People of VU

Whether on the field as a Western Bulldogs AFLW player or in the classroom, Lizzie is someone who motivates everyone she meets. I had a wonderful chat with Lizzie on the eve of her graduation – she is the first in her family to graduate from university. Today, Lizzie received her Bachelor of Education degree, and multiple generations of her family cheered from the crowd. It was fantastic to see an...

Despite this immense challenge, and with the (frankly, heartening) support of his family and VU’s Clinical Exercise Rehabilitation clinic, Anesu overcame his health setback and has truly excelled in life. Anesu's vibrant personality radiates positivity every time we meet. It was such a delight to really get to know him in the latest People of VU episode. Links mentioned in this episode: https://ww...

From Dev's high school council presidency in Punjab and long-standing support for international students to Chandra's impactful work at VU through the food pantry (providing essentials to around 70 people per week) and hidden disability advocacy, their leadership journeys are uniquely VU. In the first People of VU podcast episode for this year, discover how Dev and Chandra are set to shape VUSU in...

Hailing from Hong Kong, Dr. Chau's architectural journey began with a gift from his grandfather—a book that sparked his passion for shaping how and what we build and construct. Today, he shares this passion with VU students through immersive, hands-on classes that delve into the future of our homes. Dr. Chau's dedication extends to innovative research — in which he explores sustainable housing opt...

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners are advised that the following program contains the names of people who have passed away. In this episode, after learning about Gary's early political activity in part one, we shift our focus to his influence on the arts scene and his realisation of theatre as a powerful medium for activism. We also explore the stories surrounding trailblazers such a...

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners are advised that the following program contains the names of people who have passed away. Originally, we set out to record 30 minutes as we have typically done in this podcast series. The result? A two-part, hour-long and very rich discussion of Professor Foley's career, his influences and his achievements from the 1960s to the present day. Gary's ac...

Adam chats with Patty Kinnersly, the CEO of Our Watch – Australia's a national leader in the primary prevention of violence against women and their children in Australia. This episode was recorded with a live audience at Victoria University's Footscray Park Campus. Topics discussed: Our Watch and Victoria University partnership – Educating for equality Student safety Gender equality and preventing...

Christine, a PhD candidate, delves into the complexities of intimate partner violence within Christian marriages. Rebecca, who recently had her doctoral candidature confirmed, explores health inequalities in urban environments. Notably, both Christine and Rebecca represented Victoria University in two challenging competitions – the 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) and Visualise Your Thesis. Their research to...

Manar recently completed a Bachelor of Exercise Science at Victoria University and is not stopping there. She is now aiming to become an Osteopath, driven by a personal experience that deeply affected her life and pushed her toward a career in healthcare and rehabilitation. Along her journey, Western Chances provided essential support that helped her achieve her dreams. But that's not all – Manar...

From Kashmir to Australia, Indu Koul has challenged conventions. She pioneered a girls' cricket team in her hometown and, for her daughter, established the first female team in her local club's 50-year history. Now, she's preparing for the Cricket Veteran National Championship. At work as a Business Analyst, Indu delves deep into new subjects, as seen in her work on the 'Chosen Name Project' at Vi...

As the CEO of Lifeline Australia, he has witnessed a staggering 50% increase in calls for help, underscoring the critical role that the Lifeline Crisis Call Centre plays in supporting individuals in need. Lifeline's relentless efforts to combat the stigma around seeking help have resulted in more people than ever reaching out for assistance. Days like today provide yet another opportunity to eleva...

Fast-forward to today, and Clare is spearheading change for women in sport. Clare’s research has prompted major sporting codes and peak bodies to rethink their uniform policies, helping women and girls optimise their levels of performance and comfort on the field. Her research has gone global in eight nations with the support of PUMA — and the results are very impressive. I discovered all this and...

From working on an LGBTQIA+ student learning module to advocating for the Hidden Disability Sunflower – we are one of the first universities to sign up as supporters – Tuesday has never been afraid to embrace the different and diverse. Beyond this, Tuesday has travelled the world, was a teen tennis prodigy, and spoken their truth on stage and in publications. What can’t they do? I was delighted to...

Days like today (11 April 2023) - when nationwide responses to the Universities Accord Discussion Paper are being submitted - are what make people like Associate Professor Peter Hurley tick. As the Director of the Mitchell Institute, Victoria University’s educational policy think tank, Peter’s day job is analysing the future of ‘systems’ and telling their stories. You may be familiar with 'childca...

Writing a poem a day and acting by night, Professor Mary-Rose McLaren is a creative talent with so much more than teaching behind her name. Mary-Rose weaves drama through all she does, including her classes. Drama games are central to shaking up her student’s learning experiences, and while they may start shy (or with resistance), Mary-Rose sees her students gain a sense of belonging, identity and...

In 1973, the Department of Foreign Affairs sent a cable to the ‘Australian mission to U.N. New York’ about Dr Helen Hill, noting that she “appears to hold strong opinions”. To this day, Helen's "strong opinions" has led to significant social and political change. She has continuously advocated for the people of Timor-Leste and the young nation's global position, seeking opportunities for all those...

After meeting at the tree-planting day a few months ago in Werribee, I knew I had to find out more about Tahnee Towers. Tahnee is the first VU student to be interviewed on People of VU. I discovered more about her experiences as a biomedical science student, growing up off-grid on Bundjalung country and her big goals in life. As we are embarking on our second round of 2022 graduations this week, t...

This year’s final episode of the People of VU podcast is a special one. My guest is the magic behind the podcast and someone who has sat by me recording this show for a year. He is also the joint winner of the One VU Award and People’s Choice winner in the 2022 VU Staff Awards. I am delighted to introduce Stuart Clegg, Victoria University’s Senior Video Producer. Our conversation traversed shipwre...

VU Real-World Researchers are the driving force behind the University’s research and our new Research and Impact Plan. Dr Vasileios Stavropoulos is one of them. In the latest episode of the People of VU podcast, Vasileios gives a perfect example of how his research has a profound impact on the world around him. From identifying the cause of gaming addiction to developing games for health, his rese...

Artist, mentor, teacher, researcher, curator — Dr Paola Balla is all of this and more. I had a fantastic conversation with Paola for the People of VU podcast. We unpacked the occupation she would list on a visa application; how it felt striding across the graduation stage to receive her PhD; and what gives the Footscray community its edge. Paola imparted some incredibly uplifting and thought-provo...

This episode of the People of VU Podcast comes at a critical time for the tertiary sector. Just a week ago the federal government was deep in discussion at the Jobs and Skills Summit. You will hear me speak with Anne Howard about the potential outcomes for Vocational Education and her views on what more can be done. Anne is Victoria University Polytechnic’s Executive Director of the College of Edu...

After a mid-year hiatus, it has been fantastic to get back in the recording studio for the People of VU podcast. And our first episode back is an absolute cracker. I was joined by Dr Mary Woessner (PhD), one of our star researchers and lecturers in Clinical Exercise Science. Throughout our conversation, there were repeated themes of potentiality, the natural world and health underpinning everythin...

On the eve of the formal VU City Tower launch (31 May 2022), I had a fantastic talk with Kirsten Jeffery, Project Director, and Franziska Locher, Program Manager, for the tenth episode of the People of VU podcast. As a former accountant and architect respectively, Kirsten and Franziska are passionate and highly-skilled individuals whose leadership was integral to the success of the VU City Tower –...

At Victoria University, we have spent these past few weeks reconnecting with familiar and new faces through a series of on-campus events. What better time than this to release a podcast with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor People & Organisation, Peter Radoll, who fondly describes his people-centred role with the words: “No one has a better job than I do!”. Those who have met Peter would know his wa...

It’s rare to find someone who loves numbers as much as a Chief Financial Officer, and Victoria University’s CFO Lucy Franzmann takes it to the next level. Lucy has developed a unique perspective from her regional upbringing and experience in the arts and health sectors. From the Women's Circus to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Lucy has worked as a transformative CFO in a wide variety of areas....