Episode Transcript
Speaker 0 00:00:00 Hello and welcome. I'm here to provide acknowledgement of country. For those who don't know me, I'm kj Karen Jackson, director of Moon Dani Balletic. My genealogy tracks back to Moira Lakes in Barma Forest and Mount Hope in Pyramid Hill. Giving me my connections to Yorta, Yorta, and Barra language groups. There's a couple of things I'd like you to take away from my acknowledgement. The first is to remember the hidden history of Aboriginal people since invasion, our loss of language removal from country, and our new extinction from massacres and pandemics. The second is our strong and inherent connection to community and country. These connections have given us the resilience and courage to rebuild our languages, gain access to country, regenerate our cultural practices in acknowledging the traditional owners of the country on which you are now on. I'd like to sincerely thank them for their generosity and kindness in welcoming people onto their lands. Lands never seeded and lands that run deep into their being and spirit. I wish to pay my deep respect to the ancestors, elders, communities, and families of the rung wri on whose land I stand and who create connection and share knowledge with all of us. Thank you.
Speaker 2 00:01:17 Hello, colleagues. And my name is Adam Schumaker and I'm really delighted to be the vice chancellor of Victoria University. I love the job and I love being with people of vu. And in fact, that is the name of our podcast where we delve into the fascinating stories and achievements of the exceptional university people and individuals who make up the vibrant community of Victoria University. And before we start though, I want to thank kj, Karen Jackson for the acknowledgement of country that you've just heard. I acknowledge on my own behalf and on behalf of all of my colleagues, our deep respect to ancestors and elders, families of the traditional owners on all of our campuses here in Victoria, in New South Wales, in Queensland, and wherever you may be listening as well. I thank you. Today we're speaking to a genuine VU star, Melanie and Risi, our view's, very own future student advisor based at our Foot Scrape Park campus. It's great to have you, Melanie. Thank you for joining us.
Speaker 3 00:02:12 Thank you so much. It's a real pleasure to be here today with
Speaker 2 00:02:15 You. I was looking forward to this very much. We had to postpone this podcast once, and now we're doing it. And Melanie has been with VU for over six years, is a very proud graduate of this university. And she harnesses what I would describe as a, a unique blend of knowledge and passion driving collaboration. And that's how we get success and a really high level value of synergy. And you can see her, you would've probably seen her at various events, running things on behalf of students and the public. Melanie's really proud of her innate ability to see the world in a positive way, in a positive mindset. It is absolutely something you can pick up the first time you meet her, and it's those values that have led her to make a really deep contribution to VU itself. So here we go, Melanie. It's gonna be all about you. So tell me, why did you first think you might want to study social work at this university? What led you to VU in the first place?
Speaker 3 00:03:05 Yeah, so I think it, look, I mean, it was 11 years after I graduated high school when I decided that I was ready for my higher education journey. And I remember surfing the, the net and having a look at the different providers. And it wasn't until I came across VU and understood a little bit more about the block model that I thought that I could make my dream come true. And I knew that I really get a good sense of joy in, in helping others and, and creating a meaningful impact. Yeah. And I spent a lot of time working with myself in terms of building a strong sense of self. And it, I was able to recognize the importance in that and I wanted to share that with others and foster growth and just be a catalyst for that, that type of positive change. So I decided with social
Speaker 2 00:03:56 Work that was your, your first choice. And I know you're a very giving person. Yeah. And so when you started it and you had your first sort of say block, did you then get a a sense of the education offerings as well? Like when did you decide that that was a little bit more in your line education as opposed to social work itself?
Speaker 3 00:04:12 Yeah, so I completed the first semester and within the first semester I was successful in becoming a student ambassador for vu. So I was then able to work and study at vu. It wasn't until I went to Southeast Asia for six weeks and I spent a lot of time with the children on the islands, that it really sparked my, my kind of my desire to work with children and, and complete the bachelor of early childhood education.
Speaker 2 00:04:39 Well, you, along with others have made this into one of the most famous courses that we have. I mean, with, it went from something like 60 students to 4,000 students over the time of your involvement. I guess they all had the best idea just just as you did. And did you learn a lot which surprised you in that course?
Speaker 3 00:04:56 Yes, I did. I, the, the course itself provided such a good foundation of educational theory, but also child development and it really gave me the transferrable skillset that I, that I've been able to like acquire or use to this day. But it's just, it was such an incredible course. I connected with the academics and built really strong relationships. And because of the partnerships at vu, I was able to get into the, to the kindergartens and work with children. And it was, yeah, it was just such a really deep and meaningful experience.
Speaker 2 00:05:30 I can, I can imagine. Yeah. Now, let me wind it back a bit. So your Sur Suria is Risi. Yeah. Does that come from southern Italy?
Speaker 3 00:05:37 Yes, it does.
Speaker 2 00:05:37 Okay. So let's say, go back a bit in time. Yeah. Tell me a bit about your family and where they come from in that country.
Speaker 3 00:05:42 So they, my mom was born in Sicily. Yeah. And she was, they migrated here in the late sixties. Right. My dad's family is also from Za, but my dad was born here. Ah-huh. And we, I'm yet to go back to my hometown, but I have traveled through Italy with friends and there is a plan to return next year because we still have so much family.
Speaker 2 00:06:06 Wow. It sounds like you got lots. I mean, I did a bit of research and we had a look at where the Inis had gone to. Yeah. And lots had gone to North America. Yeah. Quite a and I think Australia was like the third most popular location. Do you have other relatives in other parts of Australia as well?
Speaker 3 00:06:19 In We have relatives in the USA. Yes. In the
Speaker 2 00:06:23 USA. Yes.
Speaker 3 00:06:24 Interesting. Yeah. And most of research is correct. Most of our relatives. Yeah. Most of our relatives though are still in either Melbourne with us or in Sicily.
Speaker 2 00:06:31 Interesting. Because they, they had said interestingly that most of Theis were in Victoria. Yeah, there you go. So that bears it out a hundred percent. So I suppose if I offered you a plane ticket tomorrow, that's where you'd
Speaker 3 00:06:42 Go. Absolutely. That's great. Yes.
Speaker 2 00:06:44 Oh, that's so wonderful because it is absolutely the case that Italy is very important theme because when you do look at it, the whole question of early childhood post World War II became a big deal in Italy and the whole question of, you know, different forms of learning. Tell us a bit about, you know, Reggio Amelia, that form of learning for early childhood. 'cause you probably would've studied that, I think in your course.
Speaker 3 00:07:05 Yes, I did. So it, it's a educational framework and it's based on red Amelia's, I guess, philosophy on how to be a part of the world and see the world in a, with a lens that is coming from, I guess a creator perspective. Yeah. And I think that it, it is really important. And when I did travel to Italy, you can almost see that spark of it. It it, I mean it's like, it reminds us to ensure that we foster curiosity and that that ima the imaginary part of ourselves is never lost in, you know, in sight when we grow as adults. And forgive me, I mean, I haven't studied the, the, the framework itself since I've graduated, but I, I know that I have been able to implement parts of it in my everyday life. Oh,
Speaker 2 00:07:59 I
Speaker 3 00:07:59 Bet you would as an adult as
Speaker 2 00:08:01 Well. And so I'm, funnily enough, I had been on a train once going from Milano across the other side of the country, and there were all these people who are going to Regio Amelia the place, the actual town, to study this particular thing. And I struck up a conversation and they said, what you have to understand is this is one of the best ways in which children are self-empowered to choose things. So in other words, not just being told, but they choose themselves. Is that right? It sort of gives them the power.
Speaker 3 00:08:25 Hmm. I mean, we, we are born into this world with the gift of free will. And so I think it absolutely we need to be embedded as young people that we do have the choice to, to make, and that we should, like you said, be empowered to make those choices and empower others to make those choices.
Speaker 2 00:08:46 Yeah. It's great to see. 'cause I mean, I, I've seen various examples of it where, you know, they put say different toys and different equipment out, and students choose what they want and then they work together. I think it's amazing to watch. They really collaborate effectively.
Speaker 3 00:09:00 Absolutely.
Speaker 2 00:09:00 Yeah. You know, so great to see. So I'm super pleased that we're doing that here. Now tell me, you are a collaborator. I see you, for example, open day, no one run and walks more steps around a campus than you on an open day. I think it was like 25,000 or something like that, and the rest, or more or more, you know, this kind of thing. So you really love that sort of public interaction. What do you like the most about it?
Speaker 3 00:09:23 Hmm. There's many things that I, I do thrive. I think it's being able to see the campus come to life and the, the public join us and the ability to, I guess, mostly share my positive experience with others as well. It's that chance to, to really showcase what it's all about and why I'm, I'm still with VU and so passionate about it.
Speaker 2 00:09:52 And so interestingly, you've transformed from someone who's, you could always still become an educator, but you're actually representing us. Tell us what you're doing at the moment, how you, you know, how do you describe your work to friends or others?
Speaker 3 00:10:03 Hmm. So at the moment, I'm working on the change of preference project. We will be having an event on the 12th or the 13th of December, Friday, which is the day after year 12 students get their results. So this event is designed to support them in changing their preferences and understanding what they can do next. But in terms of what, what I do, I mean, across the year, it's, it's coordinating the, our recruitment event and, and working with strategy and understanding the audience and, and really listening to what their needs are and, and delivering based on those needs.
Speaker 2 00:10:37 I'll tell you what, it's, it's really working. I mean, you've probably seen the student experience outcomes that we had announced last week. We just about fell off our chairs. We were so delighted and thank you to you and the whole team for starting the journey and the educators for seeing it through and all of our professional staff for making it happen because we're now ranked number one in Victoria for student experience. So you, you saw that happen? Yeah,
Speaker 3 00:10:58 Absolutely. Yeah. And it's been really, really nice to be a part of the process and really, really nice to engage with the wider teams and understand that our, it's, it's because of the collab, the effort in collaboration that has made such a, a difference, but it's also in the effort of understanding people's unique needs and, and, and really bringing that to, to life and yeah, just creating that change and, and that uplift,
Speaker 2 00:11:27 It almost sounds like a Reggio Amelia attitude towards slightly older people.
Speaker 3 00:11:31 Yes, absolutely. Do you think Yeah, it's almost, it's a reminder Yeah. To slightly older people to make sure we don't, you know, lose sight of, of those qualities that we have. They're all innate in us. I
Speaker 2 00:11:41 Think that's right. That's a really interesting point. So when I think back, okay, I came here in the middle, in fact, it was after the first year of the pandemic, only about a month where you could come. And I think I met you in the very first week. You were very kind, kind to bring me some of the, the vu, you know, paraphernalia to show me what we were like. And I remember saying, oh gosh, I hope everybody at VU is as as welcoming as this person. Because, you know, it just that sense of, even though we're in the middle of a, of a lockdown virtually, it was still very welcoming. And I, I think it must be the same when you meet prospective students as well. How, what's the most common question that you get asked when you're, you know, doing the job that you're doing? What kind of things do they ask you?
Speaker 3 00:12:17 Hmm. I guess there's, there's variance in what they ask, but in terms of the school leave audience, who we work with mostly is, I guess the question is what advice can you, can you give me if I'm not too sure what I want to, what I wanna do next? And I think that we, in my experience and the way that I speak and connect, is to make sure that, that I can build a level of trust. And it's really nice to have such a great experience at VU because I'm then able to share from a personal perspective. And I think that it just, it connects us and we can relate and, and in terms of the advice that I give, I always make sure that I, I just confirm with them that this is just advice and at the end of the day, it is their choice. Yeah. And that they need to do their own research and make an informed decision. And do,
Speaker 2 00:13:15 Do they often ask you what you studied yourself? Do they ask you that? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. They do always. So that credibility factor has to be a lot. Yeah. Doesn't it would be, and
Speaker 3 00:13:22 They ask, sorry, they ask, why should I choose VU as well? Ah,
Speaker 2 00:13:26 So what do you say to that? What do you say to
Speaker 3 00:13:28 That? Well, that's where it all start kicks off with the, well, because I mean, you can study with vu, you, and it opens 1,000,001 opportunities and doors, but you can also work with vu. There are that many opportunities at VU to work and study. And I kind of guess that deduces the fear around not being able to work while you study. And so, and it's not even about employment, it's about the volunteering opportunities that you can get and the people that you can meet. And I mean, life as, as we know it, it is about strong relationship and it is about networking. Yeah. So that's, it's a, yeah, it's a very holistic experience.
Speaker 2 00:14:09 I think you're so right. The model is as the model does. And it works in TAFE as well, right? Yeah. So do you have much to do with the prospective TAFE students or is that another part of the organization?
Speaker 3 00:14:19 So a colleague of ours, she works with the tafe, but I, of course I engage with them at all times. And yeah. And this year, as you know, we, we facilitated a TAFE open day Yeah. But with the one, with the one VU approach. So it's been, yeah. Really nice to meet and to understand both aspects.
Speaker 2 00:14:36 Well, I find it incredible. I'm seeing people everywhere I go who are either at VU or have been at vu. So I went to the fruit shop on Saturday, and the guy who was giving me a, a mango said that his sister was studying biomedical science here. It's funny, all they do, they just see your t-shirt. Do you ever wear any of the branded merchandise when you're outside the place? And do people ask you questions? Does that ever happen?
Speaker 3 00:14:58 Yes, I do. So I, I wear, I've got a really nice hat that I wear that I love putting pins on. So I've got a few V pins on there. So that always sparks a nice conversation around it. But I often in, in just in general conversation, I often get asked like, what do you, what do you do? And it always opens up a nice space to speak about what I do at vu. Yeah. It's
Speaker 2 00:15:19 So funny. I didn't, you know, I didn't expect it like Saturday morning, you're not sort of in the zone and suddenly you're talking about the place. Yeah. But it's also, I think the most, well it's wonderful when it's spontaneous like that. It's not just at an open day, it's kind of all the time. And the impression I get from you is that you're always ready to have the conversation with anyone, anytime, any place. And it wouldn't matter where.
Speaker 3 00:15:39 Yes, definitely. I mean, I, I really do, like I mentioned earlier, find joy and, and in cultivating a sense of, of growth and the importance of that as well. So yes, I absolutely am speaking about Vu in any chance that I can get.
Speaker 2 00:15:53 Now tell me, what do you do for fun? I know that you have a, an a dog, a Labradoodle named, named Floyd. Apparently Floyd is quite well known, well was well known and maybe still is well known, and was in a, a Snapchat campaign. Was that back at the university in 2020? Is that true? Yeah,
Speaker 3 00:16:08 That's true. Yeah.
Speaker 2 00:16:09 So how did that happen?
Speaker 3 00:16:10 Yeah, so Floyd is my lovable Labradoodle, and in 2020 we needed to pivot into a digital world. And so we needed to get a little bit more, or creative or understand how we could still reach the audience. And I was, I still am just in awe of the experience that I had as a student and staff member. So, and the very fact that Floyd and Vu supported me in my online journey and in, you know, dealing with everything that was going on was really special. And I, and I thought, you know, it's time to shine. That's,
Speaker 2 00:16:44 That's great. So, you know, we'll have to, you know, get, I do have this view that we have to have an fp at fp day, furry pause at Foot scrape Park, please. You know, like I just, you know, really want this to occur. Yeah. And every, and like a popular up willing. Do you think you'd be part of that?
Speaker 3 00:17:00 Absolutely. I actually said it the same this year. I was like, the day that we can bring our dogs to open day life is just complete,
Speaker 2 00:17:08 But we'll look forward to seeing a, we can organize even if it's a special event for them. That
Speaker 3 00:17:11 Would be
Speaker 2 00:17:11 Nice. You know. Now tell me, I know that you do a lot of other community stuff. What, tell me a bit about it. What you actually started a community group, I think, and what's it called?
Speaker 3 00:17:20 Yeah, so my friends and I, we facilitate, well what we call Live Your Lemon. And the idea behind that is if when life gives you lemons, you should absolutely squeeze them. And so we, yeah. Yeah. We have a, a food truck that we coordinate and that is kind of the, the business aspect. But connected to that is where we have built a really special community platform and it has reached and changed many lives.
Speaker 2 00:17:51 So it's both online and real at the same time, is that correct?
Speaker 3 00:17:54 It, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 00:17:55 Both. Yeah. Yep. Yep. And does it have any particular area of the Western Melbourne that you work in or is it everywhere?
Speaker 3 00:18:01 So we do music festivals, we've worked in regional Victoria. Oh. We've worked, we actually moved, traveled last year up north and we did Blues First. Oh, really? And we were at, yeah. Variety of different music festivals we've been to, I think last year we were, we did about 17 different events Wow. Across the year. Wow. And at each event we set up what we call the, the lounge theme space area, which is where we invite others to feel space, feel safe in a environment that can hold space for no matter who you are, or diverse community. And it's where we Yeah. Connect and collaborate and invite people to, to work with us or to volunteer with us. In the very beginning, we used to do barbecues and haircuts in the city for the, for homelessness as well. Interesting.
Speaker 2 00:18:54 Yeah. So, wow. And so is it still called LYL? Yeah. Is that, that's the short form, yeah. Okay. And so is it based here in Victoria or is it all all across
Speaker 3 00:19:04 Australia? No, it's, we're in Melbourne, based
Speaker 2 00:19:06 In Melbourne. Melbourne, yeah. Yeah. But you're getting out, I mean, like, I've been to Blues Festival, but, but I used to work in Lismore, so it was just down the road, you know? Yeah. So that's a long journey to go to. Did you go to other festivals as well?
Speaker 3 00:19:16 We did a few day festivals and we were set up in a place called Stoker Siding. Yeah. We were doing just like street like service. Okay.
Speaker 2 00:19:28 Yeah. Gosh. You, you know, do you ever have any weekends off?
Speaker 3 00:19:32 Well, it's, it's like you asked me before what I do for fun. I, I mean, I guess it depends on how you see things. Yes. And I do see, and it is what I do for fun and it is how I keep fun alive in, in my life as well.
Speaker 2 00:19:46 Yeah. But I mean, that's part of your, you some almost like an internal mission. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. I can feel it, you know, strongly when you say it,
Speaker 3 00:19:51 But I have also learned that rest is very, very important for productivity. And that's something that I've,
Speaker 2 00:19:57 And you're managing that as well, which Yeah. Managing that, which, which is, which is great. Yeah. So let's just imagine, you know, let's say we want to champion a cause and it could be, for example, something to do with animals or anything at all. How would you start to build an active community around it? Let's say it was about a Labradoodle event or something like about dogs or something. How would you start, where would you go?
Speaker 3 00:20:14 I think there are many working parts to building success in community, but I, it it's about like the, you know, the five C's for an example, like the clarity, connection, conviction, consistency, cooperation. Okay. And then you've got, you know, your, your piece, like your purpose and the, the reason why, and I think that what's important is to have a shared understanding of why. So it's something that you can, can, can remind yourself and others of Yeah. But it's about building strong relationships and believing in, in synergy and the power of that. Yeah. And how it, if someone has a dream, it, we can share dreams and we can build really beautiful things out of them.
Speaker 2 00:21:00 Well, you know, fascinatingly, the people on this podcast very, very often have done something like this. You know, whether it's something in East Timor or whether it's something involving sport or disability, people have decided what I'm doing in a sort of daytime is not enough there. There are needs which go across the whole day, or in fact the whole week. And so we're gonna address them. I think you're the same. It sounds like you will be there when the need is, not just when the time is that's convenient. It sounds like you'd really put yourself out for other people, which is a wonderful thing. It's a wonderful quality of vu as well. How about community? Where do you think your career will take you next? I mean, you're working for us, with us on behalf of us and on behalf of all students. You know, what's, what's your dream if you like, if you have a longer, longer time dream?
Speaker 3 00:21:44 Yeah, so I think given my passion with working in with people, I definitely feel like my journey will, it will transform into more of a leadership role, is something that I would like to move toward. And I think that in the future it'll be to work with women and children and definitely still have a passion and, and a drive to work with children and in that space, in what capacity I'm currently like working through what I would like that to look like. Yep. But it'll definitely be a continuous journey with working with people and encouraging growth and supporting wherever I can. And yeah, really embodying or con, continuing to embody leadership qualities.
Speaker 2 00:22:36 And you know, what you said the word growth a number of times in different ways. Growth of community, growth of individuals, growth of passion, growth of education and growth of vu, you said actually in relation to all those things. So I think, you know, I would describe you as absolutely having a clear idea of what great growth is as opposed to just economic growth. None of those things are specifically economic, but they're all of great importance to society. So congratulations. That's a wonderful thing. Thank
Speaker 3 00:23:03 You so much. I really, really
Speaker 2 00:23:04 Appreciate that. That's really good. It's wonderful to talk and I can't wait to see what you do next.
Speaker 3 00:23:07 Yeah, thank you. I really, yeah, me too. I'm, I have a ambition that is as equal as and as big as a dream, as as dreaming. So I, yeah, I have full trust in my abilities to continue to make that.
Speaker 2 00:23:21 I'm sure you will. Positive change as they not just watch this space, watch the spaces to come. Yes,
Speaker 3 00:23:25 Absolutely. Yeah, definitely.
