In the UniSA+ Leader in Us podcast, UniSA students explore the journey of leadership through inspiring stories, meaningful conversations, and insights from those making a difference in their communities. Listen below and discover the leader within you.
Hear from Sharron Jones, a regional pedagogue in Education Futures at UniSA's Whyalla campus, as she shares her journey as a teacher and leader in regional South Australia. This episode highlights the power of relationship-driven leadership in transforming education, promoting equity and empowering future leaders.
Thinking of a career change? Tune in to this inspiring conversation with Riley Thring, a Bachelor of Environmental Science graduate from UniSA, as he reflects on his transition from a physically-demanding trade to pursuing higher education. Hear about his transformative journey and how he developed his leadership skills by turning perceived weaknesses into strengths and building resilience through challenges.
Mentoring can be a powerful way to build confidence, foster self-belief and guide you towards achieving your dreams. In this episode, Dr Jessica Porter, a strategic land-use planner, PhD holder and passionate mentor, discusses her role with a program that supports students from diverse backgrounds, and shares her experiences as both a mentor and mentee, underscoring the value of reciprocal learning and personal growth.
Listen to the inspiring story of Nadil Bandara, an international student from Sri Lanka who advocates for disability rights. This episode delves into Nadil's career journey, from struggling to find employment as an international student with a disability to securing a permanent position, all while promoting diversity and inclusion. He also discusses the importance of personal, everyday leadership, and the power of inspiring change through meaningful, one-on-one interactions.
What does leadership mean to you and what inspires you to make a difference? For Kate Swaffer, a disability activist, award-winning author and PhD candidate at UniSA, leadership centres on service, kindness, empathy and empowering others. Diagnosed with young-onset dementia at 49, Kate emphasises the importance of resilience, bravery, and finding a personal "why" to sustain advocacy efforts, as her work underscores the potential for transformative leadership to create meaningful change.
Set against the backdrop of the Kaurna, Boandik and Barngarla lands, this episode explores leadership through the lens of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditions, intersecting with Western hierarchical models. Listen as Dana Shen, a Ngarrindjeri-Chinese woman, discusses the unique characteristics of Aboriginal leadership, which emphasises collectivism, community transformation and fostering young leaders.
In this reflective and heartfelt finale of the Leader in Us podcast, hosts Sophie Crouch, Deb Kelly, Astrid Fernandez, Ha Nguyen and Gail Carr share their experiences as UniSA's Student Leadership Scholarship recipients. This special episode explores their personal growth, leadership insights and the collaborative projects that have defined their journey, and invites you to uncover the leader within yourself!
Sophie is a second year PhD Candidate in Allied Health and Human Performance at UniSA. With a background in psychology, she is fascinated by how our beliefs and knowledge shape the way we behave. Outside of studying, she enjoys reading, baking, and running.
Deb is pursuing a Bachelor of Digital Media online while serving as the student leader at UniSA's Mount Gambier campus. She is passionate about utilising digital media to encourage educational inclusivity and build connections among regional and remote students. Outside of her academic and leadership roles, Deb enjoys motorcycle rides, capturing the beauty of Australia with her camera and listening to podcasts through her helmet speakers!
Astrid is pursuing a Master of IT (Enterprise Management) and thrives on tackling technological challenges and crafting innovative solutions as a student consultant at Aurecon. When she's not diving into IT strategies, you’ll find her diving into pools, perfecting her freestyle strokes. She loves cooking up a storm for friends, devouring books by the beach, striking up meaningful conversations, and finding solace in prayer. She’s all about balancing her tech-savvy side with moments of tranquillity and good company.
Ha is in her third year of the Bachelor of Social Science (Human Services) and is based at UniSA Magil Campus. She loves researching topics for her studies and is a very active member of the UniSA Vietnamese Student Society (VSS). Ha is often found in the quiet session of the Magil campus library, taking notes of her readings while listening to her favourite music.
Gail is in her third year of a Bachelor of Primary Education (Honours) at the Whyalla Campus of UniSA. Alongside her studies, she teaches the Arts to Year 3-6 students, inspiring creativity and musical expression. Gail is passionate about education and the arts, with a particular focus on helping children develop their confidence and creativity. She has demonstrated strong leadership growth at university, further enhancing her ability to engage young learners through dynamic and meaningful lessons. Her teaching and academic experiences contribute to a well-rounded understanding of effective classroom practices and innovative approaches to learning.
Podcast Guests:
This podcast is a collaboration between UniSA Student Leadership and the 2024 Student Leadership Scholarship Recipients. The stories and opinions expressed in The Leader in Us podcast are those of the host and/or guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of all students and staff at UniSA. The podcast explores topics related to leadership and leadership qualities.