself marketable and his vision for the University.

Why did you decide What do you believe Deakin What has been your journey to study at Deakin? University has given you as since finishing your course? I lived in Geelong but that wasn’t a person? I started work at 15 years of age at the only attraction. I was interested The Deakin commerce degree Telstra and was totally focused on in commerce and Deakin offered was a very practical help for me my first pay packet so that I could a broad degree that included in my career. My goal was to make buy a set of drums. Fortunately, accounting, marketing, economics myself as marketable as possible there were some guys I was working and auditing. I was a mature age and that is what that course offered with who encouraged me to go back student – I had been working for me. Deakin’s course offerings have to school. I completed my HSC via 10 years before I started the course always been focused on what you correspondence and enrolled in the – so I was logical in my choices. need to get a job and build a career. Bachelor of Commerce at Deakin.

Is there anything you especially What advice would you give I spent 45 years at Telstra. I always remember about that time? graduates wanting to pursue believed that you should move around within an organisation I particularly remember Orientation a similar profession? and that is what I did. I wanted Week at Waurn Ponds. The two I had a philosophy of never saying to understand all the elements of headline bands on the first night were ‘no’. People may not remember the business. I originally worked Midnight Oil and a band playing one when you say ‘yes’ but they do on economic analysis then I went of their first gigs in Victoria – INXS. remember when you say ‘no’, into marketing and advertising. and they stop asking you. Can you tell us about your I was then offered the role of Chief time at Deakin? If you want to go into a leadership of Staff to the Managing Director role you should generalise as much and from there went on to become I studied part-time for the first as your course allows you and the Deputy CFO and then CFO. three years. I worked at Telstra move around within an organisation. in Melbourne during the day and The broader your knowledge, the What has been the highlight attended classes in the evening. more marketable you will become. of your career? I was then awarded a scholarship The highlight of my career has by my workplace to complete the What has been your focus been the entire evolution of remainder of the course full-time. as Chancellor of Deakin? telecommunications, from the That was fantastic because it meant As Chancellor of Deakin University introduction of mobile phones no more commuting and every I am passionate about the success to the development of smart now and then I could afford to of the University. This passion phones. I was in a financial and eat in the bistro with the lecturers! embraces making our graduates strategy role when mobile phones How has your degree assisted the most job-ready in Australia and took off in Australia and I had to you in your career? also commercialising our fantastic predict the take up – I got it wrong research so that we can fund even by 10 times on the right side of The strong finance skills that I got more research. Deakin University the equation! It was great fun. from Deakin helped me immensely has improved so much over the in my career at Telstra. I had many Another highlight was being made years because it is agile – an different roles but I tended to a Member of the Order of Australia important competitive advantage. gravitate toward my majors, which for my contribution to finance were finance and economics. and telecommunications.

Photography: Location: Scott McNaughton Melbourne Burwood Campus 16 40 YEARS OF ALUMNI

Sharn Bedi Bachelor of Business, Economics and Marketing Class of 1995

Since graduating from Deakin Sharn that draws on her experience Bedi has had a successful career in health, neuroscience and positive across diverse industries including psychology to promote gender At {embrace} we are not automotive, healthcare, advertising, diversity and the economic waiting for people to turn 40 to get their ’aha!’ moment – publishing and web portals. In 2015 empowerment of women. Here she to find purpose in their career. she launched {embrace} worldwide, talks about Deakin’s impact on her an executive leadership consultancy career and starting {embrace}. 1995 DKIN 17

Can you tell us about What do you believe Deakin Is there any advice you would your time at Deakin? University has given you as give to a person who is starting Deakin was a great choice for me a person? out in your career? Bedi because it instantly felt like home. Going to Deakin was the making Many people see their identity It aligned with what I have now of my success. Given the level of according to their qualifications or defined as my values. My first confusion I had about what I wanted the role they have in an organisation, semester at Deakin ignited to do it was good that my degree instead of the transferable skills. It is my passion for learning. The was not too narrow in focus. I important to think about the skills combination of practical and discovered how to learn and how you are developing and how you theory shaped my mind in such a to be agile. These are skills that you can use those to add value to any way that I haven’t stopped learning. don’t necessarily learn from books. organisation. I see so many people who are 20 to 30 years into a career Is there anything you especially What is {embrace}? with an identity as an engineer remember about that time? {embrace} worldwide is a professional or computer programmer. If they I remember winning an ANZ case development organisation focused on become redundant they are lost. study award as part of my studies. empowering women, championing I think I started the first Indian club at diversity and creating high- What are your passions Deakin – the Curry Munchers Club performing, emotionally intelligent outside your work? at the Burwood Campus. At the and resilient leaders. The program is My hobbies and interests centre time there were a lot of Sri Lankans, inspired by Harvard Business School’s around nurturing, learning and Pakistanis and Indians at Deakin. I ‘service profit chain’ and the notion creative expression. I love to nurture also remember the inclusiveness of that happy, successful, and diverse through cooking and as part of Deakin. There were people of all ages employees generate greater value for pursuing this passion I was fortunate and cultures. The University managed corporations. We work with schools, enough to have a cooking show that this diversity really well. There was organisations and universities. was telecast on Zee TV – an Indian no status or hierarchy even in the international satellite TV channel. faculty, which was also diverse. Have you always wanted to I also hosted a talk show titled pursue the kind of career you ‘Secrets of Womanhood’, which How do you think Deakin has have embarked on? covered topics such as domestic changed since you studied there? I did not consciously pursue my violence, sexual harassment, The Burwood Campus has current career but I feel that I have relationships and careers, to help expanded a lot since I attended. come full circle since my first job at empower women by changing the Despite its growth, I think it still has RMIT as a coordinator of in-house mindset of a society held back its homely, comforting feel because training. I’m now working in by traditional cultural stereotypes. it is surrounded by nature. I enrolled development and training but with For learning, I love to read and in psychology at Deakin last year a lot more meaning. I have a huge to express my creativity – my as Deakin is well regarded for its interest in human behaviour and hobbies are dancing, painting psychology graduates, and I found development and my mission in life and jewellery making. the online and distance learning has evolved into helping others services to be world-class. Moving become the best of themselves. forward, I would eventually like Photography: Location: to do a PhD through Deakin. Craig Newell Melbourne, Domain 18 40 YEARS OF ALUMNI

Renuke Coswatte’s career took What do you believe Deakin How has the course assisted off after he completed his Deakin University has given you as you in your career? MBA. He has worked in hotel a person? Applying the knowledge I gained management around the world, from The most valuable thing I learned from the MBA to my work helped Sri Lanka and the Asia Pacific to the from my studies at Deakin was that me a great deal in my career. Middle East. Here he talks about the you never stop learning. It’s a starting Another benefit of studying at value of a Deakin MBA, working in point in your career when you get the Deakin was the experience of Oman and why his job is his passion. degree. I also gained the confidence interacting with students from of holding a Deakin degree. different cultures. The open and Why did you decide Wherever you go in the world your accepting mindset that Deakin offers to study at Deakin? resume is considered above the rest has made it easier for me to work I was working in hotel management when you have an MBA from Deakin. successfully around the world. and wanted to get a broader What has been your journey Have you always wanted to perspective in terms of the business since finishing your course? pursue the kind of career you aspects of the industry. I chose Briefly outline your career path. have embarked on? Deakin because it was a strong MBA with a good reputation After I graduated I went back to I always wanted to be a pilot. My that offered a variety of subjects. Sri Lanka, and worked for a small father pointed out that I was scared luxury hotel group called Jetwing of heights so that might not be Can you tell us about your Hotels. I became one of the an ideal profession. He suggested time at Deakin? youngest managers in the group that I try hotels. Hotels were a I had a fantastic experience when I was promoted to manage new concept in Sri Lanka from the during my course. The lecturers the St Andrews property which 1950s. At that time the country was and students that I met were very is a replica of the St Andrews peaceful and tourism was increasing. helpful. When you study and work property in Scotland. It is the Once I started my undergraduate full-time in the industry you realise second oldest golf course in course I realised that it was for me. how relevant the course is to your Sri Lanka. From there I went Why are you involved in the career. The course structure and to the Sur Plaza hotel in Oman. Deakin Sri Lanka Alumni Chapter? the research are very practical. Oman is a wonderful place to work, After I graduated and got to a certain the people are very hospitable. Is there anything you especially level in my career I wanted to give I managed to turn the property remember about that time? something back to Deakin, which had around from a loss-making venture given me so much. I have connected One of the memorable parts of to being profitable. After this with other alumni in Sri Lanka and the course was getting to know experience I came back to Sri we are building up the network here. the other students and learning Lanka to work at Best Western. We We want to make sure that there from them. We were from different managed to double the occupancy is strong support for Deakin in Sri cultures with different experiences by identifying medical tourism Lanka. It’s a great achievement to and we all interacted very well. as a niche market. I am now the get to 40 years and I look forward General Manager at Amagi Hotels, to the next 40 years of innovation. boutique luxury resorts in Sri Lanka.

Photography: Location: Four Square Sri Lanka The Galle Face Hotel, Colombo 2003 DKIN 19

Renuke Coswatte Master of Business Administration Class of 2003 20 40 YEARS OF ALUMNI

Why did you decide Was there anyone you met at What has been the highlight to study at Deakin? Deakin who has had an impact of your career? My parents were visiting the on you? A few years ago I was nominated university fairs in Singapore and I keep in touch with quite a number of by my workplace to be part of a Deakin kept popping up because the people I met at Deakin. They are government group called Inspirit. it was the top university at the time. from all over the world. Some have Youth leaders from the private I was doing my marketing diploma siblings who are studying at Deakin. sector are asked to be advocates at one of the polytechnics in I also keep in touch with some of my and champions for national issues. Singapore but the aim was always to lecturers such as Mark Sheehan. He Through this, I represented Singapore go overseas. Deakin felt right and challenged me, motivated me and in a Singapore-Brunei youth leadership they gave me exactly what I wanted. built my passion for public relations. exchange program. Through Inspirit, I was also given the opportunity to Is there anything you especially What has been your journey be a Governing Council member remember about that time? since finishing your course? for the Singapore Kindness Waurn Ponds was such a melting After I finished my degree I returned Movement (SKM) in July 2015. pot and Deakin’s ability to get all to Singapore and started working for the cultures together was fantastic. a book distribution company. I did the What are your passions outside There were multicultural days where marketing campaign for Harry Potter your work? every culture was represented in and met authors such as Jeffery Archer I am a member of the Governing some way, whether through food, and Jung Chang. While I was there Council for the Singapore Kindness music or fashion. It was a great I decided to pursue my MBA and Movement. This organisation thing to do to help people was head-hunted for a job at the promotes kindness among the understand other cultures. Singapore Institute of Management general community. It’s a challenge! (SIM) as an account manager. I have I am also a book fairy. Emma Watson What do you believe Deakin stayed there in various roles since started the book fairy movement, University has shown you/given then. I am currently Editor, Publications which involves leaving books in you as a person? Manager and Head Librarian. public places for people to read. Apart from the knowledge and I regularly attend Comic-Con in skills I needed for my career, Deakin Have you always wanted Singapore and I dress up as comic gave me the confidence to apply to pursue the kind of career book characters. I have gone as a these skills and a desire to continue you have embarked on? female Captain America and this year growing and developing myself. When and how did you realise? I am going as Spock. I speak a little The internship program cemented When I was a kid I wanted to be a Vulcan although I am not as fluent as all my knowledge. I was able to doctor and then I nearly died from I used to be due to lack of practice! do mine in Singapore and my boss dengue fever. That experience put let me turn one of his rental spaces me off. Then I wanted to be a lawyer How would someone describe you? in Malaysia into a bubble tea shop because I enjoyed debating but I have been described as resilient, as my project. I think Deakin was my mum dashed my dreams when optimistic, motivated and driven. one of the first universities to she pointed out that by the time Some of my friends describe me start international internships. I completed my studies it would be as quirky, funny, sensible and kind difficult to find a job. So I decided (which helps since I’m involved in on writing. I was the editor of the the Kindness Movement). My partner yearbook when I did my diploma. calls me Science Officer Dork I loved writing and I was interested (instead of Science Officer Spock)! in human behaviour. 2003 DKIN 21

SADIE-JANE NUNIS

Bachelor of Arts (Public Relations) Class of 2003

Since completing her Deakin degree Sadie-Jane Nunis has been following her dream to work as a writer, editor and publisher. Here she talks about the Deakin melting pot, the benefits of living on campus and Comic-Con.

Photography: Location: Edmund Leung Henderson Waves, Singapore 22 40 YEARS OF ALUMNI

Why did you decide What has been your journey What advice would you give to study at Deakin? since finishing your course? graduates wanting to pursue I am a CPA by training. When I Briefly outline your career path. a similar profession? decided to do my master’s degree I started my career as an auditor It is important to remember that I had been working for 10 years at KPMG in Singapore. I then knowledge is not a rare commodity; and I thought that it was time to joined General Motors’ Asia pacific it is freely available from Google and build a new skillset. I also wanted headquarters in Singapore where other sources. What is important to build a network of people who I stayed for 11 years. While I was is to develop insights from that I could learn from. At the time there I undertook the Deakin MBA. knowledge. Remain curious, ask I was working in Singapore for After I graduated I was promoted questions and be ambitious. General Motors and I needed an and given the opportunity to work online course that had real practical in Shanghai and China. At General What are your passions outside experience. The Deakin course Motors I started as a finance person your work? attracted me because it was online, but then moved into the business It has been three consecutive years specifically a CPA MBA and had a arena working on a lot of mergers that I have taken part in the Asia reputation for being very practical. and acquisitions – for example, Pacific Business School Desert I was involved in the Daewoo Challenge, which is a three-day 70 km Is there anything you especially acquisition in Korea. I left the trek in the fourth largest desert in remember about that time? automotive industry to enter the China. I was very proud to represent The MBA included an on-campus fast-moving consumer retail sector Deakin as the first Australian component which was an amazing as Finance Director of L’Oreal China. university to participate since the fifth experience. The subject I chose After that I spent more than four race in 2016. This keeps me physically to undertake on campus was crisis years as Head of Finance at Owen fit and also pushes my boundaries. management. I had done a lot of Corning in Asia Pacific. I found I have been learning how to drive a training on crisis management during my company in 2014 with prime boat and jet ski and recently got my university and at General Motors but focus on renewable energy. marine licence. Almost every year I what impressed me with the Deakin travel with an international medical course was the technicality and What is your favourite aspect team to remote regions in China to practicality. We did a role play where of your current role? What are provide medical assistance to the I was acting as a CFO of a company the challenges? community. I also help the China Red that had an accident in the middle of I really enjoy the travelling. Cross provide education resources the night. There was a knock on my Renewable energy is usually out for children who don’t have access hotel door while I was asleep and in rural areas, sometimes in the to a first-class education. I was confronted by a journalist middle of nowhere, so I get to travel In 2018 the Shanghai and camera crew. It felt so real – to areas that not many people go Alumni Chapter celebrates exactly as it would happen. Then I to. In China, I go to places many its five year anniversary. encountered a media team and had Chinese people have never been to represent the company to talk to and get to eat some interesting Photography: Location: Philippe Roy Yan’an Elevated Road, about the ‘incident’ at a radio station. local cuisine, such as insects. (KoreStudios.com) Shanghai This left a lasting impression and I still use those techniques in my career. 2004 DKIN 23

Lawrence

Master of Business Administration Lau Class of 2004

Lawrence Lau helped establish the Deakin Alumni Shanghai chapter in 2011 and subsequently served as the first President until 2014. He is the Executive Director of Yellow Sand Capital based in China and Singapore specialising in consulting services, coaching and investment in clean energy, education and real estate. Here he talks about crisis management training, eating insects and the Asia Pacific MBA School Desert Challenge. 24 40 YEARS OF ALUMNI

PASAN MUTHUMALA Bachelor of Computing (Computer Science and Software Development) Class of 2005

Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) Class of 2007

Pasan Muthumala hasn’t looked back since completing his degrees at Deakin. He is currently working in the medical imaging industry in London and helping tech start-ups in his spare time. He continues his connection with Deakin through his activity on the UK Alumni Chapter Committee. Here he talks about competitive open-water swimming, Deakin friendships and stand-up comedy.

Why did you decide Is there anything you especially Was there anyone you met to study at Deakin? remember about that time? at Deakin who has had an Growing up in Sri Lanka I loved I was at Waurn Ponds which is a impact on you? swimming, so when I was looking beautiful campus. The University I met three of my closest friends at for a place to study in Australia worked hard to encourage student Deakin. Luke Maguire, an economist, one of my criteria was a place interaction. There were events was my best man when I got married that was close to good beaches. almost on a daily basis that a few years ago. I did my honours Deakin University had a good brought students together. year with Adam Kirk and then we reputation and the Geelong Waurn These interactions prepared me traveled to Europe together. Then Ponds Campus was perfect as to come to London and deal with there’s Lakmal Abeysekera, who it was close to the coast. people from many different cultures. is a lecturer at a leading university in Melbourne. These relationships Can you tell us about your What do you believe Deakin are very special to me. time at Deakin? University has given you as It was my first time living away from a person? What advice would you give home. I was only 18 and didn’t know Deakin allowed me to be part graduates wanting to pursue anyone in Australia. The transition of something special. It was the a similar profession? was really easy thanks to the peer whole package, starting with Whatever your goal is – to change support student group, but there the environment at the Geelong the world or have a comfortable was still some culture shock. I had Waurn Ponds Campus, to the life – keep it as your north star. Things to get used to the Australian accent, close communities in Geelong. around you will start working out. Stay drink beer out of a can and try The lecturers and tutors and support hungry, travel, go into an environment to figure out what AFL football staff for international students that you haven’t been to before, was all about. were amazing. They allowed be silent, look at the stars, meditate, me to achieve my full potential. enjoy the moment and listen to Bob Marley. That is what I did and still do. 2005 2007 DKIN 25

Have you always wanted What are your passions to pursue the kind of career outside your work? you have embarked on? I enjoy open-water swimming I have always wanted to have my and running. Open-water racing is own business and I wanted to do something I got into when I moved something with computers which to Australia. In 2017 I completed is why I initially did the degree in the Pier-to-Pub in Lorne and came computing. After I started working 123 out of 4488. I’ve also completed at the Geelong Hospital I could see a few half marathons. I also like the real benefits of technology when watching stand-up comedy and applied to healthcare. My dream is I am going to explore my creative to work with a team that will change side by doing some stand-up the delivery of healthcare with the comedy myself. My first gig is set for aid of technology. later this year at a London comedy club. I’m really looking forward to it. How has it assisted you in your career? How would you describe The education I got from Deakin Deakin University? was integral in the work I do now. Agile and innovative. The course content may not have directly impacted my career path Photography: Location: but the skills that I gained have Dan Ross: www.dan-ross.com Millennium Bridge, Raccoon London: London been essential. www.raccoonlondon.com 26 40 YEARS OF ALUMNI

Jyoti Shekar had such a great experience during her time at Deakin that she is planning to return next year to take on a PhD. After spending 10 years as in-house counsel providing legal services across various industries she recently started working as an independent legal consultant and is pursuing a number of ventures aimed at empowering women in India and around the world. Here she talks about being a lawyer, starting a magazine and breaking stereotypes.

Why did you decide Is there anything you especially What has been your journey to study at Deakin? remember about that time? since finishing your course? At the time, law students in India I worked part-time at a grocery store After the course I joined the law firm usually chose to go to the UK or US. which was a completely different Clifford Chance LLP where I worked I did not want to follow the crowd experience for me. They put me in on international transactions in so I decided to come to Australia. the deli working on the meat counter. India, London and New York. Two I liked the mix of European and I am a vegetarian so for the first years later I joined the corporate Asian cultures. I had narrowed week I couldn’t eat after finishing finance department at Sahara Group my choice down to the top three my shift! But soon I overcame where we handled all the acquisitions universities and decided on Deakin this and enjoyed my work a lot. for the firm. I was involved in because I was impressed with the the acquisition of a Formula One subjects allowed in the courses. What do you believe Deakin team, the Plaza New York and many University has shown you as others. I was also involved in aircraft Can you tell us about a person? acquisitions and financing. After your time at Deakin? The course has helped me a lot, three years I decided that I wanted I had a wonderful time at Deakin. not just in terms of employment to work on Indian transactions It was interesting to explore a but also in understanding different so I went to Indian law firm Legasis different education system. It was perspectives and backgrounds. That Partners. I recently started my a more open culture where it was gave me the confidence to work own practice, launched Empower possible to approach the professors with people from different cultures. Women of India Tour and my and I was very impressed with own online magazine for women: the quality of the teaching. Eyra – eyramagazine.com 2008 DKIN 27

Jyoti Shekar Master of Laws Class of 2008

Why did you decide to Which of your roles is your Is there any advice you would become a consultant? favourite? give to a person who is starting I had been working as a lawyer for I really enjoy everything I do. out in your career? 10 years and the time was right to I particularly enjoy giving guest Do not get stuck into being a become an independent consultant. lectures and conducting training stereotype, especially in law. Many In any case, I wanted time to start on topics related to gender equity. young people have preconceived my magazine and spend more time This is the kind of thing I want to ideas about what it means to be a on my female empowerment do more of rather than being tied lawyer. Today, people with law degrees initiative. Last year a friend and down to a full-time job. I will keep are not restricted to the traditional I began an online initiative called publishing and balance my time roles played by lawyers, there are Empower Women of India Tour. between academics and publishing. legal journalists, publishers etc. It is a virtual tour where we provide advice to women about how they What has been the highlight How do you think Deakin has can stand up for themselves. That of your career? changed since you studied there? project gave me the idea to start A highlight would be the first Deakin’s reputation is growing every Eyra, a magazine that focuses on transaction I ever did on my own. year. Deakin is doing a lot more inspirational women with a particular I was with the Sahara Group and in terms of research, women, and focus on the obstacles they have I was asked to work on the purchase overall development. The University overcome on the journey to of a Formula One team. It was is bold in this area. It’s nice to see achieving their goals. the best learning experience. that. It makes me even prouder to say that I am a Deakin alumna.

Photography: Location: Jananni Rajan Lodhi Garden, Delhi 28 40 YEARS OF ALUMNI

Master of Human Nutrition LAUREN Class of 2010 HEWITT Lauren Hewitt is a track and field sprinter who has represented Australia at three Olympic Games, six World Championships, and three Commonwealth Games in which she won two gold, one silver and three bronze medals. This year, as Deakin celebrates the 40th anniversary of its first graduation, Lauren Hewitt will be celebrating her 40th birthday. She credits her Master of Human Nutrition as the springboard for her post-athletics career. Here she talks about online learning, her love of travel and her plans for the future. 2010 DKIN 29

Why did you decide What has been your journey since What has been the highlight to study at Deakin? finishing your course? Briefly of your career? When I decided to do a master’s outline your career path. My highlight post-athletics has degree I was still training and After I completed my master’s been becoming a mother to Izzy. travelling so I needed to find an I started Lauren Hewitt Nutrition and Career-wise it was developing the online program. I was coming worked with various organisations schools program – ‘Growing Up to the end of my athletics career such as Mission Australia, the With Good Nutrition’. and I wanted to use my health St Kilda football club, Athletics and wellbeing background in my Australia and VicSport. I worked on What has been the biggest post-athletics career. The Deakin VicSport’s Healthy Choices program, influence on your career? Master of Human Nutrition was which involved providing them My parents have been an enormous exactly the course I was looking for. with resources to engage canteens influence. I am very grateful that to provide healthier options. they advised me to continue with Can you tell us about your my study so that I could have this My family and I have just returned time at Deakin? second career. from five months of travelling and The online program was a great I am starting to think about the experience. There was a forum that Is there any advice you would next phase of my career. I think it’s was very helpful and I found that the give to a person who is starting important to start early with nutrition lecturers were prompt in responding out in your career? advice and would like to work with to questions. The contact was great In whatever you choose to do make school children as a mentor and because it meant that I was not sure that there is a passion. That is coach. They have their teachers working in a vacuum. the building block. Passion makes to support them with their school you want to learn and it is easier to work but we want them to be What do you believe Deakin impart that knowledge onto others. well-rounded people. I was 17 University has shown you/given People can tell if you are genuinely and still at school when my athletics you as a person? interested and excited about what career took off and I was lucky to Lauren Hewitt Nutrition you are doing. Being an athlete was have a whole team supporting me (www.laurenhewittnutrition.com.au) my passion. I was lucky to be talented – excellent teachers, supportive came about because of the Deakin at something but I was also willing to parents, a coach, a medical team master’s degree. When I started work hard and put in the training that and a dietician. I think schools the course I was thinking of retiring. was required to be at that level. That are realising that all children need The master’s program gave me the is how I feel about nutrition now. someone other than their parents knowledge and confidence that and teachers to help them achieve I needed to speak expertly to What are your passions outside their goals. others about nutrition. In a field your work? like nutrition where there is so much What is your favourite aspect I am privileged to have a child and misinformation, it is important to of your current role? I have enjoyed every single minute have the facts. of being a mother. I also love to I really enjoyed working as a travel. My family and I just returned nutritionist with Mission Australia How has it assisted you from five months travelling around in the Dandenong area mentoring in your career? the world. My husband and I Afghani and African women. We The course has allowed me to are both turning 40 this year and took their traditional recipes and capitalise on being an athlete. our daughter is still young so we made them healthier rather than I was able to add to the knowledge thought it was a good time to go. changing their cuisine. There was I gained during my athletics career a mutual respect and we learned and articulate it to a wider audience, How would you describe from each other. from policymakers to five-year-old Deakin University? kids. I attribute that to having access Deakin University is the best at what to the latest research and the great it does. It is academic, innovative and lecturers at Deakin. constantly pushing the boundaries.

Photography: Location: Craig Newell Tooronga, Melbourne 30 40 YEARS OF ALUMNI

Why did you decide Is there anything you especially What has been the biggest to study at Deakin? remember about that time? influence on your career? I completed my Bachelor of The night sky is clearer in Geelong In architecture I have been Architecture at Limkokwing University than it is in Kuala Lumpur. I could see influenced by Zaha Hadid, Norman in Kuala Lumpur and then decided that all the constellations vividly. During a Foster and Rem Koolhaas. They I needed to consolidate my knowledge camping trip to Wilsons Promontory all produce brilliant and inspiring with a master’s degree. My fellow I was able to see the Milky Way, the architecture. In science I have been classmates recommended Deakin to governing structure of our galaxy, influenced by Kip Thorne who is me and the location in Geelong at the which made me feel how tiny we are in an astrophysicist and was awarded Waterfront campus appealed to me. comparison to the size of the cosmos. the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2017. It was a wonderful experience. Can you tell us about What advice would you give your time at Deakin? What do you believe Deakin graduates wanting to pursue Going to Deakin was my first time University has shown you/given a similar profession? living overseas and away from home. you as a person? Architecture study is rigorous and I was a bit apprehensive but found The master’s degree helped me to you need to be prepared for the that despite cultural differences, a articulate my ideas about science amount of work that it will require. common ideology and appreciation and architecture. The professors The best advice is to find a way of modern life means that our were all experts in their field and to organise your time. If you want similarities are greater than our had a depth of knowledge that to succeed you need to put in the differences. Geelong has elements opened up my mind. In particular, hours, although it is still important of the past, present and future within Professor Des Smith, who was the to get enough sleep! one city. The Waterfront Campus is head of the Faculty during that time, a fantastic example of contemporary was amazing. I had never before What are your passions industrial architecture and I lived encountered such an intellectual outside your work? in an original Victorian-era house. way of thinking. He helped me to I enjoy heavy metal music and travel understand that being an architect to Australia to see my favourite is beyond creating a built form; bands, such as Slipknot. These bands architecture is a product of don’t usually come to Kuala Lumpur. intelligent design, not another means of making profit. How would you describe Deakin University? Deakin is a microcosm of the whole universe. 2013 DKIN 31

Naqib Azha

Master of Architecture Class of 2013

After completing his Master of Architecture, Naqib Azha embarked on a freelance career as a designer of commercial architectural projects and also launched a creative venture called Qaaon Karya which translates to ‘in the artwork of creation’. Qaaon Karya is a creative studio that combines Naqib’s interests in imaginative futurism, technological living and metaphysical conceptions. Here he talks about the night sky in Geelong, his love of heavy metal music and hyperspace architecture.

Photography: Location: Edmund Leung Titiwangsa, Kuala Lumpur 32 40 YEARS OF ALUMNI

BENNETT MERRIMAN Bachelor of Commerce (Sports Management) Class of 2009

Entrepreneurs Shannan Gove and help them find full-time work after Why did you decide Bennett Merriman are co-founders graduation. In just eight years they to study at Deakin? of two complementary businesses have built an international business BM: I chose the Bachelor of – Event Workforce Group (EWG), with clients such as Tough Mudder, Commerce (Sports Management) a workforce management company Ironman and the Super Bowl in because I wanted to work within that provides temporary staff the USA. They have since teamed sport and develop my business nationally, and Rosterfy, a workforce up with a third technical co-founder, operations skills, but most of all I management software platform Chris Grant, and now have 14 staff wanted to work with Cricket Australia. used by large-scale events globally across the globe with offices in to better manage their workforces. Melbourne, San Francisco and Cricket was a main interest of The cousins started what became London. Here Bennett and Shannan mine and the staff who ran the EWG in 2010, while Shannan was discuss the benefits of living on Deakin course had a number of in the middle of his Deakin degree. campus, how the idea for Event contacts within Cricket Australia The aim was to provide tertiary Workforce Group was born and who I hoped would improve my students and new graduates with the importance of networking. chances of landing my dream job. work opportunities that would SG: I wanted to work in international game development for the AFL. I knew that the game had expanded in Europe and thought that I could combine my love of sport with my love of travel. 2009 2014 DKIN 33

SHANNAN GOVE Bachelor of Commerce (Sports Management) Class of 2014

What do you believe Deakin What has been the highlight What advice would you give University has shown you? of your career? graduates wanting to pursue BM: My experience at Deakin BM: The Super Bowl has been the a similar profession? made me realise the importance highlight so far. We had worked SG: I think it is important to set big of networking and staying in touch with our Super Bowl contact Andy goals even if they seem unachievable. with people you meet through Newman previously on Tough Successful people aren’t afraid to the course and in residence. Mudder. When he took on the take risks even if it means failing role of head of workforce for the once in a while. Also, don’t be What is your favourite aspect Super Bowl he expressed an interest scared to ask for opportunities, of your current role? What are in our software and encouraged people are genuinely interested the challenges? us to apply for the Super Bowl in helping university students. SG: I love the fact that thousands contract. It was a tough selection BM: Deakin continues to be of people around the world are process but we were successful. innovative. The team within the able to access opportunities for sports management program themselves and to progress in their are staying ahead of the game chosen careers. There are enormous and trying to do as much as they challenges in growing the business, can to help students get a good such as signing new clients and grounding in the industry. dealing with universities, many of which are still very old school Photography: Location: in the way they operate. Craig Newell MCG, Melbourne 34 40 YEARS OF ALUMNI

MELANIE ORVIS Bachelor of Communication (Public Relations) Class of 2016

Melanie Orvis is a recent Deakin graduate and just as passionate about the University as those who graduated 40 years ago. Here she talks about her affinity for public relations, her love of Google Analytics and moving to London.

Why did you decide How has your degree assisted What has been your journey to study at Deakin? you in your career? since finishing your course? I was doing an Advanced Diploma of The most useful part of the course Briefly outline your career path. Business Public Relations at another for me was the analytics/analysis While I was at Deakin I was lucky university but I wanted to change to side of public relations and enough to do work with the Deakin a degree course and the Deakin one marketing campaigns. It is important media team. This job and my stood out because it was focused to have amazing creative ideas and internship with the Australian on the real-life application of units implement them, but unless you Open gave me a wide exposure to of study. There were more case analyse how they are working you different aspects of public relations. studies and it seemed a lot more don’t know if you are having an Two days after I graduated I got modern and relevant. impact. During the degree, we on a plane to London. I did not had to go through an entire PR have a job lined up but managed Can you tell us about your campaign and measure its impact. to find one within months. I’ve been time at Deakin? I have become passionate about with Parliament Hill, a benefits Given that I had not enjoyed my Google Analytics and statistics. management organisation, ever previous course I was worried about since. I started as an account how it would go, but it was fantastic. What is your favourite aspect executive and now I am a client The lecturers and tutors were of your current role? relations specialist. incredible; they took the time to What I enjoy the most about get to know us and allowed us to be my job is building a relationship creative and explore our interests. with my clients. 2016 DKIN 35

Did you always want to What has been the highlight What advice would you give go into public relations? of your career? graduates wanting to pursue My year 12 English teacher said to One thing that I am proud of is a similar profession? me that I would end up in public turning around a relationship with Give it a go and try as hard as you relations. At the time I didn’t know a client who was very unhappy can. Every job has its ups and downs what that was and I didn’t think of it and thinking of leaving. They but it’s important to push yourself. again. It wasn’t until the first day of have since renewed their contract. Also, do what makes you happy. my degree at Deakin that I knew what That turnaround and seeing it in I would hate to be stuck in a job I public relations was and to this day I action has given me a real sense didn’t enjoy for the rest of my life. feel that it is the best thing I ever did. of achievement. My English teacher must have seen How would you describe it in me so many years ago. What has been the biggest Deakin University? influence on your career? Exciting and always evolving. Was there anyone you met at I think making my dramatic move Deakin who has had an impact to the other side of the world on you? has been the biggest influence Two lecturers were responsible on my career. If you back yourself Photography: Location: Dan Ross: www.dan-ross.com Kew Gardens, for me finishing my degree – Ross and have others supporting you, Raccoon London: London Monaghan and Bronwyn Kirby. They you can do anything. www.raccoonlondon.com got to know us and they helped us to realise our full potential. I learned so much from them. 36 DKIN DKIN 37

Victoria’s prison population is exploding. In the past 10 years prisoner numbers have gone up 70 per cent and the usual answer is to build more prisons.

Professor Joe Graffam, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research, thinks there is a better way, a way that will not only help individuals reintegrate into society but also break the cycle of disadvantage within families and in communities. 38 DKIN

Professor Joe Graffam DKIN 39

Victoria, almost 45 per cent mental illness when they enter prison ‘In of people released from and there are approximately ten prison are back in within two times more people in prison with an intellectual disability than years and after five years the in the general population.’ reincarceration rate is 55 per cent. ‘This is a very complex situation that will require complexity for its This is a very simple and clear resolution. To successfully reintegrate indication that prison does not work into society prisoners need help for most of the people in prison,’ finding housing, employment and says Graffam. accessing health services, along with ‘Disadvantage is driving this process several other supports. These are to a large extent. A 2015 study found also services that are needed by the that 50 per cent of people in Victorian people who live in disadvantaged prisons come from six per cent of our communities,’ says Graffam. postcodes – the most disadvantaged Professor Graffam is proposing the postcodes. Put simply, conditions creation of local services Hubs within of disadvantage drive people down a disadvantaged communities. These pathway that for many leads to prison. Hubs would be a one-stop-shop for You could say that disadvantage services such as employment, housing, in communities is contributing drug and alcohol treatment, mental to the creation of criminals.’ health, family services and education. Professor Graffam contends that addressing disadvantaged conditions within these communities will help reduce the number of people going to prison and help ex-prisoners A 2015 study found that reintegrate more successfully. 50 per cent of people ‘Most of the people in prison in Victorian prisons have multiple forms of disadvantage. come from six per They have low levels of education, poor numeracy and literacy skills, cent of our postcodes. and no employment history. One-third of prisoners are being treated for a 40 DKIN

I think we have reached a point where people are starting to see the financial and social benefits of helping prisoners to successfully reintegrate.

While these services are already ‘It may only take two years once the available in the community they Hubs are up and running to begin to are not coordinated, and this lack see a shift in crime rates and numbers of coordination makes it difficult for of people going to prison in these people to access assistance. Locating communities,’ says Graffam. them in one place would mean that The immediate benefits of this project people don’t have to travel to different include a reduction in the enormous locations or repeat their stories to each cost of incarcerating people – in the provider. The providers would know past year Victoria spent approximately where each person is in relation to A$1.2 billion on prisons, not including the set of supports that they need. the cost of building new ones. The It’s about clearing the roadblocks for longer-term benefits will result from people who have multiple complex breaking the cycle of disadvantage problems, such as lack of employment within communities and reducing history, several chronic health the costs to the welfare and health conditions and serious mental health systems. A recent study has found problems. The fact that the Hubs that ex-prisoners have an increased would be available to everyone within risk of death in the short term from the community will reduce the stigma drug overdose or violence, and in the related to prisoner-specific services. long-term they are more likely than ‘We have already started work the general population to suffer from in Corio-Norlane, which is one of chronic conditions such as hepatitis C, the areas in the top 10 postcodes diabetes and mental illness. contributing to the prison population. ‘I think we have reached a point where We are in discussions with Corrections people are starting to see the financial Victoria and philanthropic organisations and social benefits of helping prisoners to fund a feasibility study that will give to successfully reintegrate’ says us proof of concept. Once we have Graffam. ‘They can see the connection shown that this idea works we hope between helping these people and to gain enough support to introduce improving the community as a whole.’ Hubs to other communities.’ DKIN 41 42 DKIN DKIN 43

Saving the Baw Baw frog

Professor Don Driscoll

PhD student Thomas Burns

Australia’s biodiversity is highly Unfortunately, this natural regarded for its uniqueness. Our heritage is in dire straits. continent is inhabited by more Many of the plants, animals than 600,000 different species, and other organisms that help many of which are found define our national identity nowhere else on the planet. are critically endangered.

Photography: Craig Newell Frog image courtesy of Rick Hammond, Zoos Victoria 44 DKIN

Professor Don Driscoll

Our project is a way to give evolution a helping hand. DKIN 45

Don Driscoll, Professor of The Species Recovery Team for the Terrestrial Ecology in the School Baw Baw frog is a group of individuals of Life and Environmental Sciences from numerous organisations working together to make sure the frog survives and Director of the Centre for in its natural habitat. The team includes Integrative Ecology, and Thomas the Department of Environment, Land, Burns, a PhD student with the Water and Planning (DELP), Zoos Victoria, Centre, are part of the Species the Amphibian Research Centre in Recovery Team working to save Werribee and Deakin University. one very special Victorian animal ‘The Melbourne Zoo is running a very – the Baw Baw frog (Philoria frosti). successful captive breeding program to ensure that the species does not die out. Our role is to figure out how to get that ‘The Baw Baw frog is a unique frog population back into the wild,’ says Driscoll. species only found in the Baw Baw plateau area in the central highlands The Deakin team is following a of Victoria. Surveys of the frog show novel approach for this species, a massive 98 per cent decline in which is to follow the fungus. numbers since the mid 1980s,’ ‘Our aim is to find places in the says Burns. environment that have a low fungus risk The frog is critically endangered into which the Melbourne Zoo and Parks due to a fungus that has caused Victoria can reintroduce the frog. The population declines and extinctions hope is that the frogs might thrive for of hundreds of amphibian species a while and possibly start to develop around the world. The amphibian resistance through natural selection chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium or survive until there is a long-term dendrobatidis) attacks the frog’s solution to the chytrid fungus problem. skin and interferes with its respiration, Our project is a way to give evolution water and electrolyte balance. a helping hand,’ says Driscoll. 46 DKIN

PhD student Thomas Burns DKIN 47

‘Understanding where and how chytrid is moving through the landscape will be important for reintroduction efforts. A healthy ecosystem Another frog species on Baw Baw, the common eastern froglet, is not sustains life and also susceptible to the fungus but is known gives us wonderful to carry it and spread it to other frogs. Understanding the location and cultural, recreational movement of common eastern and economic benefits. froglets is an important part of understanding where we will find the fungus,’ says Burns. This work is already showing promise. we can learn from it and understand Burns has been sampling frogs and the risks and benefits. The biggest risk using eDNA (environmental DNA) of waiting too long to reintroduce the techniques to determine chytrid frogs is genetic loss. Genetic variation fungus levels across the landscape. is lost with each generation and having ‘Once we find places that have low additional wild populations could help chytrid risk the recovery team will reduce that loss.’ have some options for experimental ‘It is vitally important to maintain the reintroductions,’ says Driscoll. biodiversity on our planet. A healthy ‘There is a lot to be gained from ecosystem sustains life and also gives experimental reintroduction, especially us wonderful cultural, recreational and because the Zoo’s breeding program economic benefits. The Baw Baw frog has been very successful. Even if the is just one example of our valuable first reintroduction of the frog fails, natural heritage.’ 48 DKIN DKIN 49

The magic of realism

Associate Professor Maria Takolander 50 DKIN

Associate Professor Maria Takolander knows all about fake news. She is an expert in magical realist literature which interlaces magical elements with real events to expose the fake news of the past. DKIN 51

‘Magical realist novels are popular ‘Magical realist novels are quirky in areas that have experienced and outrageous but doing some colonialism, where violent histories really serious work. It’s why they have been sanitised. They give us a are still being written, because we window into understanding events that still live in ideologically manufactured have been written out of the history worlds that need to be ruptured books,’ says Takolander, Associate so that people can see the truth.’ Professor of Writing and Literature Associate Professor Takolander has in the Faculty of Arts and Education. been fascinated by magical realist This style is particularly important in literature since her honours year at Australian literature which challenges Deakin when she studied 100 Years how we normally think about reality of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez. to expose a repressed history marked ‘When I started my undergraduate by massacres, dispossession and course at Deakin I wanted to be a the horrors of the convict system. writer, but during my double degree Takolander lists authors such as in writing and literature I realised Peter Carey, Tim Winton and that to write well you also need Richard Flanagan as some Australian to read widely.’ writers who use magical realism in their novels. Associate Professor Takolander was recently commissioned to ‘Australian Indigenous writers, such write chapters for two internationally as Alexis Wright, have written some published books on magical very important magical realist books. realism. One of these focuses They use Indigenous myth and their on the representation of magical environmentally grounded way of realism in Australia and the Pacific. understanding the world to expose events from the past and to challenge ‘This completes the journey that present ways of inhabiting the land. I started with my PhD at Deakin, They often use magic as a form of where I was working on a thesis satirising what is regarded as real by and citing the work of international ‘White Australia’, to critique events experts in this area. Now I am from colonisation through to the considered an expert. That is a Intervention,’ says Takolander. milestone on my journey as a scholar.’ 52 DKIN DKIN 53

Magical realist novels are quirky and outrageous but doing some really serious work. It’s why they are still being written.

Takolander’s scholarship is not new creative writing unit in games limited to magical realism, she is writing. One of our graduates, also interested in theories of creativity who works as a writer for gaming and creative writing for video games. companies, is helping us with course content,’ says Takolander. ‘I have recently begun to focus on how creative writing occurs in a As well as being a scholar and gaming context. Young people educator, Associate Professor play games more than they engage Takolander has also pursued her with any other form of media. Some original ambition to be a writer. video game companies are already She is the author of five books that producing games that go beyond the have garnered much acclaim, including conventional. This is similar to what three books of poems. Last year she magical realism does to the realist was invited to read her poetry at the novel. Some games could even International Poetry Festival of be described as ‘literary’.’ Medellín, which is an annual festival held in Medellín, Colombia – the land ‘The challenge for literary studies of magical realism. She is currently and creative writing departments working on a new book of poems around the world is how to respond and a science fiction novel, which to this changing media landscape, will be published next year. where games are becoming culturally dominant.’ Whether it’s through her scholarship or her own creativity Maria Takolander ‘One of the things I have done is to is ensuring that the next generation, introduce video games into first year no matter what their medium, are literary studies so we can learn how tantalised by quirky, intelligent writing. to ‘read’ them, and to introduce a 54 DKIN DKIN 55

Re Professor calib Fethi rating Mansouri multi cultural ism

Melbourne is one of the most diverse cities on planet earth. Its population is made up of 140 cultures ranging from the original Indigenous communities to recent migrants from countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. Ensuring that people from so many different backgrounds live together harmoniously can be challenging.

Professor Fethi Mansouri is ideally ‘The issue of diversity is part and placed and expertly qualified to help parcel of my life story thus far. I grew Melbournians navigate the shifting face up in Tunisia speaking Arabic, French, of the city’s changing demographics. Italian and English and I spent two He is the Director of the Alfred and a half years in China learning Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Mandarin. I wanted to pursue diversity Globalisation at Deakin University, and intercultural relations as part holds the UNESCO Chair in of my work and these have been comparative research on ‘Cultural intrinsic to what I have been doing Diversity and Social Justice’ and academically since my undergraduate the Alfred Deakin Research Chair days,’ says Mansouri. in migration and intercultural studies. 56 DKIN

Professor Mansouri is now focused on ensuring that multiculturalism, as pursued and implemented in Australia, continues We need to make to be a leading example to a world that multiculturalism relevant is experiencing enormous divisions. st for the 21 century, Through the Alfred Deakin Institute, relevant for the diversity Professor Mansouri recently completed the Doing Diversity Project on behalf that we have right now of the Department of Premier and and the external pressure Cabinet. It examined the current state points that are coming of multiculturalism in Australia through stakeholder consultations and a large to bear on our society. survey of the public’s attitudes towards multiculturalism. The researchers found that most Australians feel positively DKIN 57

toward multiculturalism and believe it has a very important role to play in our society. But if you look beneath Interculturalism focuses the surface deep fissures are revealed. on the universal values ‘It is alarming that at least 20 per cent of Australians have suffered racism that we share – human and at least five per cent have dignity, respect, inclusion suffered physical abuse that was and acceptance. racially motivated,’ says Mansouri. This is not totally surprising considering the insecurities people are feeling at present in terms of housing affordability, job security and national security. ‘There are always migrant communities ‘We need to make multiculturalism that some within mainstream society relevant for the 21st century, relevant believe are unable to integrate and for the diversity that we have right now view as a burden or a threat to our and the external pressure points that society. That is one of the main reasons are coming to bear on our society, people use to justify negative, even be it globalisation or terrorism,’ racist, attitudes towards other groups.’ says Mansouri. ‘In my work I am exploring alternative This is where interculturalism policy options to counteract that type (intercultural dialogue) comes into of thinking. Originally, multiculturalism play. While multiculturalism focuses on aimed to help migrants assimilate groups and provides room for people while allowing them to retain elements to preserve their culture, interculturalism of their culture, but as the face of focuses on the universal values that we diversity changes and becomes more share – human dignity, respect, inclusion complex, it is no longer possible and acceptance. It is a process that to sustain multiculturalism without requires active participation from involving mainstream society.’ all sections of the community. 58 DKIN DKIN 59

Our research actually touches people’s lives, and changes and improves the way things are done in our society.

‘Ultimately we can only overcome the deep fissures in society when we accept that we all need to embrace change. It starts with education. We need to train people in intercultural dialogue at a local level, embed it into schools, local governments and the media,’ says Mansouri. ‘Deakin was approached to work in this area because we conduct research that has immediate relevance to our communities. Our research actually touches people’s lives, and changes and improves the way things are done in our society,’ he says. ‘No one gains when we discriminate against certain communities. Through our work we want to bring people closer together ‘Interculturalism is a tool that can be and maximise the benefits of diversity.’ used to negotiate difficult issues that This work helps create a community can arise between different cultures,’ that is more peaceful, accepting and says Mansouri. prosperous economically, culturally Professor Mansouri points to the and spiritually. Living in a harmonious, recent problems with the development inclusive and safe society will of a mosque in Bendigo as an example produce better citizens who care where intercultural dialogue could for one another and overcome have been be beneficial. their difficulties in peaceful ways. The negative reaction to the ‘The goal is to create a society where mosque may have been averted no one suffers physical or verbal abuse if the council had brought the because of their race or faith, a society members of various communities in which kids can go to school without together to discuss and deliberate fear of being bullied because of how the issue with the help of a facilitator they look, how their names sound or trained in intercultural dialogue. how they speak’. 60 DKIN

Doctor Mick Fielding DKIN 61

ROBOTS to the RESCUE

The robotic revolution has arrived and OzBots are now being used by Deakin University is at the forefront. the Australian Defence Force For the past 15 years engineers at and domestic law enforcement Deakin have been developing the agencies to improve training OzBots, a fleet of robots that have outcomes, and reduce the become essential first responders risks to police officers, army in dangerous situations. personnel and the community. 62 DKIN

The OzBot Mk8 is a 16 kg tracked robot that is capable of stair climbing, towing a car and clearing beneath stadium seating.

Mick Fielding, Principal Dr Research and Development Fellow (Advanced Mechatronics Systems) within the Institute of Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation (IISRI), and the team at IISRI have pushed the boundaries when it comes to the capabilities of the OzBot robots. The OzBots are remotely controlled using teleoperated and semiautonomous functions, are strong and highly repairable, equipped with cameras, speakers, microphones and a sense of touch (haptics). ‘It all started in response to an Australian Defence Force program calling for organisations to demonstrate how advanced technology can significantly enhance defence capability,’ says Fielding. IISRI rose to the challenge, creating the first OzBot following the development of a similar system that could be used to detect landmines in conflict situations. The team has since designed, developed and manufactured a suite of OzBot robots that can be deployed in scenarios as diverse as hostage situations and defence training exercises. DKIN 63

The fleet includes the OzBot Junior, The technology enables armed forces, the smallest version which is being for the first time, to test and train used by police negotiators across a wide range of weapon systems Queensland; the OzBot Mk 8, a 16 kg in realistic scenarios at bases across tracked robot that is capable of stair the country,’ says Fielding. climbing, towing a car, and clearing ‘The brief was to create a moving beneath stadium seating or vehicles; target that could be fired upon not and the OzBot Titan, which is shaped just by sub-calibre weapons, but like a small tank, weighs 300 kg and all the way up to the main gun primarily serves as a forced entry of armoured fighting vehicles. The robot. It has a claw-like arm that can RAIDER system comprises an electric force doors and windows and extract mobility unit that tows a long-armed people from dangerous situations. trailer that can accommodate a wide ‘A more recent addition to the fleet variety of targets. It is a highly versatile is the OzBot RAIDER – an unmanned and adaptable platform that can mobile target system, currently in trials be set up within an hour and reach with the Australian Army and recently speeds up to 40 km/h.’ featured as an example of success at the Army Innovation Day in October 2018. 64 DKIN

‘One of our most unique However, the technology has had developments has been the OzTouch, some other surprising applications, a haptically-enabled arm that can be such as the development of a remote attached to the OzBots and give bomb ultrasound machine (HaptiScan), technicians a realistic sense of touch and the HeroSurg robot. as they disarm IEDs or interrogate IISRI researchers have used OzTouch suspect packages. The operator can technology to create a world’s first not only see the robot surroundings robot that gives surgeons the sense in 3D using stereocameras, they of touch while they conduct keyhole can feel the device, perceive its surgery from the surgeon command weight and determine if it contains station. The HeroSurg robot is a major a substance. Once technicians breakthrough that could make keyhole know what they are dealing with surgery safer and more accurate they can respond more effectively.’ through the haptic force feedback it The original intent of OzTouch was to provides. The team has also developed allow bomb technicians to undertake non-invasive medical robotics for use their work from a safe distance. in sonography. This development was DKIN 65

The operator can not only see the robot surroundings in 3D using stereocameras, they can feel the device, estimate its weight and determine if it contains a substance.

supported by Telstra, leveraging mechanical and software engineering their high reliability, low bandwidth skills, in an environment that is communications infrastructure conducive to constant innovation. to enable remote diagnosis using The IISRI team provides timely ultrasound. The haptic feedback solutions to challenging problems, allows the sonographer to literally and is unparalleled in the country,’ feel the amount of pressure they are says Professor Saeid Nahavandi, applying to the patient during the IISRI Director. scan, albeit from 1000 km away. The ‘As an engineer, it is fantastic to work remote ultrasound technology allows at IISRI. Staff and students have the patients in remote areas to have freedom to be creative and invent, access to the same skilled medical test and develop elegant solutions to professionals based in capital cities. complex problems. With this freedom ‘IISRI is a multidisciplinary team, we are creating tools and opportunities capable of drawing together that have a positive impact on people’s mechatronics, electronics, lives locally and globally,’ says Fielding. 66 DKIN

SENSING MOTION

A device originally designed to replace green screen special effects in Hollywood is instead transforming the lives of people afflicted by Parkinson’s disease, strokes and other neurological problems.

Associate Professor Pubudu Pathirana that it could be used to capture and his team at Deakin’s School of the movements of patients with Engineering first began working on the neurological conditions such as Biokin – a matchbook-sized wearable stroke, Parkinson’s and cerebral device – as a way to use wireless ataxia,’ says Pathirana. technology to capture movement ‘I was surprised that there was no for movies. device already available that could ‘We thought that this device would do this. Patients were being assessed be a more efficient way to capture purely through visual observation. the movements of actors during stunts, This type of assessment requires but after I showed it to some doctors years of experience and can vary at the local hospital they suggested from clinician to clinician.’ DKIN 67

Associate Professor Pubudu Pathirana 68 DKIN DKIN 69

This call to action inspired a change of focus for Associate Professor Pathirana and his team. They started It can also be customised to work with clinicians from the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental to pick up motion related Health and St Vincent’s Hospital to different physical to develop a tool that could help tests for a number of clinicians assess the severity and progress of neurological conditions neurological conditions. with more accuracy. For example, the movement ‘The Biokin is not a replacement for used to throw a dart clinical expertise but can help with or make a cup of tea. early and more accurate detection. By more accurately and frequently judging the severity of the condition it is possible to more reliably determine the treatment path in regard to medication dose and physical therapy.’ In the case of Parkinson’s disease This is particularly important when and cerebral ataxia, a condition patients are based in non-clinical that affects the part of the brain settings such as their home. that controls muscle coordination, The Biokin can be worn on any part the Biokin works by sensing the of the body and tracks the patient’s movement of patients as they undertake movements at any time from any the physical tests used to diagnose location, sending data to the cloud these diseases. Deakin researchers then via a smart phone application. It can compare this data with data collected also be customised to pick up motion from unaffected individuals (controls) related to different physical tests for making the same movements. The a number of neurological conditions. Biokin makes it possible to clearly For example, the movement used identify even subtle differences and to throw a dart or make a cup of tea. determine the level of impairment. 70 DKIN DKIN 71

The possible applications for the Biokin are enormous; 20 per cent of The Biokin has the the world’s population is disabled – a number that increases every year. potential to help doctors The Biokin has the potential to help assess an elderly person’s doctors assess an elderly person’s balance and predict the balance and predict the likelihood of a fall so that pre-emptive measures likelihood of a fall so that can be taken with wheelchairs and pre-emptive measures walking aids. can be taken. It could also be used to assess children with cerebral palsy who do not have easy access to a gait laboratory. Some children in rural areas have to wait up to six months to be assessed before ‘Our system costs less than A$100 they can be treated. The Biokin is to produce, which makes it an an affordable and accessible way affordable tool to monitor patients to assess children at any location while they are undertaking daily to a level of accuracy that is suitable activities at home. for treatment. ‘Monitoring disease progression Developing the Biokin has been a is an important feature of the Biokin. challenging project but Associate In the case of certain neurological Professor Pathirana is pleased to conditions, patients are assessed be working on something that will in the clinic, prescribed medication improve people’s lives. and then not seen again for a number of weeks. In the meantime, ‘The Biokin has allowed me to their condition could change,’ channel my expertise to solve says Associate Professor Pathirana. real problems for people.’ 72 DKIN DKIN 73

OF EMOJI

Doctor Elizabeth Kirley

Associate Professor Marilyn McMahon 74 DKIN

Meet me in the library Tuesday,

Delivered

started when a 12-year-old ‘Most people see emoji as a light- It girl in Virginia, USA sent hearted means of communication. an Instagram message that A way to make small talk, clarify the intention of a message and smooth included ‘meet me in the library out the rough edges of digital life. Tuesday, finger pointing to a bomb and knife’. The next thing Young people use them as a form of code to protect them from prying she knew she was being arrested eyes. However, these little symbols for threatening her school. have also been used to bully, defame, harass and threaten.’ When Dr Elizabeth Kirley, a barrister More than 9 million Australians and solicitor in Canada as well as regularly use emoji and the number Senior Lecturer in Technology Law of legal cases involving emoji is at Deakin, saw this story she realised growing every day. They are coming that the courts were unprepared up in criminal cases, business to handle these types of cases. contracts and defamation law. The explosion in the use of emoji Dr Kirley and Associate Professor had revealed a gap in the law that McMahon found cases where emoji needed to be addressed. Partnering were critical: a contract in Israel where with Associate Professor Marilyn emoji sent in a text message led to McMahon, Deputy Head of Law and the sender being liable to a landlord a specialist in Criminal Law, the pair for damages; a young man in France began a unique research project on who was sent to prison for sending the challenges emoji present to the a message to his ex-girlfriend that legal system. contained a ‘death threat in the form ‘I was aware that emoji were popular of an image’ (a gun emoji); and two and growing in use quickly but what men in South Carolina who were moved our research forward was the arrested for stalking when they sent fact that people were being arrested another man a message consisting and appearing in court. Emoji were of a fist and a finger pointing to being used as evidence,’ says Kirley. an ambulance.

Delivered DKIN 75

Associate Professor Marilyn McMahon 76 DKIN

Research has shown that the same emoji can have different meanings from culture to culture and between age groups. DKIN 77

Doctor Elizabeth The Unicode Consortium is a group Kirley of volunteers who determine which emoji will be officially recognised. They have created an alphabet devoted to standardising images and names of emoji across platforms. However, there is no dictionary of agreed meaning for each emoji or a defined etiquette for emoji use. Some people would consider that emoji are inappropriate in business communications but then we have the example of Julie Bishop, former Minister for Foreign Affairs, conducting an interview entirely in emoji. ‘As we began to research the cases that had made it to the courts we ‘Our research has made people think realised that there was confusion about the use of emoji and the need about the meaning and the message, to pay more attention to how they there was no uniform response,’ are being used. Emoji can save people says Kirley. time and say things that words can’t but they can also get people into real ‘The danger is that people assume trouble. Young people, in particular, they know what these little symbols need to understand the potential mean but research has shown that dangers of emoji use,’ says Kirley. the same emoji can have different meanings from culture to culture and ‘Emoji have a lot to contribute between age groups. For example, in terms of humanising digital the popular face with stuck out tongue conversations but there is a need emoji could be used to mean “just for specialists in digital speech who kidding”, tasty food, ambivalence can help the courts respond to the or intimacy.’ Significantly, McMahon misuse or misinterpretation of emoji. suggests that judges vary enormously An inclusive emoji dictionary created in their familiarity with emoji. Some by linguists and communications members of the judiciary experience experts will not only help guide particular difficulty when trying to law reform but will also help users understand the meaning of emoji navigate the constantly changing in a message. digital communication landscape.’ 78 DKIN

Giving to Deakin Did you know that 15 per cent of domestic undergraduate students regularly go without food because they can’t afford it?

At Deakin, we believe in access ‘I grew up in Sri Lanka, as part of ‘Despite that, I have continued for all to the benefits of a university a Hindu family where my mother is to live in the present moment and education, regardless of financial a housewife and my father works in follow my passions,’ Mathi says. disadvantage, geographical location politics as a district representative ‘I arrived in Australia not being able or family situation. for the United Nation Party. to speak or understand English but I Donor-funded scholarships ‘In Sri Lanka, my childhood and developed my English after leaving make the inaccessible accessible schooling were often disrupted the detention centre and living with for students who are struggling by frequent changes of residence. an Australian family. financially. Scholarships provide Sometimes I was unable to attend ‘While living with the family for more than just financial certainty – school due to threats to my family four years, I had the opportunity knowing that someone believes in light of my father’s political to play Australian rules football in them and wants to see them involvement and experiences and cricket. In my first year playing succeed also gives them a much- of family conflict. in the football club, I was awarded needed motivational boost. ‘I was forced to separate from my the ‘Most Improved Player’ of For 19-year-old asylum seeker Mathi family at a young age and had the year and enjoyed my cricket Subramaniyam, receiving a Wannon to manage major life events and season thoroughly.’ Water Scholarship has provided transitions without the support Mathi is hopeful that the Australian a glimmer of hope as he pursues of my parents.’ Government will grant a Safe Haven a Bachelor of Science at Deakin’s Mathi’s brother and sister fled to Enterprise Visa so that he can continue Warrnambool Campus. the UK where they were granted to live and study in Warrnambool. ‘I arrived in Australia as an refugee status and a permanent ‘I am currently living in The Foyer unaccompanied minor at the visa respectively. (Brophy Youth and Family Services) age of 14,’ Mathi says. For Mathi however, the future is still with some of my living costs covered very uncertain as he builds a life in by the Asylum Seeker Resource Warrnambool while on a bridging Centre,’ says Mathi. visa as he awaits the final outcome of his appeal for asylum. DKIN 79

Donor-funded scholarships make the inaccessible Deakin accessible for students who Advancement are struggling financially. It is easy to say each year is a milestone for Deakin and our Alumni Community.

‘I attend Uniting Church in Every graduation we watch new Over the last 40 years the Deakin Warrnambool where I have graduates walk across the stage alumni family has expanded to felt welcome and made to collect their testamur. This include over 250,000 graduates new friendships. ceremony marks the end of around the globe. In this edition it months or years of hard work, has been a joy to showcase more ‘I would like to give back to late nights, discovery and of our international community as Australia, which has provided assignments. It also celebrates well as how they are connecting me with a safe and nurturing their entry into the Deakin to each other and Deakin. environment. If I am able to Alumni Community. complete my tertiary education, In another 40 years’ time we I hope to share my mind and This year, we have celebrated will celebrate 80 years of alumni. knowledge in a way that will 40 years since the first Deakin We cannot predict what Deakin benefit the Australian community.’ graduation, held in a tent at the University or the world will look Waurn Ponds Campus, which was like then, but one thing will little more than a few buildings remain the same: our alumni and some paddocks. We have will still be the beating heart come so far since then, from of our community. alumni who lead in their field, Deakin Advancement For more information about change their industry and show supporting Deakin through us we can achieve great things, student scholarships, grants to researchers who have seen and donations, major gifts, an opening for new technology or planned giving please or a new idea. Tomorrow our visit deakin.edu.au/giving or graduates will achieve things email [email protected] we didn’t know we needed today. Doctor Hannah Macdougall Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science / Bachelor of Commerce 2011 Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) 2012 Young Alumni of the Year 2013

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