School of Humanities

Caitlyn Stone

Master of Arts in Applied Human Rights - University of Applied Arts Vienna, Austria

Bachelor of Arts (English and Cultural Studies, German Studies) '21, Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours in English Literary Studies '22

My four years at UWA were world-opening. I was in the midst of figuring out the person I was, and am becoming, while being surrounded by energetic, kind, and clever peers and friends, many of whom I hope will be in my life for a very long time. My time there taught me to ask the big questions, to shake up knowledges which I took for granted, to be unafraid of uncertainties, seeing ambiguities as places of potential. It taught me to never underestimate the place and importance of the Humanities. The lecturers and professors who accompanied me through my degree, in both English Literary Studies and German Studies, and especially through my honours year, are academics who love what they do, and this love is contagious.

Coming into university, I had no idea about what I wanted to study, other than it being something humanities-related. The flexibility of the first year in undergrad was a life-saver; I tried my hand at a number of different subjects, all of which I found interesting, but was able to settle on German studies and English and Cultural Studies by my second year with confidence. The small size of the cohort meant that the professors knew us all by name and were invested in each of our learning journeys, and, crucial to good language learning, we felt comfortable enough to make mistakes as a part of our growth.

I had so much fun doing my English and Cultural studies major. I looked forward every week to going to tutorials and lectures; stepping into a classroom surrounded by people who are as passionate as you are about the subject, and learning from people who dedicate their lives to understanding it, is a privilege quite unlike any other. Honours year was a culmination of the passion and curiosity of the years preceding it. The culture of learning and encouragement which was fostered in our year group and guided by our teachers has given me a glimpse into what a 'university spirit' can and should be.

Caitlyn has published her first academic article titled 'Translation as an Act of Love' which can be read here.

JK (Jerald Justin Ko)

Senior Producer Presenter and Assistant Programme Director, Power 98

Bachelor of Arts (Communication and Media Studies) '08 - majored in English

Studying at UWA was like a global whirlwind tour without ever leaving campus! I met people from every corner of the world, which truly opened my eyes to the vastness of the world. The way tutorials were structured practically pushed me to speak up, share my thoughts, and build inner confidence. UWA didn’t just give me knowledge, it gave me a louder voice too!

Nearly two decades later, I still remember a module on cinematic narratives, where we even watched Memento as part of the curriculum.  From storytelling to writing, to digital media, it was all there, a full buffet of creativity. And honestly, so much of what I learned then is still a big part of my life today as a radio presenter and content creator.

I had this amazing exchange program with Temasek Polytechnic in Singapore. We dived into TV production, got hands-on in radio studios, and learned so much about the behind-the-scenes magic of media.

Julia Waite

Carbon Neutral 2030 Manager, Meat & Livestock Australia

Bachelor of Arts ’12, GradCertEnvSc '13, BSc '16

A double-degree in Arts and Science has supported my career as a conduit between researchers, investors and customers in agriculture. Being able to effectively communicate "the why" of an idea - for better or worse - is often half the challenge to getting a startup funded or project launched. Not everyone in the room will start deeply invested in your topic and the people in each room will rarely be motivated by the same things.  

Writing and persuasive argument skills supported by a Bachelor of Arts were key to opening professional doors in inter-disciplinary fields like AgTech and climate science.

My work has taken me to remote farming communities, to venture capital hubs, through to international stages like COP to promote Australian agriculture’s action on emissions reduction.  

To my acquired comfort with public speaking, credit is owed to the University Dramatic Society who I spent countless hours with through undergrad in The Bradley and Dolphin Theatre. 

While a Bachelor of Arts has played into my broad career strategy, I chose Arts first and foremost because English and History were my natural academic passions - and still are today. 

The flexibility of UWA to sample from disciplines outside my major (enter: Archaeology) was also intellectually appealing. This was super charged on a study abroad trip to Vermont where I got to experience the US's intimate, discussion-based class styles - debating new topics of history and American literature different to those on offer back home.

Kasia McNaught

Creative Director, McNaught Media

Bachelor of Arts, '07

Kasia McNaught is a marketing and communications consultant and in 2016 founded McNaught Media, a digital marketing and branding agency based in Perth.

“I majored in Italian and most of the units completed in my arts degree were linked to communications - nowadays much of the work I do is about discovering a brand's voice and storytelling in an effective and captivating way. 

Studying Italian at UWA allowed me to go on a year of exchange to Bologna University, which was certainly one of the most valuable and enriching life experiences I could ever have hoped for. I am so grateful I was able to spend a year abroad as the learning I received through travel and experiences along the way was certainly priceless.”

Sarah Elliott

Senior Protection Officer, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency

Bachelor of Arts (Communication and Media Studies) and Bachelor of Laws '09

I wanted to study journalism and become a war correspondent, but my folks told me that studying law would be a better option (which has ultimately proven to be an invaluable degree in my career). History was my favourite subject in high school, so that was a natural fit for me, and I was also able to combine it with Communication and Media Studies (a win-win for everyone!).

UWA is where I grew into and gained confidence in myself. I was a slightly awkward, extremely conscientious high school student who often felt consumed by the emotional rollercoaster of adolescence - overly concerned about others liking me. I was inspired daily by the vast green lawns and towering trees, the stately buildings, peacocks and grand corridors I walked through. It was also a place that took me on exchange to Canada for six months, where I lived away from home for the first time and met students from all over the world.

I chose UWA because I wanted to study in a place that inspired me to learn, and the grounds, architecture, and calibre of UWA lecturers made this a clear choice. To this day, when I return home from deployments overseas, I drive over to Crawley campus and stroll the grounds, which remain as atmospheric as they always were (peacocks and all!).