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CDU Alumni E-News
March 2023 Issue
Nominations are now open for the 2023 CDU Alumni Awards
Do you know someone that graduated from CDU and is doing amazing things in the world?
The CDU Alumni Awards are designed to showcase the best and brightest graduates who have become trailblazers and leaders, demonstrating excellence in their career, our outstanding contributions to the community.
You can play an important part in this year's Alumni Awards by nominating outstanding alumni, whether they are a friend, family member, colleague or a member of the public. Self-nominations are also welcome.
CDU's new India office to lead partnerships, programs and more
Charles Darwin University has officially opened a new office in India, a major step towards attracting students from South Asia to study at our campuses in the NT and Sydney.
CDU Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman and delegates from CDU travelled to India for the official opening on 1 March.
The opening is part of a series of events in coming days as a delegation of Australian higher education leaders travelled to India to promote collaboration between the two nations.
Professor Bowman said it was critical for CDU to have an in-country presence to help establish and strengthen partnerships with Indian universities, develop business connections, create joint programs and more.
“It’s about having a base here that can really work with our partner universities to really strengthen the relationship with Indian universities,” Professor Bowman told those present at the opening ceremony, many of whom had travelled from neighbouring countries, Nepal and Bangladesh.
New micro-credentials to bring Territorians into the future
Territorians will soon be able to upskill in the latest advancements in robotics and automation with a micro-credential collaboration between Charles Darwin University (CDU) and Australian company Diverseco launching this year.
Diverseco has opened its first Northern Territory office at Cavenagh Street in the heart of Darwin, marking a major step in the collaboration between the company and CDU to develop four new robotic and automation qualifications tailored to the Northern Territory.
Micro-credentials are short certification courses focusing on a certain area, allowing participants to learn new skills quickly.
CDU's Arts Academy to nurture NT's brightest musicians as new lecturer comes on board
Vincent Perry once busked on the streets of Queensland to pay his TAFE tuition but now is an accomplished percussionist with Darwin Symphony Orchestra and bringing his skills to the classroom as Charles Darwin University’s new Lecturer in Contemporary Music.
After studying music at TAFE Dr Perry went on to complete a PhD before finding his passion for teaching and has spent the past 10 years in the tertiary education sector teaching the history of music and nurturing young musicians.
“I am passionate about music. I feel like I am a young guy with an old soul who is obsessed with vintage gear and technostalgia,” Dr Perry said.
CDU strengthens academic ties in Bangladesh
Charles Darwin University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with North South University to strengthen collaboration on academic and research activities between Northern Australia and Bangladesh.
Signed at the Sustainable Leadership in Higher Education Symposium in Dhaka, the MoU aims to establish a framework for cooperation between the two institutions to promote educational opportunities, research outcomes, and exchange programs for students and staff.
The partnership will foster innovation and creativity, driving solutions to global challenges and contributing to the development of societies in Australia, Bangladesh, and beyond.
New program to upskill arts students with STEM knowledge
A new STEM program at Charles Darwin University is set to entice arts and humanities students into science, technology and innovation, with the start of a new Advances in Science and Technology subject.
CDU will host STEM-based micro-credentials taught with industry partners to upskill undergraduate students currently enrolled in non-STEM courses, improving individual employment outcomes to support a highly skilled workforce.
Project Officer and CDU Master of Information Technology graduate Yunzhu Wang said the program aims to bridge the gap between science and arts subjects and guide students to become STEM-skilled graduates.
University launches CDU TAFE to better support the Territory's training and skills
The Northern Territory is set to enjoy a renewed focus on vocational education and training with Charles Darwin University (CDU) launching CDU TAFE to focus on future growth and job opportunities.
The more focused and streamlined structure has taken over from CDU’s previous Vocational Education and Training (VET) model.
CDU TAFE will continue to offer its existing suite of training courses, with no impact on current students, and expand its course offering to reflect the changing face of the Northern Territory’s skilled workforce needs.
CDU Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman said the changing nature and role of vocational education and training to support industry and the need to position our University for the future led to the creation of CDU TAFE.
CDU marks International Women's Day with new initiative for women in trades
Charles Darwin University chose International Women's Day to announce the launch of a new Women in Trades mentoring program.
The new program connects young women commencing their apprenticeships with women working in the NT trades sector.
CDU Careers Centre has partnered with the NT chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction to facilitate the new initiative this year, and support female apprentices in non-traditional TAFE disciplines such as construction and transport.
CDU Employability Programs Officer Caroline Thompson said the new mentoring program offers an opportunity for female apprentices from various construction and transport disciplines to meet each other and to hear from experienced female tradespeople who have already walked the path of the apprentices.
Rangers gain vital skills to care for country
Ranger trainees from across the Top End are working to become certified through the 'Ranger Ready' program, combining traditional knowledge with conservation training.
Developed in coordination with local ranger groups and the Northern Land Council, the program is expected to host around 150 participants, most of whom are First Nations people from remote communities, who will complete the course this week.
CDU TAFE Lecturer Jacqui Paine is the lead coordinator for the two-week intensive in Kakadu National Park.
Ms Paine said the program offers an opportunity for the trainees to learn from qualified rangers, sharing their traditional knowledge as well as gaining new insights into vital land and conservation management techniques.
MOU to focus on using Indigenous knowledge to empower remote NT communities
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Charles Darwin University and the Remote Indigenous Parents Australia National Indigenous Corporation (RIPA) will aim to create more connected and inclusive schools and communities in the Northern Territory.
The MOU co-signed by CDU’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor First Nations Leadership and Engagement Reuben Bolt and John Morgan of RIPA, will foster a partnership between the two organisations through a research project that aims to develop training tools and frameworks for remote communities.
The collaboration, titled The RIPA experience parents and families engagement project, involves members undertaking research and training based on CDU Northern Institute’s Ground Up Research and Monitoring and Evaluation methodology.
Cassowaries still crucial to seed dispersal, study shows
Cassowaries continue to be one of nature’s most critical gardeners, with a new study into seed dispersal through their scats reaffirming their role in the ecological function of pockets of remnant rainforests.
The study led by Charles Darwin University (CDU) explored whether the southern cassowary remains important to native seed dispersal in areas where tropical rainforests are highly fragmented and exotic fruits are abundant.
Researchers focused on four study sites within the Wet Tropics region of Queensland, with various levels or development and rainforest clearing. The foraging of the birds was monitored using a novel ingestible tracking device.
CDU to help women and children in Nepal rescued from human trafficking, exploitation
A new agreement between Charles Darwin University and women's rights organisation Maiti Nepal was signed in Nepal on International Women's Day, to support educational opportunities for women and children rescued from trafficking and exploitation.
In a Memorandum of Understanding, CDU will fund scholarships for women to attend vocational and higher education courses in Nepal, and two outstanding students will also receive full scholarships to study at CDU.
In addition, Maiti Nepal will offer study abroad opportunities for CDU students to assist with social innovation initiatives in education, health and business; and a platform to conduct research and other practical assignments on subjects related to the organisation's work and expertise.
CDU Vice-Chancellor Scott Bowman said the agreement would provide educational opportunities for students in Nepal and Australia.
"We acknowledge the significance of forging this agreement on International Women's Day. We are confident that the CDU scholarships will provide hope and a brighter future through education," Professor Bowman said.
"At CDU we are privileged to have many students from Nepal studying with us, and it is critical as a university that we give back. A core part of education is ensuring that we provide opportunities to those who could not otherwise afford it."
"I am confident that in a few years, we will see some outstanding women graduating from universities and going on to make an incredible difference in their fields."
Territory FM calls for expressions of interest for new members of Community Advisory Board
CDU’s radio station, Territory FM, is seeking expressions of interest for new members of its Community Advisory Board.
The Territory FM Community Advisory Board meet four times per year to provide advice on a range of topics including community needs, opinions and aspirations as they relate to the radio station charter and programming policies.
If you feel that you could add value to the Community Advisory Board of Territory FM, please submit an expression of interest letter outlining your professional and community experience addressed to the Chief of Marketing Media and Communications, to frontdesk@territoryfm.com
The Board of Management will accept submissions from members of the Darwin and surrounding community, and when detemining appointments will consider applicants’ diversity of background, community connections and specialised skills and knowledge that they can bring to the position.
You can visit the TFM website or contact Station Manager Matthew Bernasconi for more information.
CDU Art Gallery presents:
Where Lakes Once Had Water
20 March 2023 - 15 July 2023
Where Lakes Once Had Water is a 2-channel 4K UHD video (28:24 minutes), filmed on the lands and waters of the Mudburra, Marlinja, Jingili, Elliot, Jawoyn and Larrakia communities in Northern Territory, Australia, with additional filming and editing on Barkandji, Dharawal, Djabugay, Yidinji and Wurundjeri Country. University of Wollongong Art Collection. CABAH Art Series Commission in association with Bundanon.
Where Lakes Once Had Water contemplates how the earth is experienced and understood through different ontologies – ways of being, seeing, sensing, listening and thinking – that reverberate across art, Indigenous thought, science,
ancient and modern cultures, the non-human, and in between.
- Sonia Leber and David Chesworth
In 2018 and 2019, Australian artists Sonia Leber and David Chesworth travelled with a team of Earth and environmental scientists who are investigating changes in the climate, landscape and ecology over 130,000 years. There journey took them to Australia's Northern Territory, from locations of long-term aridity across the ephemeral Lake Woods, to Nitmiluk/Katherine Gorge and tropical Girraween Lagoon.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Angelo Trias
Class of 2017 - Master of Emergency and Disaster Management
Winner - 2022 International Alumni Award
Angelo is an Australia Awards Scholarship winner who completed a Master's Degree in Emergency and Disaster Management at CDU in 2017 with a High Distinction average. His final thesis on disaster risk reduction in the Asia Pacific was later published in International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction in 2019.
After graduation he was recruited by the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) as program Director of the Graduate School of Development Management, in the Philippines. He oversaw the administration of the school, its outreach activities, and industry partnerships. Angelo now works at INTERPOL as a project manager for cyber-crime directorate.
Angelo also develops professional development programs for multilateral institutions and higher education. He highlights the dangers governments and people face, how it affects them, and what they can do.
Angelo has published more than 20 disaster and crisis management related articles including three peer-reviewed journal articles in top journals.
Share your story
Have you got a great story to tell? We know that CDU Alumni go on to achieve incredible things. We'd love to hear about your achievements.
Provide a work placement
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Be a mentor
Develop the next generation of talents by sharing your skills and knowledge through mentoring students.
Be a speaker
Becoming a speaker is an opportunity for you to impart your knowledge and share your life experiences with the next generation of aspiring CDU students.
Are you a CDU graduate living outside of Australia?
CDU alumni are a vibrant community of more than 80,000 former students and are spread across more than 140 countries around the world.
Remaining connected and engaged with our alumni is important to us. No matter where you go, CDU will always be there for you.
We are hoping to better connect with our overseas-based alumni by developing international alumni chapters in countries that our graduates reside in.
If you graduated from Charles Darwin University and are currently living outside of Australia, we would love to hear from you!
Update your details by clicking below, or reach out to us by email to alumni@cdu.edu.au
LinkedIn Learning Access
You can obtain advice on all matters relating to building your career or even making a change to your current. Here you can access over 15,000 courses, delivered in 7 languages. You can learn a wide range of new skills, anywhere and at any time. You can learn a new language, learn how to build a website or app, become an expert user of Microsoft Office, or even learn how to play a musical instrument!
Alumni Access to CDU Portal
You can now access the CDU portal after you've graduated, so you'll have continued access to online and on-campus library resources, careers centre and your CDU email address.
CDU Careers Centre
Are you looking for a job, promotion, or career change? Did you know that you still have access to CDU careers resources? Absolutely FREE! CDU’s all new online Careers Centre is jam packed with resources to help you navigate the next step of your career. All you need to do is activate your Alumni Account, access the CDU portal then click on the Career Centre tile.
The CDU Careers team also post jobs and opportunities on their CDU Careers Facebook page so make sure you check it out!
Library Access
Though you may have finished your formal study at CDU, with an alumni account, you will have access to a select range of CDU Library’s online resources, which includes access to a growing number of high-quality databases, e-journals and e-books, you are always welcome to borrow physicals materials from any our campus libraries.
Are you passionate about education, research and innovation, or did you benefit from the generosity of others during your studies? Consider a gift to reward outstanding scholars, support a student scholarship or research project, or to develop the resources of the university.
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Charles Darwin University acknowledges all First Nations people across the lands on which we live and work, and we pay our respects to Elders both past and present.
