What’s happening

As a geologist, Eliza Stewart's (BSc Geographic Information Science, 2018) experience in some of WA's most remote and rugged landscapes gave her the inspiration for a slightly unexpected side venture: a range of cosmetics!

While she still works as a geologist, Eliza's first product, the Pilbara Collection, demonstrates her ingenuity and the strange but wonderful ways our careers can take twisting turns from our original university studies.

“I’ve taken the Pilbara landscape, my passion for rocks and my interest in beauty, and put them all together. I want to showcase and introduce the world to the geological colours and landscapes of Western Australia, and of course its very cool rocks!

"My advice to other graduates is don't look at career change or change in direction as failure. I struggled with that concept because I come from a family that places a lot of value on playing things safe. Instead, take inspiration from your background, use the tools you have learnt and expand upon them! Never stop learning and researching. These skills have helped me to start a business and understand what it takes to strive for success."

Eliza is currently offering all Curtin graduates a 10% discount on the Pilbara Collection! Head to @geologiecosmetics and use CURTINALUMNI10 to get your hands on one now.

L-R: Eliza Stewart wearing the Pilbara Collection; Karijini landscape in the Pilbara; Eliza holding an early design she did of the Pilbara Collection; model wearing Pilbara Collection eyeshadow. All photos supplied by Eliza Stewart.

#CurtinGrad #geology #geography #WA #pilbara #karijini #cosmetics #beauty #geologie #eyeshadow ...

Valerie Ah Chee was the only Aboriginal woman in her cohort when she studied midwifery at Curtin. Now, she has returned to her university to foster a sense of belonging for other Aboriginal women by creating the artwork for our Moorditj Yorga (‘strong woman’) Scholarship.

The artwork, titled 'Yorgas Barloonginy (Women Rising)', draws on the collective strength of the Nyungar women in Valerie's own life.

The circle in the centre of the painting is the first gathering of the Elder matriarchs (holders of knowledge and learning) teaching the next generation of women about identity, connections, belonging and culture. The snake is the Wagyl, creator and protector of the waterways in Nyungar culture, which is essential for life. The women sitting around the snake are ready to start a different journey to learning.

Valerie says, “My biggest inspiration and role model is my mum, Dr Rosemary van den Berg, who was the first Nyungar woman to graduate with a PhD from Curtin. Mum’s strength, resilience and perseverance inspired me to start my own degree – and finish it.”

Swipe right to see Valerie doing just this at her graduation ceremony in 2015! She is just the type of student Curtin could have supported with the scholarship, had it been available when she enrolled.

Click the 'Curtin Commons' link in our bio to read Valerie's full story, or find out how you can support women like Val to share their knowledge and wisdom at university by clicking 'Support Moorditj Yorga Scholarship'.

Art: Valerie Ah Chee, Yorgas Barloonginy, 2021, acrylic on canvas.

#CurtinGrad #CurtinCommons #moorditjyorgas #aboriginal #indigenous #womenempowerment #strongwomen #empoweringwomen ...

We spoke to Curtin graduates living and working all over the globe about what it has been like to experience the COVID-19 pandemic where they are.

Emily Regan (BS Nursing, 2015) was working as a nurse in London and was initially told by senior officials not to be too concerned about the earliest reports of a pandemic.

Nik Hasyudeen (Bachelor of Business, 1986) was worried about his company, which helps Muslims in Malaysia with limited means make the pilgrimage to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, getting shut down due to travel disruptions.

For Jacinta Ebsworth (Bachelor of Commerce, 2014), living in New York meant she was at the centre of one of the worst-hit cities in 2020.

Read the full story by clicking the 'Curtin Commons' link in our bio.

First image: Nik Hasyudeen.
Second image: Jacinta Ebsworth.
Third image: National Health Service (NHS) workers wave from windows of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital as crowds cheer them on, 2020. Sourced from Shutterstock.

#CurtinCommons #CurtinGrad #pandemic #covid #covid19 ...

Curtin’s student rag has changed names many times since its inception over half a century ago in 1969. From Aspect, to Grok, to PaperWAIT, to the chic French spin L’Grok, to the Nyungar word Aliwa (meaning ‘look out’) and back to Grok again, the publication has been a forum for students to express their views on art, politics, culture and life for as long as Curtin has been in existence.

1972 Sports Editor Garry Feeney said the paper’s staff was a group separate from everyone else.

“We were the people who were in everything. We did the parties, the drugs, the protests and demos, student politics, the student newspaper and the dramatic society. There was a lot of crossover. It was heady and exciting because you really felt like you were a part of what was happening in the world. It was an illusion. This was Perth — the second most isolated city in the world. Nobody gave a damn what we did or said, but for a while there it felt like they did.”

Many students who wrote for @grokmagazine have gone on to careers as journalists, storytellers and artists - one notable contributor being award-winning author Tim Winton (BA English, 1980)!

Read the full article and find out where our Grokian grads are now by clicking 'Curtin Commons' from the link in our bio.

#CurtinCommons #CurtinGrad #Grok #journalism #CurtinLife ...

The Curtin library before... and after!

Swipe right to check out these stunning artist impressions of what the refurbished Curtin library could look like once construction has finished ✨

The TL Robertson Library was built in 1972 and is being revamped to modernise its facilities and provide new services. While the iconic brutalist architecture you all know so well will be preserved, the building will be transformed into an informal learning and research hub, with over 2000sqm of additional floor space!

What are your favourite memories of the library?

#CurtinCommunity #CurtinLife #library #TLRobertsonLibrary @curtinuniversitylibrary ...

To mark World Suicide Prevention Day last Friday, we came together with donors and supporters of the Healthy Futures Appeal to launch an exhibition of original illustrations from #CurtinGrad Mel Tregonning's book 'Small Things'.

We also heard from Prof Penelope Hasking who gave us some insight into her work around student mental health and how the funding enables her and her team to improve resources for students that help build their resilience and maintain good mental health.

You have made a difference by giving to Healthy Futures. Thank you.

Click on the link in our bio to find out more about the appeal.

#CurtinGives #CurtinResearch #WorldSuicidePreventionDay #mentalhealth ...

Dr June Oscar, the first Aboriginal woman to become Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, is a remarkable moorditj yorga - 'strong woman.' Professor Sandra Eades, the first Aboriginal Dean of Medicine in the world, is another moorditj yorga.

And through her Curtin studies, Moorditj Yorga Scholarship recipient and Bundjalung woman Janelle Brown is on her way to becoming a qualified leader and changemaker.

“We can’t underestimate how valuable university-level studies are in helping us to articulate, elevate and amplify the issues that need attention through an academic presentation of information," says June. "This is the language that systems of power – policy makers and governments – respond to. That’s how they can understand it.”

Click the Curtin Commons link in our bio to read their inspiring stories, and discover why each of these moorditj yorgas believe in the power of educated First Nations women.

📷 L-R: Professor Sandra Eades, Dr June Oscar, and Janelle Brown.

#CurtinCommons #aboriginal #indigenous #moorditjyorgas #strongwomen #womenempowerment #empoweringwomen ...

Happy Father's Day for yesterday to all the dads and dad-figures out there!

Today we're celebrating community leader and father of three, Peter Mitchell (BA English, 1986). Peter loved acting in the Hayman Theatre while studying, but after his days of punk rock theatre ended (check him out in the second photo, second from the left!), his career took a completely different turn when he moved to the Kimberley and began working in community services.

Now, Peter is CEO of Mens Outreach Service Aboriginal Corporation in Broome where he leads programs for youth suicide prevention, family services and domestic violence prevention, and men’s health and wellbeing.

Tag a dad who inspires you!

#CurtinGrad #community #leadership #father #fathersday #menshealth #history #curtinuniversity ...

We're proud to announce that three teams of Curtin students have been named finalists in the Fleetwood Challenge Cup, a national architecture and engineering design competition!

Swipe to check out the...

🚢 Shipping House: a modular design that reuses existing frames of Fremantle heritage buildings and optimises waste reduction.

🏙️ Asian Persuasion: modular apartments that offer a safe, low-cost and environmentally friendly housing option for overcrowded cities.

🏡 Fremantle Springs: a sustainable design combining the beauty of Fremantle heritage buildings with the principles of natural living and shared communal spaces.

Our students are so talented - congratulations to the finalists!

#CurtinCommunity #CurtinLife #inspiring #beauty #architecture #engineering #design #housing #fremantle ...