School of Social Sciences

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."

Alex Stephenson

Alex Stephenson

Bachelor of Arts (Honours), ‘21

"I started my Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Chinese Studies because I had quite enjoyed learning Chinese in high school. I had planned to study Finance as a second major; however, after my first year, I realised this wasn't for me. In my second year, I chose Linguistics by chance, and at the end of that year, decided that it was for me. I really enjoyed Linguistics and decided to undertake an Honours year, which proved to be a challenge. Still, I'm very glad I did it, as I wouldn't be where I am today without it.

In January 2020, I undertook a workplace practicum unit as my final level 3 Linguistics unit to complete my BA and Linguistic major. I was placed at an Aboriginal language centre in the Pilbara, where I had the opportunity to work alongside Elders recording language, learning about practical linguistics work, and altogether having a good time. This experience was instrumental to my student experience and led me to continue seeking work in language centre environments, five of which I've now worked with across WA.

I remember experiencing a lot of career doubt in the second year of my BA. I was uncertain about where I might end up or what my degree might lead to, if anything. I never would have guessed I'd end up loving research and pursuing a PhD, nor that I'd be working with Indigenous community organisations, as I am today. My advice to future UWA students would be to choose the field(s) that speak to you. You never know what you will end up enjoying or where you might find yourself in the future." 

Patrick Morrison

Assistant Curator, Maritime Heritage at the Western Australian Museum 

Bachelor of Science '18, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) ’19 (Archaeology) 

"I started studying straight after high school in 2016. My undergraduate majors were in Neuroscience and Archaeology, and in 2019 I completed an Honours in Archaeology.

 I thoroughly enjoyed my time at UWA, and have especially fond memories of travelling for both archaeological field trips and debating competitions. I started in neuroscience after falling in love with it during the Brain Bee competition at high school, organised by Jenny Rodger at UWA. 

My second major became archaeology after a very interesting first year class with Sven Ouzman, where I ended up sourcing and firing my own clay tablet for an assignment. I found the mix of the arts and sciences compelling, and realised that there is a vibrant archaeological community in Australia, in research and industry.

During my undergraduate we had many guest lectures from working archaeologists - many of whom are now my colleagues at the WA Museum. I was lucky enough to get a museum job right after graduation, where I am working as I complete my PhD.

My advice to students would be to embrace their broadening units -  I owe my career to the first year archaeology class that showed me how interesting modern Australian archaeology is! For archaeology students - being active in projects as soon as possible and developing your skills will set you ahead - tech skills like 3D photogrammetry and GIS mapping made me useful on many interesting projects."

Andrew Wong

Associate Television Producer,  Singapore 

Bachelor of Arts '18 (Communication and Media Studies) 

UWA Bachelor of Arts alumni, Andrew Wong, graduated in December 2018 with a major in Communication and Media Studies. A Singaporean national, Andrew returned home post-graduation and shortly after, joined a local media production company as an Associate Producer of documentaries broadcasted on networks such as Channel NewsAsia and National Geographic. Andrew is passionate about sports, movies and photography and is an avid traveller whose adrenaline runs on looking for new sights and hidden trails to capture that one “epic” photo. 

“The visual language of film and photography is my passion amongst many others. The idea of creating content that engages with the audience, with stories from the various reaches of the world, is an exciting one. This was one of the reasons why I really enjoyed my time at UWA in the Communication and Media Studies major, as it gave me new experiences and road trips around the best sunsets WA can offer.”

Aaron D'Cruz

Marketing and Product Manager

Bachelor of Arts, '16 (Communication and Media Studies, Marketing)

"A few months before graduating from UWA in 2016, I was scouted by a publicly listed tech company. They found me on Twitter - for which I can only attribute to luck. But it was my former manager’s reference that sold me – a reference only a mother can beat. Being a curious go-getter, I started co-organizing hackathons for the government. Doors instantly opened that helped me to start a consulting side-hustle, and was also where I met my co-founder, Chris. Two years ago we launched a construction software startup and we now have a team of seven.

Designing products the world has never seen before is beyond fulfilling. The process of exploration, ideation, designing and deploying is fun every step of the way, and allows me to experiment with different tools and ideas. It’s the most interesting part of my career so far, and I’d like to continue creating bigger and bolder tools for the rest of my life."

Jessie Gordon

Internationally acclaimed, multi-award winning musician

Bachelor of Arts ’04 (Linguistics and Anthropology and Sociology)

Bachelor of Arts Linguistics and Anthropology graduate, Jessie Gordon, is an internationally acclaimed, multi-award winning musician whose musical passions span across jazz, blues, gospel and roots music. She is a jazz blues vocalist, vintage jazz dancer, raconteur and self-proclaimed cheese enthusiast.

Jessie’s passion for music has taken her around the world, touring Southeast Asia, Germany, France, Spain, Italy and the UK. She has won 15 Music and Cabaret awards at FRINGE WORLD Festival and has received 22 nominations. Jessie has collaborated with local Perth bands including Sassafras, Apocalypse Lounge, The Dirty Blues Band, Perth Cabaret Collective, and the Anatomically Incorrect Gentlemen, and recently released two albums with her original music, A Work of Fiction and Best Friends. 

In 2004, Jessie graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Linguistics and Anthropology. Following graduation, she undertook an honours year in anthropology and began a PhD which she never completed, having succumbed to the lure of bright stage lights. 

“Anthropology changed the way I looked at the world. I can’t emphasise enough the impact it had on me. I still remember the profound revelation I experienced studying gender and sexuality, and also healing and medicine, through an anthropological lens.

“For me the intersection of language and music provides a constant tension in performance. There are so many interpretations of a melody that can support the lyric of a tune, or provide a counterpoint to it. I use the skills I learned in my arts degree every day to think analytically about musical and lyrical content and find new ways to interpret and communicate on stage.”