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What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

Future Insights student, UPP volunteer and Melbourne University student Layal Al Ashkar

I am Layal Al Ashkar. I am a 20-year old student studying International Relations and Media/Communications at the University of Melbourne. Today is International Women’s Day and I would like to share with you what this means to me, how I will press for progress and what we can all do to make the world a better place to be for women.

Although I was born and raised in Australia– a place where I believe I am fortunate enough to perhaps experience less vulnerability than other girls and women around the globe- that is not to say that I grew up oblivious to the disparity which continues to exist even in the most cosmopolitan of countries and communities. Neither, does it mean that I grew up blind to the human rights violations and inequalities occurring on a global scale. Being a daughter of Lebanese migrants ensured I was confronted by the inequality endured by women – particularly prevalent in the flawed rights to freedom, education and the minimal or lesser opportunities available.

Understanding, and appreciating the opportunities I have is why I am driven to play a crucial role in change- the only constant in our society.

Layal with her female family members for International Womens Day 2018

International Women’s Day (IWD) means much more to me than a single day to celebrate ‘women’ . It is the depiction and ongoing reminder, of how far we have come in gender inclusivity, yet how far we have yet to go. It is about understanding that sealing the gender gap is over a century away and this task requires global, collective progress. It is about advocating the importance of maintaining a gender parity mindset and empowering young girls.

This year, I have decided to focus on celebrating women’s achievements – this is my part in the #PressforProgress theme and here is how I aim to do so!

Celebrate women role models and their journeys & support women’s success

Being able to connect with others who are invested in commemorating and supporting other women is essential. A key, respected role model of mine is Emma Watson who has used her fame to contribute to Women’s Rights and worked with the UN for the HeForShe campaign. I will continue to support her work and that of others like her, by sharing, contributing and acknowledging the time and effort she is investing as an activist, within my influential sphere.

With digital technology as advanced as we have ever known, it is now more than ever that we must continue to strategically use social media platforms to share and praise one another’s achievements- particularly in the gender parity agenda.

Value women’s individual and collective success & ensure credit is given for women’s contributions

IWD plays a crucial role in reaching and combining the efforts of global governments, women’s organisations, business, and charities across the world. An essential form of giving credit is ensuring that all these divisions are working collectively towards eradicating the gender gap.

Collective efforts become historic legacies which can be carried on through generations as proof of success and further inspiration. I vow to contribute in giving credit where it is deserved, regardless of status and gender. This includes acknowledging the hard work of those around me as well as that of all women around the world through sharing success, acknowledging and building upon the past efforts.

 “No country can develop if half its population is left behind” – Justine Greening, UK Development Secretary 

Believe achievement comes in many forms

Every life is as vivid and complex as the other. Individuals have varying ideas of what ‘achievement’ means. The ever-evolving concepts of female roles in society often shape these ideas and I will strive to respect all forms of achievement.

Achievement takes effort, skill and courage- values which are implemented in various ways to achieve various outcomes. In believing this, I hope to aid in the instillment of these values in all girls and women. I will strive to achieve this by supporting my family, friends, social sphere and further reaching out to assist young girls through volunteering for programs, including Doxa’s Future Focus and Universities Pathways Programs.

A united world is achieved through a united movement.
So on the 8th of March and every other day, what will you do to #PressforProgress?

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Guiding the next generation: why I volunteer for Doxa

Alessia Roujeinikova, Doxa Alumnus

Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community and the young people who participate in our programs. Alessia Roujenikova is a Doxa Cadet Alumnus who knows all about this, having spent so much of her spare time guiding the next generation at Doxa’s University Pathways Program this summer holidays, as well as volunteering on other programs throughout the last year. We caught up with Alessia to tell us more. 

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Hi, I am Alessia. I’ve recently completed a Bachelor of Commerce at Monash University majoring in Accounting after attending Footscray City College, Melbourne’s inner West. I was very fortunate to be offered a place on Doxa’s Cadetship program and a work placement with Baillieu Holst Ltd.

I greatly enjoyed my four years with the financial services firm, acquiring knowledge and experience in a professional environment to help set up a foundation for my career path.

Since then, I’ve secured a full time graduate role at KPMG in the Audit Assurance Risk Division.

Alessia featured in the Herald Sun in 2017

Why do you volunteer at Doxa?

During the last two years of my degree, I studied part time to create more free time to focus on my wellbeing, get back into my hobbies and take up volunteering opportunities with Doxa.

I decided to dive-in on the opportunity to be a Team Leader on a University Pathways Program (UPP) and it has been one of the best decisions I’ve made yet. Doxa staff were there to support me in my growth personally and professionally, so it felt super rewarding in-turn being able to impart my experiences and knowledge to younger students in that mentoring capacity and give back.

“I wish I had guidance from students in their university years to tell me back then what I know now.”

I continue to come back for numerous reasons; growth in leadership skills, having lots of fun, meeting the other amazing team leaders and most importantly, being continuously inspired by the young individuals that go to these UPPs with a hunger to learn.

Since that initial opportunity, I’ve volunteered on: Future Focus, Future Insights and the Peer-to-Peak Performance Program. I hope to continue to make a positive contribution in future years for these programs as a Doxa Alumnus.

Volunteering as a Team Leader on UPP

What are your top 3 tips for UPP students unsure of what to do next?

  1. Study in the area/field you are interested in I believe that if you follow what you love doing, you’ll find your calling.
  2. Do not have a “year 12 is the be-all and end-all” mindset What you choose to study in year 12 does not determine your outcomes in life, they are moreso a stepping stone into uni that opens you up to a world of opportunities.
  3. Ask LOTS of questions A lot of what we learn is not in theory, but off our experiences in interacting with others.

“I’ve seen so many UPP students learn so much from their discussions with networkers and team leaders, helping broaden their mindset on opportunities that exist out there and how to incorporate their interests with those opportunities.”

UPP students and volunteers before a networking dinner

Share a favourite memory from a recent UPP you volunteered at?

In the last UPP session, I ran a session for the students advocating the important of taking care of mental and physical health. During the UPP farewell as the students were heading off, a couple of them personally approached me and thanked me for the impact that my session had made on them and how they’ve learned a lot on such topic that is usually never addressed at this stage of their life. It was truly heart-warming and is what makes me so motivated to help mentor young individuals.

Thanks so much to Alessia for sharing her thoughts and experiences, and to all our amazing volunteers. We literally couldn’t do it without you. If you’d like to volunteer at Doxa yourself or would like to know any more about our programs drop us a line at info@doxa.org.au

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My time as a Cadet

Hi everyone! My name is Tom. I’m a 19-year old Doxa Cadet. Some of you may recognise me from my vlog series on Doxa’s YouTube channel. For those who don’t, I’m in my first year studying a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne. As one of my key focuses in my degree is media and communications, I was placed within the Partnerships & Corporate Affairs team at Doxa for my Cadetship work placement.  In just a few months, I’ve grown my professional skills, learnt new technical skills and made some great connections in the process. Here are some of the highlights from my year as a Doxa Cadet…

Starting as a Cadet

Entering the workplace for the first time was a pretty daunting experience. Having come fresh out of high school and being in my first week at University, I found that working in an office was very different from anything that I had experienced previously. My new role was to assist the Partnerships & Corporate Affairs team at Doxa, working in communications, stakeholder management, media and social media.

When I’m nervous I try to treat the situation like an ice-cold pool – sometimes you just have to jump in without hesitating

I was nervous as the beginning of my placement drew closer, and even more so on my first day! But it didn’t take long until I began to feel more a part of the Doxa team, and became more used to working in an office. After nearly a year now at Doxa, I’ve learned so much about office dynamics and the various tasks I work on, and now it’s nearly second nature.

Tom pictured in the middle at LinkedIn HQ, Melbourne.

 

Learning, learning and more learning!

The beginning of my placement proved to be a significant learning curve, in which I developed a whole range of new communication and technical skills, and gained a bunch of new experiences in a short period of time. I found myself working with programs such as WordPress when managing the Doxa website, (Salesforce when managing stakeholder communications and database tasks) and a variety of social media platforms (make sure you like/follow Doxa on Facebook, Twitter and Insta!). My practical experience with tasks such as social media analytics also helped to give me a practical background when we covered similar topics at university, which was super helpful!

 

Project management at PwC

As part of my time in the PCA team, I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to complete a Project Management training course at PwC, which was a unique and helpful opportunity. We’ve all seen the looming corporate buildings on Southbank in the CBD, but I’d never really been in one before, and it was an eye-opening experience.

The two-part course was very high quality and thorough, introducing me in particular to strategies and processes to undertake new projects in new and helpful ways. I definitely took a lot of tips away from this course, and still implement some of them regularly into everyday life. One is an app called Trello, which I use to organize my study and assignments – check it out!

Project management training at PwC

Learning about PR, Media & Comms

Through Doxa, I also attended a workshop for media students hosted by Flourish PR (a media and communications company which Doxa works with to promote our brand). The workshop provided me with a valuable insight into the world of PR and Media. We had the opportunity to hear from all of the people who work at Flourish PR, including our stellar PR liaison Jackie Smiles and their CEO, Angela Ceberano.

Some of the main things that I took away from the workshop were the importance of going the extra mile in your work, tips on how to work best with clients, as well as some inspiring and funny stories about how each of them got to where they are today in their careers.

The wisdom of “starting slow to go fast” applies to a lot of things, from planning projects to personal well-being. One of the most important things that I’ve learned is the importance of balance and seeking to love what you do, even if you need to take a step back to figure out how you might achieve that.

Conclusion

I’m really thankful for the opportunity that I’ve had to be a Cadet at Doxa. Through it I’ve gained a whole range of new skills and experiences, and I truly believe that I’ve matured and grown as a person through it. I’m excited to see what lies ahead, both personally and professionally, and I’m sure that I’ll continue to draw from what I’ve learned here for years to come. Thanks Doxa!

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Storytelling isn’t fiction

Doxa Future Insights program participant Hue Man Dang

Storytelling plays a fundamental part in the way we communicate, interact and interpret the world. It’s also an increasingly important skill in business. One young person who recognises this is Future Insights program participant Hue Man Dang. Hue Man is passionate about leadership, development and authentic communication. She recently won a coveted place on Anecdote’s “Storytelling For Leaders” course. Over to Hue Man to tell us more..

Hi nice to meet you! My name is Hue Man Dang. I currently go to the University of Melbourne, studying a Bachelor of Science. I am 100% committed to making sure that young people have access to educational material and resources.

Is the narrative of my life really boring? Sometimes I feel like it is.

But perhaps it isn’t – but it is just that I don’t know how to turn it into a compelling story (yet)!

When I first applied for the “Storytelling for Leadership” course, a part of me had no idea what I was getting myself into. I saw the website, looked at the past programs and could not turn away from an opportunity for personal development.

  • Leadership. Check.
  • Opportunity. Check.
  • Learning. Check.

I had only heard about storytelling briefly, but really didn’t know much about it, nonetheless I threw myself in the deep end because I believe that any opportunity no matter how slim, is worth it.

“Thanks to the wonderful Doxa I had the absolutely amazing opportunity of going on adventure into learning more about how I could capitalise on storytelling from a business / social perspective but also personally.”

Notes from the “Storytelling For Leaders” workshop

Storytelling isn’t fiction

When the workshop started, we were first paired up to introduce ourselves, and that introduction at the beginning was what I told my partner. Stock standard because society normally expects you to get to the point about everything, but this workshop wasn’t normal, it was a dive into the area of communication and psychology. Firstly, stories all have the same elements, a time or place marker, an event, people and something that has happened.

“From a business perspective, stories convey a business purpose and help contribute to the message of the company.”

Throughout the day, we covered key ideas such as the importance of being authentic, because storytelling isn’t fiction, it is real stories that happen to real people. When it comes to presentations and proposals you are going to get more out of stories that have context because stories are memorable, and are not just abstract terms in bullet points. If you want to make a good first impression (especially if you want to get that job) then your narrative is important, because if your introduction is predictable then people will switch off because they anticipate it.

“Stories show your values as well, and are a good way to build connection and trust.”

The narrative of my life was the same, but the perception was different

At four in afternoon, the narrative of my life was the same, but the perception was different, so I want to tell you a story to illustrate it.

As a young woman who was born in Vietnam, English was my second language and therefore I always struggled with pronunciation (I still do). During one of my debates in High School, a member of the audience suddenly stood up at the end during the comments section and straight up told me that I needed to practice my words more, though she probably didn’t mean it in spite.

But now it doesn’t matter if I can’t pronounce everything. No. What matters most is the story that I am going to tell.

Reflecting on key takeaways from the session (L) Doxa Cadet Jack Choo (R) Hue Man Dang

Looking to the future

In the future, I hope to use the knowledge that I have learnt today to give back to the community. I am currently working on a project called Brain Nation Hub which supports young people to build on their skills around leadership and growth, and so I will make sure the story that I tell, will be one that is going to help a lot of people in the future.

“I want to take the opportunity to thank Doxa for this incredible experience, without the organisation, I wouldn’t have been able to learn so much of not just about how I can communicate better, but also learn more about who I am, from such an inspiring speaker.”

Thanks for sharing your experience Hue Man Dang! Also a big thanks to Anecdote for offering places at their “Storytelling For Leaders” course to Doxa program participants.

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Top 3 Takeways – ‘Run the World’ Event

The League of Extraordinary Women hosted the Run The World 2017 Conference

“Who run the world? Girls!” Doxa Cadet Michelle Tran channeled some feisty female entrepreneurial spirit when she attended the League of Extraordinary Women’s “Run The World” conference last month. This event brings together a multitude of female business leaders from across a number of sectors and gives insights into their success stories. As Michelle is studying a Bachelor of Commerce & Economics at Monash University, she went along to make connections, get inspired and learn some new tips. Here’s her account of the day and her top 3 takeaways…

To quote one of the most famous female divas of all time, “Who run the world? Girls.”

At the League of Extraordinary Women’s Conference for 2017, this answer was supported and proven by a range of brilliant female entrepreneurs. It was an event where females, and a handful of brave males, from all backgrounds and industries could share their passions for business while building a network of both professional and personal connections.

As a cadet, I was fortunate enough to be given this opportunity to attend the conference and were it not for Doxa, this would not have been made possible. So, for all those who are interested in knowing more about the league and the secrets to a successful business, here are my top three takeaways from the “Run the World” event.

Michelle Tran at Run The World 2017 Conference

Takeaway 1: “You can have it all”

Before the event, I would perceive people who were successful as these super humans who were either born geniuses or were extremely lucky to have accomplished their goals and create a name for themselves in the commercial world. To me, it was such a distant idea that I often would talk myself out of pursuing business ventures before I had even started.

At the conference, however, most of the guest speakers were women who were married and had families. They were women who had day jobs that most would consider normal. It was through hard work and determination that these women could balance building a business with raising young children and maintaining relationships with their partners, friends and family. It made me realise that I did not need any special ability to start a business and pursue my dreams, myself and everyone in the room were already more than capable of doing so already. To summarise with the wise words of Enjo CEO, Barb de Corti,

“you can have it all, but be prepared to work hard!”

Run The World – Melbourne 2017

Takeaway 2: Your turquoise moment

People often describe entrepreneurship as a long, hard and lonely journey. My interest has always been centred around how people have managed to stay true to their goals in the face of such adversity. All the women from the League spoke collectively about one of the most important factors to their success, which can be described as their “turquoise moment.” To put into context, Spell and the Gypsy founder Elizabeth Abegg spoke about how her passion for turquoise jewels prompted her to join her sister’s jewellery making business to transform it into what is now an international clothing brand.

Many of the women speak about how their intense passions allowed them to take the leap and turn their dreams into successful businesses. It was the fact that they stayed true to their ideas and believed that it was something they wanted to share with others which drove them to put in the long and hard hours to make it possible.

Michelle Tran, Doxa Cadet at the conference

Takeaway 3: 5-4-3-2-1 Go!

I find that often when I come across an amazing opportunity, I hesitate. Whether it is applying for a university program or even speaking to someone who I admire, there’s always a moment of pause that tends to result in nothing. It has either prolonged or prevented me from doing new things or meeting awesome people. Therefore, the most important lesson I took from the League event was how to stop this. “The moment you have an instinct to act on a goal, you must move within five seconds or your brain will stop you.”

“From now on, if I ever find myself hesitating to do something that will help me reach my goal, I just count to five and act.”

I have found that the fears I once had were all in my head and what I have gained has far exceeded what I was scared to lose anyway.

Thanks to Michelle Tran for sharing her experiences at the Run The World Conference. We hope you continue feeling inspired!

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Doxa Announced as 2017 State Finalist in Telstra Business Awards

On behalf of the Board and staff at Doxa I am very pleased to share that Doxa has been recognised as a Victorian State Finalist in the charity category of the prestigious 2017 Telstra Business Awards. There were 5000 applications, 450 shortlisted and 40 finalists – what an amazing honour!

As one of the Victorian finalists, Doxa was chosen for its work and commitment to supporting disadvantaged young people to access positive life experiences, education opportunities and employment pathways.  This is an outstanding achievement. We are so proud of Doxa’s team and what we have accomplished together – not just in recent years, but over the last four decades.

Doxa was formed on the single principle that all children, regardless of their backgrounds, deserved to have opportunities and positive experiences outside the confines of their socio-economic standing.  This principle of access and equality continues and today we are one of the few Victorian not-for-profits to offer programming from primary school years, throughout secondary years seven to 12, and tertiary education.

Innovation and technology

The awards also showcase business excellence and Telstra Group Executive and Awards Ambassador, Kevin Russell, said: “The Victorian finalists are great examples of innovators and early adopters who have used technology to help them gain an advantage in the market.  They show how technology is fundamentally changing the way organisations operate today and delivering enormous benefits.”

The implementation of digital platforms such as Salesforce, Xero, BlueQ and Social Suite are recent examples of how technology has been used to improve operations. We have greater transparency on our funding pipeline, streamlined program registration, and greater visibility of schools that are eligible to participate in programs. Risk and compliance protocols have also be enabled through enhanced links to relevant national databases.

Share our success

State winners will be announced on the 28 July at the 25th Telstra Business Awards Dinner. Messages of support will be displayed at the Dinner and we’d love to see a short message of support from you on the big screen at the event.  Please share your message at telstrabusinessawards.com/mos

Thank you once again for your ongoing commitment and participation in our wonderful organisation.

Dr Stephen Silk
Chief Executive Officer, Doxa

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Alumni Stories Of Success: Priscilla Pham

Tell us a bit about yourself?

Hello I’m Priscilla Pham, I’ve just completed my Bachelor of Environmental Science (Environmental Management and Sustainability) degree at Deakin University. I’ve left CISaustralia as their Student Ambassador and recently joined NAB Financial Planning as a Client Service Officer where I manage client accounts and support the financial adviser in their work, and Tripod as a Programs Coordinator where I ensure everything runs smoothly before, during and after every program. I completed my Cadetship at BP Australia’s head office in the Supply and Logistics team and the Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) sector as a Waste Management Project Coordinator.

What experiences from the Cadetship program have stayed with you the most?

Honestly everything. Everything that I’d learnt from the Doxa Cadetship Program has supported my personal and professional growth and moulded my way of thinking. Going through the Cadetship and team leader roles in Doxa’s other programs introduced me to a new world of opportunities that I’d never thought I could reach, and it taught me a lot about how opportunities can bring out the best in those who weren’t given a chance.

“The best experiences of all is being a part of a growing family that will love you unconditionally and will always be there to support you.” 

What’s an achievement you are most proud of and why?

Being the person that I needed when I was younger and living my life the way I’d always wanted; by helping people in many ways that I possibly can and trailblazing through random opportunities that I come by. I’ve finally become a role model and positive influence to the current and future generation of youths, and now I can share the experience of overcoming unfortunate obstacles to those who may need that support.

“Everyone deserves a chance to better their lives no matter how difficult the situation may be.”

What’s the best part of your job?

Being thrown into a continuous learning curve. I have no financial background or enterprise education whatsoever and I’m constantly learning on the job, which means everyday is a day full of curiosity and wonder. I love that both my jobs are flexible and allow me to grow in their industries, whether it be through improving their current systems or by taking initiative in my professional development. Most of all I know that I’m helping someone in someway in my roles and that’s all the satisfaction I truly need in my career life.

“Don’t ever forget that you’re worth all the time and energy it takes to be the person you are now and who you strive to be. Life is worth living.”

What advice for success would you give our current and future Cadets?

It’s okay if you still can’t figure out what you want to do, being true to yourself and your passions are important and a great stepping stone for further opportunities that you may discover later in life. It’s a matter of being proactive, of getting out of your comfort zone and taking the initiative to find the opportunities around you and striking while the iron’s hot.

Thanks Priscilla for sharing your story of success with us. We love hearing about what our Alumni are up to post-Cadetship. Please keep continuing to share your employment experiences and successes with us. Email info@doxa.org.au if you’d like to be featured on the Doxa blog!

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A Career in Financial Services: Jaclyn Willoughby

Are you a University Pathways Program (UPP) student who’s potentially interested in a career in finance, wealth management, investment banking and the financial services? Well, we’ve got just the person for you to meet to have a career conversation with. Enter Jaclyn Willoughby. In fact, she’s just one of many professionals from across a range of industries that will be attending our UPP networking dinner tomorrow. The whole idea here is to give you a chance to practice networking, meeting new people and learning about careers pathways for the future.

In this blog post we’ll be introducing Jaclyn Willoughby one of our professional networkers from the Financial Services sector.

Jaclyn has a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting, Finance, and Financial Planning from Deakin University. She has over 12 years experience in property funds management and currently works as Investment Manager at Drapac Capital Partners. Jaclyn specialises in the management of Australian Managed Investment Schemes including product & business development, compliance and financial reporting for several Australian Financial Services Licenses.  Confused, fascinated or just simply want to know more? Then make sure you have a chat with Jaclyn at the UPP networking dinner this week.

We asked Jaclyn a couple of questions ahead of the networking dinner…

Why are you volunteering at the UPP Session?

I have been fortunate to work in an complex organisation which has exposed me to many different facets of a professional working career & have some interesting stories to share.

What are you looking forward to sharing with the students?

My career as an Investment Manager commenced following ​an internship I completed during my final year of my commerce undergraduate year. I am therefore looking forward to sharing my pathway with the students and hope to inspire them to discover their own opportunities in their chosen field.

If you’re in our UPP and would like to find out more, then make sure you have a chat with Jaclyn at the next networking dinner in July.  If you’re a professional and interested in getting involved with the UPP networking dinners and would like to share your wisdom with our students please email: upp@doxa.org.au

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A Career in Engineering: Ben Preston at UPP

Are you one of the many aspiring young Engineers participating in our University Pathways Program this year? Well, you’re in luck! Not only have we arranged a visit to world-leading multinational engineering firm AECOM as one of our workplace visits, we’ve also invited selected professionals to share career experiences with you at our UPP networking dinners. This an opportunity to practice networking over an informal dinner. On the menu: approaching new people, learning the art of personal storytelling and delving into career conversations.  

In this blog post we’ll be introducing one of our professional networkers from the Engineering sector.

We are delighted to be hosting Sustainability Consultant, Ben Preston, from Norman, Disney & Young, a global engineering consultancy firm, to share his Engineering experiences, professional passions and career successes.  Ben has extensive experience in Engineering and Sustainability, especially construction, leading and designing projects. He’s interested in a whole bunch of things including: leadership, collaboration, disrupting with positive purpose and Regenerative Design and Development. Ben has a Bachelor of Engineering, Energy and Environmental Engineering and is currently participating in a Futuremakers Fellowship at the Centre for Sustainability Leadership.

We asked Ben a couple of questions ahead of the networking dinner…

Why are you volunteering at the UPP Session?

As a young person, I remember feeling dread at the prospect of adulthood. The prospect of work life seemed mundane, a tool that sucked the joyousness out of life. While that speaks to my own direct experience and exposure with adult life, I’m sure many young people have similar feelings and find it difficult to get inspired about their potential adult lives.

“I’m volunteering at the session because I believe hearing people’s stories can be a powerful mechanism to inspire and empower.”

I hope young people walk away from the event with a sense of hope and inspiration for the potential the future holds.

What are you looking forward to sharing with the students?

I’m hoping to impart people with a sense of hope and inspiration for the future by highlighting that there is so much value in the way that they see the world. Often the vigor and fresh insight that young people bring to a scenario is actively discouraged, which inevitably leads them to become disinterested. I hope to highlight, through my words and way of being, that childish and playful ways of operating and acting are necessary, useful and powerful ways of sharing perspective, generating empathy and tapping in to creativity.

If you’re in our UPP and would like to find out more, then make sure you have a chat with Ben at the next networking dinner in July.  If you’re a professional and interested in getting involved with the UPP networking dinners and would like to share your wisdom with our students please email: upp@doxa.org.au

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A Career In The Arts: Charlotte Hilder at UPP

Are you a UPP student considering a career in the Arts but don’t know how to go about it? Fear not! As part of our University Pathways Program (UPP) we invite selected professionals from across a wide range of industries, sectors and businesses to share career experiences with you. It’s also an opportunity to practice networking over an informal dinner. Approaching new people, learning the art of personal storytelling and delving into career conversations are all awesome communications skills that we aim to equip our program participants with. So too is learning about what careers are out there.

In this blog post we’ll be introducing one of our professional networkers from the Arts sector.

For our next UPP in July, we’re super excited to be inviting Charlotte Hilder, Creative Producer at Youth Outreach, Arts Centre Melbourne to come and talk to students at a networking dinner about a career in the Arts. Charlotte brings a wealth of experience to the table, having spent her career working with young people and across community arts initiatives and in local government.  She’s worked in film, photography, music and arts projects and studied at National Art School, RMIT and Victorian College of Arts. 

We asked Charlotte a couple of questions ahead of the networking dinner…

Why are you volunteering at the UPP Session?

I have been working in the Arts sector for over 20 years, and I believe that mentoring and networking is very important in supporting young people in their career pathways and aspirations.

What are you looking forward to sharing with the students?

I have a professional Arts career and believe that the creative industries need more people sharing insights into their career journey, as it is often an undefined pathway and many roles are not advertised. Instead they are gained through networking and industry endorsement.

If you’re in our UPP and would like to find out more, then make sure you have a chat with Charlotte at the next networking dinner in July.  If you’re a professional and interested in getting involved with the UPP networking dinners and would like to share your wisdom with our students please email: upp@doxa.org.au

PS: Check out this TED talk by Ben Cameron about “Why the live arts matter?”

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