“Welcome to Curtin Commons, an online storytelling space for Curtin alumni, staff, students and friends. Featuring a series of thought-provoking articles intended to inspire and enlighten, Commons celebrates the many amazing contributions of our Curtin community and how they are striving to create a brighter future for us all.”
– Carmelle Wilkinson, Editor-in-Chief
Latest
Features

Curtin research to develop evidence-based strategies for expanding access to youth mental health care in WA
5 April. By Carmelle Wilkinson. 10 min read.
Help While Our Children Wait, is an evidence-based intervention project led by Curtin Professor Bronwyn Myers, which provides vital mental health support for young people falling into a growing gap – where their problems are too severe for early interventions but not severe enough for specialist services.

Is the end of the pandemic in sight?
8 April. By Carmelle Wilkinson. 10 min read.
As COVID-19 continues to sweep the globe claiming more than six million lives to date, by comparison WA has managed to weather the pandemic storm – due to our health team’s precautionary and highly effective measures and WA’s enviable geographical location. WA’s Chief Health Officer Andrew Robertson shares his thoughts on whether the end is in sight.

Pang dishes up second cookbook, and new recipes with a bang
30 March. By Carmelle Wilkinson. 10 min read.
With a second cookbook in the work and more pop-up cooking classes on the way, Curtin graduate and Masterchef Australia fan favourite Brendan Pang reflects on his journey from social worker in the State’s north to dumpling extraordinaire.

Pilot study provides glimmer of hope to those with Parkinson’s
22 March. By Carmelle Wilkinson. 10 min read.
Imagine not wanting to leave your home because you can’t stop drooling? Donald Main is one 74% of people living with Parkinson’s who experience this common and vexing symptom. A recent pilot study led by Dr Naomi Cocks explored the benefits of muscle strength training to help stop the embarrassing side effects of drooling.

Un-BOL-ievable both on and off the track
22 March. By Carmelle Wilkinson. 10 min read.
Australian Olympian and former Curtin student Peter Bol is a homegrown success story both on and off the track. The Sudanese middle-distance runner from Perth is an inspiring young man who taking fame in his stride and motivating others to believe in their worth and natural talent.

Indigenous voices key to the future of mining in WA
4 March. By Carmelle Wilkinson. 15 min read
New heritage laws passed in WA last year aim to protect and preserve the culture of the oldest known civilisations in the world – but has enough been done to include Indigenous voices in the decision-making process?
Curtin Commons explores the future of mining in Australia from an Indigenous perspective, with a focus on culture, law and environmental knowledge.

Horse racing enthusiast on track to remove disability barriers and prove one size doesn’t fit all
22 Feburary. By Carmelle Wilkinson. 15 min read.
Commerce graduate and disabled blogger Amy Evans is shattering misconceptions about life with a disability one frock at a time. Following her win at last year’s WA Fashions on the Field in York, the entrepreneur and founder of Little Black Dress Digital is using her growing social media presence to breakdown the stigma of those with a disability.

Community pantry and Dinner Twist serve up food supplies to students facing financial difficulty
15 February. By Carmelle Wilkinson. 5 min read.
Curtin Community Pantry has helped hundreds of students since its start-up in 2020.
Launched in response to the impact of Covid-19, the initiative is aimed at supporting students experiencing financial stress, by providing low barrier access to basic food supplies and other essential items. Now in its second year, the initiative continues to dish up great services for students in need.
Creative spotlight
Albany-raised artist Erin Coates (BA Arts Hons, 2002) stunning ceiling-to-floor waterfall installation ‘Never the Same River Twice’ is inspired by her free-diving in the Swan River, and the impact of colonisation on the river, known as Derbarl Yerrigan in Whadjuk Noongar language. The work is now on display as part of the 23rd Biennale of Sydney. Photo credit: Joshua Morris Photography, Erin Coates.
Juicy reads from our past…
Missed out on some of our previous articles? Never fear – we have them all here.
Visual literacy opens a world of opportunities to young author Abilities Collective @ Curtin: A conversation with astronomer and Associate Lecturer Dr Tim Galvin New generation of medical graduates set out to address health disadvantage and disparity in WA Economics student Alex Jayasuria raises his voice at COP26 From occupational therapy to mining CEO: Rio Tinto’s Kellie Parker on restoring trust and a new way forward Abilities Collective @ Curtin: A conversation with Erica Schurmann ‘You could hear the rumblings’: Adam built a business around decarbonisation Entrepreneurs are the original disruptors Space, cubed: the Curtin graduates behind Binar-1 The transformative power of moorditj yorgas
Graphic design graduate and talented artist Mel Tregonning’s award-winning novel ‘Small Things’ is sparking important conversations about mental health.

Ben Young is a Perth-born local, a film student who started out making music videos for his mates, and now a rising director with an overnight success story.

We spoke to Curtin grads living all over the world about experiencing the pandemic where they are, the challenges they’ve faced and how they overcame them.

The student newspaper known as ‘Grok’ has been passed around by Curtin Student Guild members, shared among protestors, and has a long, rich history in WA.

One in four young people experience a mental illness each year in Australia. Here is the research that Curtin University is implementing to fight rising mental illness.

Humanitarian filmmaker and photographer Marcus Wong believes you can’t care about something you haven’t seen. He’s made it his mission to share the voices of the voiceless with the world.
Hot topics we’re enjoying right now:
- COVID concerns affecting work patterns
- ‘I know that you know’ – 5 ways to help people with aphasia to communicate
- Consent education needs Blak voices for the safety and well-being of young First Nations people
- Social model of disability shows community can be more inclusive
- Coming of age: research shows old forests are 3 times less flammable than those just burned
- Does Alcoholics Anonymous actually work?
- Australia wants a space industry. So why won’t we pay for the basic research to drive it?
- Rising housing costs cause poverty

Sustainable Resources
How will our resource use and mining operations change as we move towards a sustainable, decarbonised future? Curtin Professor Michael Hitch discusses.

Type-2 Diabetes
New nano capsules could spell an alternate effective treatment for type-2 diabetes. Hear from the Curtin researchers behind the capsules, Dr Hani Al-Salami and Dr Ryu Takeshi.

Film director Roderick Mackay
Best Director nominee for the AACTA Awards 2021 and Curtin film graduate, Roderick Mackay, shares his journey on making his stunning debut film, ‘The Furnace’.

Law student Emma Garlett
Ballardong Noongar lawyer Emma Garlett will attend Oxford University, the second oldest university in the world, to integrate Aboriginal law into the current Western legal framework.
Never miss a story…
Subscribe
Subscribe to our Curtin Commons Noticeboard newsletter, and you’ll receive the latest news, profiles and in-depth essays in your inbox every month!
If you’re already a Curtin graduate, update your details to receive our newsletter automatically.
Give feedback
What do you think about Curtin Commons and the stories we’re sharing? Have any ideas or a story you think we should cover? We want to know.
… and find out what your community cares about
Acknowledgement of Country
Curtin University acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which Curtin Perth is located, the Whadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation; and on our Kalgoorlie campus, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields.