WOW’s Dr Kaye Broadbent wants to shine a light on the employment conditions of those who are vulnerable and oppressed. Her research works towards affecting positive change by highlighting the ways in which people’s lives can be improved through equitable and just employment conditions. We caught up with Kaye to learn a little more about why she does what she does….
In what area/s do your current research interests lie?
A large area of my research in the past seven years has come as a part of team that secured an ARC [Australian Research Council] Linkage project looking at gender equity and employment in universities. We have released several reports, most recently the Women, Careers and Universities: Where to From Here?From this ARC project and a grant from the Office of Learning and Teaching, my focus on the insecurity of employment in universities, especially for research and teaching focused academics, has developed. I also conduct research in Japan looking at the gendered nature of care work and [am] currently examining labour dissent during the war.
What are you working on at the moment?
I have research underway in all of the aforementioned areas, but I am also co-editing (with Professors Glenda Strachan and Geraldine Healy) a book on gender in the professions with an international focus. I’m also researching with two colleagues from Guangzhou the employment conditions of married female Chinese migrant workers.
As Co-convenor of the EGDE [Equity, Diversity and Gender in Employment] theme [at WOW], we hold bi-annual workshops …for [academics], HDRs [Higher Degree Researchers] and practitioners…to address the broad theme of EDGE in work and organisations. As my fellow co-Convenor, Glenda Strachan says in this clip, we continue to work to make EDGE central to the discussion about the employment relationship instead of just an add on:
Has there been major developments or key findings that have directed the trajectory of the research?
Insecure employment in Japan is growing and a large number of women are employed [under such conditions]…. The deregulation of the Japanese labour market promoted this interest. A significant finding was that part-time work is structured with women in mind as the result of a strong ‘male-bread-winner’ ideology.
My focus on labour dissent during the war extends an earlier project on resistance in Japan. This project developed to counter the mainstream narrative of Japan during the war which is that the population fell in behind the militarists drive to war. I am slowly uncovering evidence of resistance which is exciting.
Finally, are there challenges in your field/s in trying to bridge the gap between research, practice and policy?
Gender has been a focus in universities but as our report shows…a suite of equity policies alone…[does not] go far enough to improve gender equality. There was some media interest following the release of our report, so let’s hope policy makers consider the recommendations.
TimCartercompleted his final MBA assignment in a Los Angeles café in May, as he was preparing to take up a new role as Director, Platform Demand, EMEA in the London office of OpenX.
Previous roles with Yahoo and EA Sports saw him make international strides in the technology industry.
He successfully incorporated his online MBA studies into a hectic schedule during the past two years.
“It’s really great to be part of an MBA program which operates in a fully digital global environment like my workplace does,” he said.
“I decided to undertake the Griffith MBA to provide me with the foundations to be a more effective futureleader.”
Tim started his MBA studies in mid-2014, taking subjects on economics and sustainability and systems thinking.
“I feltso connected with my lecturers and my MBA colleagues. Everything from lectures, reading materials, online discussions to group work all feltreally natural. There is also a huge library of online resources available including access to journals, videos and all the course content.
After initially graduating from Griffith University with a Bachelor of Business (2002) and a Master of Marketing Management (2004), Tim departed the Gold Coast where he grew up to fashion a truly global career.
Choosing the Griffith MBA proved an easy decision.
“It stood out as the best MBA available to meet the needs of future business.
“It changed my perspective on how I see the world around me. I hope in the coming years to discover more about myself. I am looking forward to making a meaningful contribution to business, society and this wonderful planet.”
Tim was also drawn to the flexibility of the program’s online delivery, which allowed him to study in his own time.
“The Griffith MBA offered me a lot of flexibility to do lectures, group sessions, readings and study.”
When you’re studying for your degree, there’s no better way to get your foot in the door for your work life after uni than actually working in the industry.
That’s the situation Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of International Business student Gabrielle Hows found herself in when working towards her degree.
Always on the lookout for opportunities, Gabrielle noticed a job advertisement for a position at Westfield Helensvale with Scentre Group on the Griffith University Careers board. She says she just had a funny feeling she needed to apply.
“All the skills they wanted, I already had through previous work experience so it seemed like a great fit!” Gabrielle explains. “I was really excited when I got the job, but I just had that funny feeling, you know? I just felt like everything they were looking for I had. They were looking for exactly the type of person I am, so I just knew!”
The part-time position was the result of an emerging partnership between Scentre Group and Griffith University to provide students with real-world, paid workplace experience to complement their studies. At the same time, the program benefits Scentre Group by giving them direct access to Griffith’s best and brightest in a process facilitated by the University.
Marketing Manager Kristina Mangan and Centre Manager and Griffith Alumnus Fiona Papworth agree that their organisation has definitely benefited from the experience. As key stakeholders in the partnership, they’re thrilled with the way Gabrielle has seamlessly slotted into their organisation.
“Gabrielle impressed us because she is a real go-getter and you can see that from her resume,” Kristina explains. “She’s out there and is seeking opportunities.”
Fiona agrees, and says a really great first impression helped Gabrielle get the job. “She demonstrated in the interview process that she’s collaborated with peers but also sought guidance and information from lecturers and tutors, which was really important to us,” Fiona explains. She says that one of the most crucial behaviours Scentre Group seeks is demonstration of the ability to work effectively in a team. “We’re cross-divisional and it’s really important for all our team to collaborate. The job requires a team player, which Gabrielle certainly demonstrated, and has proven in her time working with us.”
Gabrielle Hows
Since she started, Gabrielle has been really proactive with her work, and even overseen entire projects from start to finish. One of those was a reward program Westfield Helensvale had been trying to get off the ground for a while. With Gabrielle overseeing the operation from conceptual design, including stakeholder engagement and finally execution, the centre now gives selected shoppers and retailers a free hot beverage as a way of giving back.
“It’s something that wouldn’t have happened if we didn’t have Gabrielle on board,” Fiona says.
Gabrielle has also recently taken ownership of revamping Westfield Helensvale’s charity initiative, which gives local non-profit groups the opportunity to raise money through the brand’s profile. It’s a project that really speaks to Griffith University’s mission to create globally responsible leaders. Gabrielle agrees: “It’s a really rewarding project, knowing that it makes a difference to people’s lives,” she says.
What’s more, the proud Griffith student knows her job has had a positive effect on her studies and her job experience. “I’ve been able to use lots of the organisational skills I’ve learnt at uni at my position with Scentre Group. Every semester my knowledge has been built upon and I’ve been able to take that to work experience and vice versa,” Gabrielle explains.
“When you have study and do work experience at the same time you can put the knowledge you learn together to understand each of them a bit better.”
Both Kristina and Fiona are really impressed with how the partnership between Scentre Group and Griffith has worked so far and are excited to see where it can go. As both an alumni and an employer, Fiona is aware of the value a Griffith student can bring to an organisation.
“We interviewed a number of Griffith students for Gabrielle’s position and there were a lot of similarities among the students. What impressed most was their professionalism and pride in personal presentation which I really value as an employer,” Fiona explains.
“I certainly hold Griffith in a very high regard… it speaks volumes when I see they’ve completed a degree or are currently studying.”
Kristina thinks they’ve only just scratched the surface with how far their Griffith partnership could take them. “Our business has so many different divisions so there’s plenty of opportunities for many students to be able to work with us in the future,” she says.
A fairytale and university study may seem an unusualpairing but forGriffith student Tahlia Rossia Heron Island field trip was just that.
There were no glass slippers to be found but flippers were the footwear of choice for students diving on the Great Barrier Reef.
Tahlia is studying a double degree,Urban & Environmental Planning and Science with a double major in Marine Biology and Climate Change Adaption, so real world experience that puts the skills she’s learning into action was the perfect environment for her.
The marine field course sees students embark on a week-long science experience at Heron Island on the reef where they undertake research projects as part of their degree.
Having been “deeply inspired by nature and learning of its intricate functions and beauty”, Tahlia has always been excited by the concept of contributing knowledge through research.
She’s hoping to bring a science background to a career in urban planning to give hermore credibility and the knowledge and ability to collaborate with people in other disciplines.
Her degrees have given her amazing opportunities as well as allowing her to work as aResearch Assistant at Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation. Tahlia will alsorepresent Griffith at the 2016 Advance Global Australian Summit at the Sydney Opera House as a mentee.
“It has been inspiring to be given so many opportunities like going on exchange to the University of Copenhagen for one year, attending a sustainability summit in Singapore, going on thisresearch trip to Heron Island, receiving training in mentoring, resume writing, communication skills and presentation skills,” she says.
“I have been challenged by the length of my degree and the difficulty of some of the science subjects, but on the other hand, to overcome these challenges gives me confidence and strength.”
Advanceis the preeminent global community of high achieving Australians and alumni abroad, with over 40,000 connections in 90 countries. Advance forges connections with the one million Australian diaspora, drawing on their experience and networks to open doors and opportunities for Australia, Australian companies and Australians around the globe.
Tahlia Rossi says her trip to Heron Island was like a fairytale
When Josh Wicks started an MBA at Griffith Business School in mid-2013, his career path was already on the rise through the ranks of Brisbane adventure business, Riverlife.
After initially joining as events marketing manager in 2011, he was soon appointed marketing manager for the entire business, before taking on the role of general manager in January, 2013.
By the time he completed his MBA studies two and a half years after he started, Josh was co-owner and director of Riverlife.
“I had been thinking about the future direction of the business around the time I started, and my MBA studies certainly strengthened my ability to run the business,” he says.
“I found myself in a great position to put into practice some effective strategies and cool ideas I was taking from the classroom. Being able to apply and trial this knowledge allowed me to help move the business forward.”
MBA brought new focus
This was achieved in a business climate that brought its own challenges and restrictions. “It would have been easy to be distracted, but the MBA helped me to get my eye back on the ball.”
Josh’s ‘5 Flavours’ initiative emerged from this time, a Riverlife enterprise with a local focus that combined street food, boutique beers and live local entertainment.
“This kind of innovative thinking was both encouraged and also required. You can’t sit on your hands wondering what are we going to do with our business to draw people. If you can first learn what’s needed, put a good business strategy into practice, identifying its tangible value, you can be successful.”
Josh (27), a native of Ashgrove, has now takenhimself to the hurly burly of London to take on the challenges the other side of the world offers.
“I would feel far more uneasy going without my MBA. I’ve moved to an incredibly competitive environment where some of the biggest companies in the world are based. I feel I have the education now to go with my personal drive.”
He also has a network of contacts he will keep live, not least the cohort of business leaders he shared MBA classes with.
“I think about the classroom discussions with my peers and how we would ask each other what we would do in different situations. Responsible leadership was linked back to every course in the Griffith MBA, and was always very much part of those discussions. I will continue to keep in touch with that group, and I expect responsible leadership to be part of our conversations in the future.”
Former President of Timor-Leste Dr JoséRamos-Horta will deliver the keynote address at Griffith University’s Integrity 20 on Tuesday, October 25.
Before serving his country as President, Dr Ramos-Horta was known internationally as a peacemaker. In exile from his country for the better part of three decades, he was the international voice of the Timorese people while they fought for survival against one of the most brutal military regimes of our times.
In 2012 he was appointed as special Representative of the Secretary General to the African nation of Guinea-Bissau, followed by his appointment to chair the Secretary General’s High Level Independent Panel on all Peace Operations.
Integrity 20 brings together philosophers, activists, journalists, dissidents, artists and academics to explore some of the greatest global challenges in a series of bold conversations and roundtable discussions.
Integrity 20 Chair and Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Mazerolle said Integrity 20 was a significant event for Queensland and Australia.
“Underpinned by the overarching theme of global uncertainty and insecurities, Integrity 20 will foster public debate and discussion on issues that are foundational and addressing pressing issues for our society,’’ he said.
“It’s through these connections and conversations we can create a meaningful platform for change ensuring ethics and integrity remain at the heart as we seek tangible solutions to effect positive change for the future.”
Six Bachelor of Photography students headed out across Queenslandto documentlife below the poverty line, spending a week in communities fromMt Isa to Rockhampton and Charleville.
Their work will be exhibited in The Power of Community atMaud Galleries, Newstead from 19 – 22 October and displayed at three of Brisbane’s largest train stations until the end of the month.
QCA Photojournalism Convenor David Lloyd said the project allowed students to dig deep.
“There are a lot of amazing untold stories in these communities and our students are helping to bring them to light.”
Pran Kositthanakorn captures life below the poverty line in Mt Isa
Documenting the homeless community in Mt Isa
Pran Kositthanakorn, 21, and Tahlia Stehbens, 23, headed out to Mt Isa for a week to document life atArthur Petersen’s Centre, a dry out centre that provides services for the local homeless community.
“The theme of this year’s exhibition is the power of community and we wanted to document the people behind the scenes who go the extra mile to help people suffering hardship,” Pran said.
Tahlia said despite the tough lives the mostly indigenous interview subjects had led, they had no conception of poverty.
“What struck me was that none of the people we photographed and spoke to had any real conception of what poverty was,” she said,
“They have been living off the land their whole lives, many with no roof over their heads – for them, that is just the way things are.”
Tahlia attended high school in Mt Isa, but said she saw a different side of the city while working on this project.
“It was a real eye opener, but the people we spent time with were so open and honest and really welcomed us into their community.”
William Xu captures the work of the Royal Flying Doctors in Charleville
Students capture the Royal Flying Doctors in action
William Xu,27, and Shaun Singleton, 54, visited the Royal Flying Doctors base in Charleville.
Theyspent a week documenting the medical team and their patients, as well as the local indigenous community.
“It was an amazing trip,” said William.
“I got to ride along with the RFDS on a trip out to the border with the Northern Territory to airlift a boy from a remote property to Charleville.
“It was great capturing the work of the doctors – they give back so much to these remote communities.”
Shaun said the trip had made him a better photographer.
“I like being under the pump and having to just get out there and do it,” he said.
Madeline Begley and Libby Best capture the power of community in Rockhampton
Madeline said it was inspiring to see the positive impact of the community workers and volunteers.
“We met people who had lived through incredibly tough experiences, but with practical help and compassion, they were able to start turningtheir livesaround,” Madeline said.
“It was great to spend time with them and help tell their stories.”
Dr José Ramos-Horta
Griffith Asia Institute is thrilled to announce that His Excellency Dr José Ramos-Horta will be making a special appearance at Griffith University’s Integrity 20: Age of Insecurities conference on Tuesday 25 October to deliver a keynote speech.
Former President of Timor-Leste and Nobel Peace Prize Winner, José Ramos-Horta was known internationally as a peacemaker before serving his country as President. In exile from his country for the best part of three decades, Ramos-Horta was the international voice of the Timorese people while they fought for survival against a brutal regime.
José is currently the UN Secretary General as Special Representative of the Secretary General to the nation of Guinea-Bissau.
Integrity 20: Age of Insecurities
José joins 20 of the world’s most courageous, inspiring and provocative voices exploring our thorniest global issues over two days at this year’s Integrity 20: Age of Insecurities conference.
Integrity 20 runs from October 25-26 at Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, South Bank and showcases an impressive line-up of international and national speakers including civil liberties and human rights activist, Shami Chakrabarti CBE (UK), stand-up comedian and 2015 Václav Havel International Prize for Creative Dissent winner, Sakdiyah Ma’ruf (Indonesia) and anti-corruption campaigner and investigative journalist, Rafael Marques de Morais (Angola).
Subscriber Discount
Griffith Asia Institute subscribers can access the special Integrity 20 ‘partner’ rate.
For full program details and online bookings, visit the Integrity 20 websiteand select the ‘partner’ rate from the dropdown menu at checkout.
It didn’t take much to convince Jonathon Glindemann that an international career was within reach as he was studying a Bachelor of Commerce at Griffith University.
It was what the Griffith Business School student had in mind when he started his degree in 2013.
Now, the 21-year-old graduate is working in Hong Kong at the Asia-Pacific headquarters of one of Australia’s largest ASX-listed companies, QBE Insurance. His role as a Risk Analyst closely aligns with his strengths and his studies at Griffith.
“A lot of it is based on the principles of applied economics, such as risks and cost benefit analyses,” said Jonathon. “It fits in well with what I wanted to do and with the international career that I wanted to pursue.”
Jonathon agreed his journey was aided by encouragement from academic staff within the University.
It started when he was talking over his career options with Dr Jeanne McConachie, the Manager of Griffith Honours College.
Cultural journey
Jonathon was undertaking the Honours College program, along with the Asia Future Fellows undergraduate program, when Dr McConachie suggested he apply for a New Colombo Plan scholarship.
“In the time I was applying for the scholarship I was still completing the Asia Future Fellows program and that was really a great experience for me,” said Jonathon.
“It gave me a taste of studying overseas and also a taste of the culture of Greater China. That was a big part of my decision to pursue the scholarship.”
Jonathon was one of the first recipients of the New Colombo Plan (NCP) Scholarship in 2015, the first full year of the program co-ordinated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to encourage students to live, study and work in the Asia-Pacific.
Hong Kong; ‘a large city in such a small space’.
Under the scholarship, Jonathon studied at The University of Hong Kong for part of his degree, after which he was encouraged to seek an internship.
“I started the internship with QBE at the beginning of the year and at the same time completed my last two subjects through Griffith University remotely,” said Jonathon.
“I graduated from Griffith in July and started the full-time Risk Analyst role at QBE the same week.”
Potential to grow
QBE Insurance, one of the world’s largest insurance companies, has about 14,500 employees in 37 countries globally, including regional offices in Hong Kong, London, New York, and Miami.
While Jonathon is still settling into his new role, he sees potential to move within the organisation as his career develops.
“Right now I’m loving Hong Kong,” he said.
“It’s a great city, a large city in such a small space, and that gives it an atmosphere you can’t get anywhere else.
“The exchange students and young professionals living and working here also add to that vibe.
“It’s also such a big transit hub, every other weekend there’s somebody I know passing through Hong Kong.
“Obviously it’s an opportunity that has come through the NCP scholarship, but my studies at Griffith have also given me the broad foundations to adapt to my new role.”
Jonathon said he may yet return to Australia, but not in the near term.
“At the moment I want to see what opportunities open up here,” he said.
The safety and wellbeing of students and staff is an ongoing priority for Griffith University.
Maintaining a safe environment at the Gold Coast, Nathan, Mt Gravatt, Logan and South Bank campuses is the dedicated focus of a number of important services, measures and initiatives the University has implemented and developed.
Griffith University is an active participant in the Respect. Now. Always. survey which was launched earlier this year by Universities Australia. Students across all study areas and based at all campuses have been invited to take part in the survey on sexual assault and harassment.
Griffith University urges anyone experiencing or witnessing violence, harassment or fear to report the incident.
A support structure is in place and available for anyone who needs to report an incident.
Griffith continues to work actively with students and staff to improve the safety of student accommodation and its surrounds.
Raising awareness about personal security and potential associated issues is a key part of this process, and Griffith regularly updates guidelines and advice, especially where on-campus activity at night is concerned.
The use of Griffith’s Security escort service when working or studying at night is encouraged to ensure safe travel around the campus or to a car. Security can be contacted in advance to make arrangements and by phone at any time on 1800 800 707.
On-campus security is present around the clock and awareness campaigns are ongoing throughout the university.
The increased vulnerability of people who are unfamiliar with the campus is also a focus of the personal security guidelines.
Furthermore, Griffith Counselling provides free confidential, voluntary counselling and offers understanding and support in the event of personal problems or trauma.
The Griffith website includes a Respect page which focuses on the right to feel safe in the university environment and the services available.
What to do if you witness behaviour that endangers or undermines safety is outlined, with further information on the mutual obligations of students to ensure respect described in the Student Charter.
Respectful behaviour towards others in the university community applies equally to social media activity. Great care is encouraged when sharing personal information through social media.
