Curtin Commerce graduate Leighton Bradfield knows this feeling all too well.

During his first year of university, he was confronted with a tragedy that no human should ever have to encounter in their lifetime.

Leighton and his close friend, Lockie O’Donoghue faced the devastating loss of two close friends to suicide within just two months.

Struggling with their own mental health battles, Leighton and Lockie decided to channel their grief, experiences and shared commitment into a transformative mission, founding .

20Talk is an evidence-based charity that gives young adults the tools to tackle life’s challenges and a safe space to find true connection through the power of real, honest conversation.

Today, we live in a world where our phones have often become an easy escape from the realities and conversations we often need to confront.

Launching in 2024, is a mental health challenge that seeks to change this.

For 20 hours, participants sit silently with what many of us spend our lifetimes avoiding: ourselves.

“The purpose of this event is to help people self-reflect, we are often so distracted by technology that we don’t really look inwards anymore,” Leighton said.

Leighton said deciding to tackle such a big and important issue in society wasn’t just an idea – it was necessary.

Today, Australians are more likely to die by suicide than from skin cancer.

With suicide being the leading cause of death among Australians aged 25-44 ().

Disturbingly, only two per cent of mental health funding is directed towards prevention charities, while 98 per cent is allocated toward interventions and crisis management.

Drawing from their own experiences navigating the challenges of early adulthood, 20Talk arose out of recognition that the current mental health system is clunky, unrelatable and overly abundant.

Consequently, leaving many young people unsure of who to trust.

“As a result, you’ve got many young people and those on the fringes of society who don’t want to engage with a clinical service.”

Going beyond conventional mental health support, 20Talk strives to empower young adults to take charge of their mental health journey.

Through their evidence-based programs, they foster a culture of personal and community wellbeing, creating a supportive and understanding environment where every conversation matters.

“If we don’t have these honest conversations, then people feel more isolated.”

Since its beginning, 20Talk has raised more than $3 million for youth mental health.

Serving as a powerful reminder to young Australians that taking your mental health seriously doesn’t mean doing it alone.

“We all desire and need connection,” Leighton said.

“We all go through tough times, and once you understand that you can really speak to anyone and connect in some way.”

If you see a friend going through a tough time, Leighton said don’t be afraid to start a conversation.

“If anything, sit with them in the darkness, ask them how they are going, and just be there,” he said.

“Finally, listen to them and encourage them to seek professional help.”

In the future, Leighton and Lockie are looking to expand 20Talk over east.

“At the moment, our goal is to have all our mental health maintenance training free in all universities across Australia.

“We will also be setting up our Sydney office next year as we are looking to expand our 20Hours program to more than 20,000 people per year.”

Learn more about 20Talk’s programs .

We understand some readers may find this content distressing. Support is available through Lifeline (13 11 14) or the Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467).

Like many, Karen’s path to success wasn’t linear.

At just 29, she became a single mother following the breakdown of her marriage.

“I was on a single-parent pension, and I wasn’t happy in that space,” Karen said.

“I desperately wanted to give back to the community that was supporting me.”

While working at a party shop to make ends meet, Karen began studying to become a paramedic with St John WA.

Qualifying as a paramedic marked more than the beginning of a career it transformed her family’s future.

“The first thing I bought with my first pay cheque was private health insurance for my girls,” Karen said.

“I wanted to show them that anything is possible.”

For more than a decade, Karen witnessed both the best and worst of humanity on the front line.

Then, in 2014, her own life changed in an instant.

While on shift, she was violently assaulted in the back of an ambulance by a patient affected by drugs and alcohol.

“He was sitting on me with his legs locked against the metal frame of the stretcher, and I could feel this intense pressure on the left side of my back.

“In that moment, I genuinely thought my ribs were going to break.”

Although Karen escaped the immediate danger, the impact of the assault remained long after the physical injuries healed.

Her recovery spanned years and included three surgeries with extensive rehabilitation to her right wrist and, eventually, a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“But when I returned to work, some concerned colleagues noticed something had changed and I was guided to seek help.”

With support from her doctor and a life coach, Karen began to heal. It was during this time that she discovered the profound impact therapy dogs could have on mental health.

“When I was consumed by all these horrible thoughts, one of the few moments of happiness I felt was visiting my GP clinic to spend time with Olav, the therapy dog,” she said.

That simple but powerful observation inspired a much bigger idea.

Almost a decade after the assault, Karen founded , a charity providing frontline mental health support through trained therapy dogs and experienced first responders.

Six-year-old golden retriever Angus became the program’s first therapy dog.

Since then, Karen has recruited four additional therapy dogs and their handlers, each with at least 15 years’ experience as a first responder.

“Our goal is to bridge the gap between First Responders doing their job and seeking support.”

With rates of PTSD among emergency service workers continuing to rise, Karen believes peer-led support is more important than ever.

“The first responder world is unique because we put enormous pressure on ourselves to be OK,” she said.

Throughout the challenges of raising two daughters while building a career, karate has become Karen’s constant.

Now a sensei, she credits the discipline with helping build the resilience that has carried her through life’s toughest moments.

“I truly believe my resilience as a paramedic is connected to my karate practice,” she said.

“My advice is to build a fulfilling life outside of work. If all your identity is tied to one thing and you lose it, you risk losing yourself too”.

“And above all, approach life with kindness. You can collect trophies, medals, accolades and titles but they should never define who you are.”

One was grounded and familiar; the other shimmered with possibility.

Long before stepping onto a Hollywood red carpet event or working behind the scenes at the Oscars, Curtin marketing graduate Jordana Ripp remembers discovering a love for movies.

Sitting cross-legged on the living room floor at the family’s California home, Jordana was blown away by a VHS copy of The Little Mermaid.

“We had just moved into our new house in California, and Dad brought home the tape, which had just come out, and I watched it so many times,” she said.

For many children, that kind of magic fades with age. But for Jordana, it stayed.

Back home in Perth – one of the world’s most isolated cities in the world – and a long way from Hollywood Boulevard, Jordana held onto the dream of one day working in the entertainment industry.

Determined to turn that dream into reality, Jordana enrolled at ������Ƶ, where she studied communications and marketing, blending her love of storytelling with her fascination for film, fashion and pop culture.

But like many graduates, the path ahead wasn’t instantly clear.

Following graduation, she worked briefly at her father’s construction company.

“The building industry wasn’t on my vision board, but there wasn’t really any outlet for the opportunities I was interested in,” she said.

What started as a side hustle soon became one of Perth’s premier local fashion blogs, covering fashion in film, reviews and photoshoots.

Jordana would go on to cover Perth events, new store openings, and rub shoulders with up-and-coming designers in WA.

Before long, those small local assignments grew into opportunities to cover Australian Fashion Week, collaborate with global beauty brands and attend New York Fashion Week.

Fifteen years later, that once-humble side hustle evolved into -Jordana’s thriving digital marketing consultancy where she works with some of the world’s biggest entertainment brands.

Today, Jordanna has helped creators with a combined following of more than 26 million people and worked with powerhouse names including , , , and .

But getting there required a leap of faith.

Leaving Perth to move to Los Angeles was both exciting and terrifying.

Five months later, she landed a role at Sony Pictures.

For the girl who once dreamed of Hollywood from her living room in Perth, it felt surreal.

“Standing on the red carpet on Hollywood Boulevard was such a dream come true.”

Over the next decade, Jordana built a career inside one of the world’s most competitive industries, working her way from Coordinator of People and Organisation to Digital Marketing Executive at Sony Pictures.

But beyond the glamour, Hollywood taught her resilience.

“I just tried to push boundaries as much as I could.”

That persistence eventually led her to one of the biggest moments of her career -working on the 2024 Oscars.

For someone who grew up watching award shows from the other side of the world, the experience was almost impossible to comprehend.

Yet behind the glitz, gowns and flashing cameras, Jordana discovered something surprisingly grounding.

“When you’re behind the scenes, you realise that the people running these events are just incredibly hard-working humans,” she said.

Despite everything she has achieved, Jordana says the most important lesson she has learned is not to fear failure.

“The biggest lesson I’ve learnt is to see failure as a necessary part of becoming successful,” she said.

“It’s not the end of the world if a door shuts. If you have the drive, you’ll always find another way through.”

, Head of Digital Marketing and Talent at

Graduating from Curtin with a master’s in marketing (2011), Jordana is a passionate digital marketing and entertainment professional with more than 13 years of experience. Growing up in Perth for most of her life, Jordana decided to take a leap of faith and move to LA to pursue a career in entertainment marketing. Since moving, she has managed to work with global brands including Sony Pictures Television, Netflix, NASA, the 2024 Oscars, L’Oreal and Universal Pictures, plus many more.

With close to a decade of experience in the industry, Brodee’s dedication to uncover the enigma of life below the waves led to an extraordinary opportunity.

World leading historian, Sir David Attenborough’s film crew reaching out to Brodee’s team, led by Grace Russell, to film his most recent documentary, .

Brodee’s specialised diving skills and wealth of experience working with blue whales led to her becoming a safety diver for part of the film.

Swimming eye to eye with the beautiful animal she’s dedicated her research career to protecting for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, completely blew her mind.

“I was so overwhelmed I ended up waving at the whale – you can see my hand in the film.

“It was definitely a pinch me moment, I’ve never felt so small yet so connected to the natural world, it was just insane.”

This moment served as a powerful reminder of how deeply connected we are, as humans, to the ocean, and the importance of protecting these fragile yet vital ecosystems.

As our oceans continue to bear the brunt of climate change, paving the way forward for the next generation of aspiring marine scientists has become even more important.

Brodee still remembers the day she fell in love with marine science.

She was eleven years old when a visit to a pearl farm in Broome on the Kimberley coast in Western Australia opened a whole new world of possibility.

“I didn’t know what marine science was until I went to a pearl farm in Broome,” she said.

That evening her dad explained that studying the ocean and its creatures is a profession. From there, Brodee knew she wanted to be a marine scientist.

But when she approached the end of her undergraduate degree, she yearned for more.

It wasn’t long before she began her Honours in Marine Science at Curtin.

As part of her Honours program, Brodee completed fieldwork onboard a whale watching vessel in WA’s Southwest region, collecting photo-identification imagery of whales to assess their population.

Not long after her degree she began working on the same whale watching vessel as their onboard marine biologist. This is when she witnessed her first pygmy blue whale, and the rest is history.

“I still remember the blue whale coming up from the depths of the crystal-clear water, almost glowing – we call it Gatorade blue,” she said.

This moment set her on a path toward a post doctorate in the socioeconomic value and acoustic ecology of pygmy blue whales, helping to inform conservation efforts for the endangered species.

But these incredible career opportunities have not come without hard work and perseverance.

Having spent the last decade working in marine science, Brodee has experienced first-hand how challenging it is for early career scientists to break into the industry.

On a mission to change this, Brodee and her friend, Emily created the to give aspiring marine scientists the network they wish they had when they started their careers.

Through the power of community, Brodee and Emily have created a space that empowers the next generation of marine professionals through mentorship, hands-on experience and purpose-driven pathways that connect science, industry and community.

When it comes to pursuing a career in marine science, Brodee’s advice is to say yes before you’re ready.

“Show up, ask questions and don’t underestimate the value of genuine relationships and showing up as the best version of yourself,” she said.

“Marine science is a big world – it’s only until you start working in the industry that you realise how small it actually is, but at the same time it can be really generous to you, as long as your generous to it.”

, Senior Marine Scientist & Co-Founder and Director at and

Graduating from Curtin with a Master of Science (Honours), Brodee is passionate about protecting our marine environment for future generations. With ten years’ experience in the marine industry, Brodee has worked on various marine projects across industry, government, academia and conservation sectors. Currently, she is a PhD Researcher at Curtin’s Centre for Marine Science and Technology (CMST) where she is exploring the socioeconomic value and acoustic ecology of pygmy blue whales in Australian waters.

There were moments when it felt overwhelming, moments when she questioned whether she belonged, and whether she should keep going at all.

“When I moved up to Perth, it was really hard living on campus for the first few years,” she said.

But as the first in her family to attend university, she carried something deeper than doubt; there was a quiet determination to see it through.

A proud Torres Strait Islander woman, Brodie grew up in Western Australia’s Great Southern, between Pemberton and Manjimup.

With a strong connection to the natural world, it was the ocean that truly captured her heart.

Shaped by simple, treasured moments walking along the shoreline with her mum, collecting seashells and discovering the beauty hidden beneath the surface.

Those early memories became the foundation of something much bigger.

Now a Curtin graduate in Coastal and Marine Science, Brodie is driven by a clear sense of purpose – to give back to her homeland in the Torres Strait.

“I would love to eventually work in the Torres Strait.

Along the way, Brodie has embraced opportunities that once felt out of reach.

Being awarded the prestigious saw her travel to Fiji, where she undertook an internship supporting local marine communities.

“At first, I couldn’t even believe I had received it,” she said.

“But it taught me that when you feel scared or uncomfortable, that’s often when you need to say yes.”

Spending seven months abroad became a turning point.

“It made me feel like I could do anything,” she said.

Brodie’s dedication and impact earned her the at the Premier’s Science Awards.

Now, she is setting her sights on the next chapter – pursuing a master’s in marine science, with the goal of joining the CSIRO Indigenous Graduate Program and returning to northern Australia.

It is a journey that has come full circle from uncertainty to purpose, from homesickness to confidence.

And if there’s one thing Brodie would tell her younger self, it’s simple:

Say yes.

“If an opportunity comes your way and you’re unsure just do it,” she said.

“Have faith in yourself. You’ll get to where you’re meant to be.”

, Marine Research Intern at

Graduating with a Bachelor of Science (Marine Science), Brodie is a proud Torres Strait Islander woman with family connections to Saibai Island. Brodie was named WA’s Aboriginal STEM Student of the Year at the 2024 Premier’s Science Awards. In addition to her academic achievements, Brodie has received multiple prestigious scholarships and has participated in various industry and international marine programs, including the New Colombo Plan Scholarship and CSIRO Indigenous Time at Sea Scholarship (ITSS). With a passion for marine science, Brodie aims to combine culture, science and research to strengthen Indigenous voices and representation in marine research.

Growing up in Nairobi, Kenya, early morning safaris with his dad were a highlight of his week.

With the morning air still and golden light melting across the savanna, herds of elephants and towers of giraffes moved through the grasslands.

Watching these animals in their natural habitats, moving at their own pace, left Harman in a state of wonder. He came to understand that this place and its flora and fauna, were something to be respected.

“It’s just you and these wild animals.”

It was in these quiet moments that something began to take hold. Not just a love for wildlife, but a deeper sense of connection.

A young Harman capturing a leopard while on safari with his family in Kenya.

But when his dad passed away in 2013, that world shifted. The places were familiar, yet the feeling of being there was different.

In the midst of that grief, Harman still returned to what he knew – the wilderness.

However, this time he saw it through a different lens.

Picking up a camera, Harman found a way to preserve precious memories, and in doing so, discovered a powerful outlet for healing and connection.

“My dad loved leopards,” Harman says.

Harman said each image became a quiet act of remembrance. A way of keeping both memory and meaning alive in a world where so much is fleeting.

For Harman, capturing leopards has been a way for him to connect with his Dad.

On one of their final safari trips together, a photographer – who would later become Harman’s mentor – captured some of the last images of Harman and his family with his father.

At the time, they were simply photos.

Years later, when those images found their way back, they became something far more significant – a tangible fragment of a moment they could never return to.

What began as a chance meeting, unfolded into a mentorship grounded in patience, curiosity and time in the field.

Every Sunday, the two would return to Nairobi National Park. Long days of waiting and quiet observation.

It wasn’t about chasing the perfect shot. It was about learning to see and notice the small shifts, the subtle movements, the moments most people would miss.

Capturing once-in-a-lifetime photos often requires patience and quite observation.

Over time, photography became more than a skill. It became a constant.

Years later, that patience would be tested elsewhere.

Deep in the dense, rain-soaked forests of South India, Harman and his mum set out in search of one of the rarest animals in the world, the elusive black leopard.

Drive after drive, there was nothing.

The rain fell steadily. The forest closed in. And slowly, doubt began to creep in.

But something told him to keep going.

And then, just as the light began to fade, there he was, perched quietly in a tree.

Harman captured one of the rarest animals in the world, the black leopard, in South India.

A moment so rare, so fleeting, it could have been missed entirely.

Life eventually led Harman far from the landscapes that shaped him.

Moving to Perth, he spent six years at Curtin completing a BA in International Relations and Affairs and a Masters in Professional Writing and Publishing.

At his February graduation, Harman shared an important message with his peers: “Don’t wait for clarity or certainty before you move forward; step beyond what feels comfortable. Trust that growth often begins where certainty ends,” he said.

In the future, Harman hopes to combine his love for writing with his passion for photography.

Harman also hopes to continue his safari business, .

Co-founded in 2023 with his friend, Nili Gudhka, Mzuri was designed to bring Africa’s wilderness closer to people around the world.

“I’ve seen guests cry at the sight of their first elephant or leopard,’’ he said.

Harman’s most favourite photo, a lioness in the sunset.

For Harman, photography has always been more than making ends meet. It’s been a way of life.

His biggest piece of advice for those wanting to follow their passion?

“Just do it. Many people will sit on a passion they want to pursue and will be too scared to jump on it,’’ he said.

“Honestly, there will never be a right time – you have to decide if this is something you really want to pursue and then do it.”

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That courage began in the 1980’s – when Marion took a brave leap of faith and left an abusive relationship in search of safety and a fresh start.

“I was in a very violent relationship in Sydney, and it seemed to me the only way I could truly be safe was to move somewhere he couldn’t find me,” she said.

At the time, domestic violence was rarely spoken about openly, and many women carried their shame in silence.

“Back then, most women didn’t go to the police. You didn’t tell anybody,” she reflected.

Starting again in a new city required extraordinary strength, but Marion slowly rebuilt her life, career and confidence – proving to herself that she was capable of far more than the limitations others had placed upon her.

Over the decades that followed, she would go on to play a significant role in shaping Perth’s economic and cultural landscape, while advocating for fair, inclusive and accessible opportunities for women.

But long before her leadership roles, Marion’s values were shaped by the strong women who surrounded her growing up.

Among them was her grandmother – a quiet but formidable influence whose determination left a lasting impression.

“At the time, her career was quite unusual,” Marion said.

Inspired by this example of independence, Marion began her career in banking before moving into the credit union sector, a path that eventually brought her to Perth to work in the emerging Information Technology (IT) industry.

“It was very male-dominated, and women like myself were mostly in support roles,” she said.

“But it was still an opportunity, and I learned a lot.”

Like many women, Marion also experienced the challenges of balancing work and family when she welcomed her first child.

“At the time, there was an assumption that if you became pregnant, you would simply stay home to care for your child whilst your husband went to work,” she said.

“I did for a while, but financial circumstances meant returning to work earlier than I hoped.”

That experience deepened her understanding of the structural barriers many women face – particularly when it comes to childcare and career progression.

During her time as Executive Director at the , Marion saw first-hand how these challenges limited women’s opportunities.

“That made it incredibly difficult for women to return to work full-time or move into leadership roles.”

While progress has been made over the years, Marion believes true equality still requires continued effort.

Today, Australia’s national gender pay gap remains significant, and many boards still lack a balance of female representation.

Marion has also observed the long-term consequences for women who spent decades working but still struggle with financial security later in life.

“I was part of the first generation of women who were told we could do anything – but the systems around us didn’t always support that promise.”

Despite these challenges, Marion remains hopeful.

At the heart of real change, she believes, is something simple yet powerful: respect.

“And when they flourish, society benefits as a whole.”

Today, Marion dedicates much of her time to mentoring and coaching emerging leaders – particularly young women navigating their own careers.

It is a role she finds deeply rewarding.

“There’s something incredibly special about women who support other women,” she said.

Watching others grow and discover their potential is one of the most fulfilling parts of her work.

When it comes to leadership, Marion believes courage is one of the most important qualities young women can develop.

“In leadership, you will make decisions that not everyone agrees with,” she said.

Looking back on her own journey, Marion says she would offer her younger self a simple piece of advice.

“Take every opportunity,” she said.

“And if the opportunity doesn’t exist – create it.”

, Non-Executive Director, Executive Coach & Mentor

Graduating from Curtin with a Master of Business Administration (2009), Marion is a trusted thought leader, strategic advisor and transformational chair, with more than 20 years’ experience working across a range of diverse sectors. Marion’s leadership has been recognised with the Order of Australia, the John Curtin Lifetime Achievement Award and Induction into the WA Women’s Hall of Fame. She is also a member of Chief Executive Women and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

For many people in their early 40s, writing a gift into their Will is something reserved for much later in life.

However, for Curtin MBA alumnus Roger Chao, that is something worth acting on now.

A distinguished governance expert, entrepreneur, board strategist and advocate for social justice, Roger has spent much of his life thinking deeply about responsibility – not just to his profession, but to society.

That thinking inspired him to make an extraordinary commitment: to leave a significant gift to ������Ƶ in his Will, investing in the students, researchers and ideas that will shape a better future long after he is gone.

It is a decision grounded not in recognition, but in gratitude, duty and a conviction that one generation should leave society stronger for the next.

Born in Australia to immigrant parents, Roger has always been deeply aware of the opportunities education made possible in his own life.

That belief has shaped the way Roger sees the world.

Across a career spanning more than two decades, he has worked across corporate, public and not-for-profit sectors in areas including health, education, sustainability and emerging technologies – fields he is drawn to because they help determine whether a society is merely productive or genuinely decent, and whether prosperity is built without quietly stealing from the future.

Yet beneath the titles and achievements sits a simple guiding question: who is better off because I did this work?

It is the same question that sits at the heart of his decision to support Curtin through a legacy gift – if education widened opportunity in his own life, what would an honourable response look like for those who come next?

For Roger, education is one of the most powerful forces for fairness in society. It can widen opportunity, soften disadvantage and unlock talent that might otherwise go unrealised.

“If you truly value something, you don’t leave your support for it to chance.”

Roger completed a Diploma of Business and MBA at ������Ƶ, drawn to the University’s broad subject offerings and flexible delivery, which allowed him to study while working full-time. But what stayed with him most was not only the academic content – it was the mindset Curtin fostered – that intellectual attainment carried civic obligations, and that competence without integrity is not merely hollow but dangerous.

He speaks warmly of the diversity of people he encountered through the program, from different industries and backgrounds, and of the realisation that education is never just about personal advancement.

“Learning isn’t separate from responsibility,” he said.

That long-view thinking has become central to how Roger leads.

In high-stakes environments, he believes leadership is not about ego or numbers, but about staying calm in complexity, seeking truth with discipline, and never losing sight of the people behind the data.

“Every number is a person,” he said.

“It’s a patient, a student, a staff member, a family, a community. Good leadership means asking who is affected, how they are affected, and what we owe them.”

That same people-first philosophy underpins his gift to Curtin.

Roger hopes his future bequest will do more than inspire. He wants it to make a practical difference – helping ease the burdens that can quietly derail a student’s potential and creating room for research that may one day transform lives.

“When those pressures ease, even slightly, students can show up more fully and meet their potential.”

He believes the same principle applies to research, where the public good often depends on whether people are given room to ask difficult, unfashionable and ethically necessary questions.

Good research, he says, requires time, courage and the freedom to ask difficult questions – including the ones that do not fit neatly into current funding priorities.

“Some of the most valuable work starts with a question that doesn’t fit into any category and isn’t of immediate interest at the time,” he said.

At a life stage when many are focused on building careers and raising families, Roger is also thinking generations ahead.

Not because he believes legacy belongs only to the wealthy or the elderly, but because he believes values should be acted on while there is time and clarity to do so.

For years, he admits, legacy was something he assumed he would think about later. But witnessing how quickly life can change shifted his perspective.

Roger does not describe his gift as generosity. Instead, he sees it as duty – a way of strengthening the same institutions that helped him succeed, so others can have the same chance to thrive.

“I don’t think about it as generosity for generosity’s sake,” he said.

“I think about the difference it can make. Individuals benefit through education, but society benefits too, because those individuals go on to shape healthcare, technology, communities and the future.”

For Roger, legacy isn’t what you leave behind – but who is better off because you were here.

For more information or to discuss the possibility of leaving a gift to ������Ƶ, please contact Alana Hammond on alana.hammond@curtin.edu.au���ǰ���+61 8 9266 3839.

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Long before thousands of West Australians relaxed on bean bags and picnic rugs under the stars at (now known as Community Cinemas) Founder Ken Gibbons was a young boy playing imaginary drive-ins in his backyard.

To the Curtin Applied Science graduate, movies were never just about entertainment – it was an experience that brought people together.

“When I was a kid I would go to the outdoor drive-ins with my family,” Ken said.

“We’d always be nicely dressed, and it would be a real sense of occasion.”

Ken said a cherished memory from his childhood was him sitting in a dark movie theatre with a group of strangers – all laughing and gasping at the same time and all sharing the same excitement.

Those early memories left a lasting impression and quietly planted the seeds for something much bigger.

Today, Ken is the proud founder of four Community Cinema locations around Perth – Bassendean, Burswood, Joondalup and Murdoch.

What began as a simple idea has grown into a much-loved family experience every summer.

Movies at Burswood ((now known as Community Cinemas) is a much-loved family experience in Perth.

Over the past 25 years the volunteer-powered initiative has raised a staggering $14 million dollars for children’s charities across WA.

This year, in recognition of this extraordinary contribution to the community, Ken was awarded a in the 2026 Australia Day Honours.

“I was truly humbled by the award. But I don’t do this for recognition,’’ he said.

“People rarely walk out unchanged. They’re usually laughing or smiling.”

Ken said his passion for cinema from his childhood, followed him into his student years at Curtin’s predecessor, the Western Australian Institute of Technology (WAIT).

Deeply involved in student life, Ken served two years as Student Guild President and alongside student leadership, he found another way to bring people together – through movies.

Ken’s idea for an outdoor cinema in Perth was planted during his time at Curtin.

Using the Curtin Hollis Theatre lecture hall, he began screening classic films for students to watch during their lunch break.

“You could say the idea for an outdoor cinema in Perth, was planted during my time at Curtin,’’ he said.

Ken said titles like Casablanca drew uni crowds looking for a break from lectures and assignments.

One particularly memorable night saw Ken squeeze 595 people into a 250-seat lecture theatre for a screening of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Looking back, Ken realised those early film nights were more than just student entertainment.

“The formula really evolved at Curtin,” he said.

Years later, that idea would return in a very different setting.

In the late 1990s, Ken began to notice something missing in Perth’s entertainment scene. Outdoor cinemas existed, but few were designed with families in mind.

Community Cinemas was designed with families in mind.

“There wasn’t really a place where families could come along with blankets, pillows and a picnic,” he said.

“Somewhere the kids could fall asleep while the adults enjoyed the movie.”

At the time, Ken was heavily involved in fundraising for the Kids’ Cancer Support Group at Princess Margaret Hospital and was always looking for new ways to support children and families facing difficult circumstances.

During a dinner with friends, the conversation turned to the idea of creating a family-friendly outdoor cinema.

Encouraged by his friends to make it happen, Ken decided to take the leap.

The next step was convincing the Burswood Park Board.

Ken approached them with a bold proposal: allow him to run an outdoor cinema on the Burswood foreshore during Perth’s busy summer months – and do it without paying rent.

Without hesitation, the board said yes.

And with that, Movies by Burswood was born.

Movies at Burswood began as a small fundraising initiative, and has since grown into a cherished Perth summer tradition with hundreds of volunteers.

Despite losing money in the first year, and breaking even the following year – Ken persisted.

Slowly but surely, word spread and families returned each summer.

More and more volunteers stepped forward to help.

What began as a small fundraising initiative gradually evolved into one of Perth’s most cherished summer traditions with over 700 volunteers.

Ken is quick to point out that his Order of Australia Medal belongs to everyone who helped make Community Cinemas possible.

“I accepted the award this year on behalf of the many volunteers and supporters who have been part of our journey,” he said.

“For me, movies have been so much more than what appears on screen. They are an escapism.

“If people can come together and have a positive experience, that’s a good thing, but if we can raise money to help children in need at the same time – well that’s the icing on the cake.”

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For William Peucker, discovering graphic design wasn’t just about finding a career – it was about coming home.

A proud Bardi man from the Pender Bay region in Western Australia, Will is in his final semester of a Bachelor of Design at ������Ƶ.

Thanks to the generosity of a stranger and the support of a Curtin Moorditj Maaman Scholarship, he’s been able to fully dedicate himself to his studies – and to a future grounded in art, healing, and community.

“Growing up, I never imagined I’d be in the position I am today,” Will said.

Raised in Esperance after spending his early childhood travelling around Australia, Will grew up disconnected from culture.

“My connection comes from my dad’s side, but my parents weren’t really connected to it either. I didn’t grow up knowing that part of myself,’’ he said.

That began to change when he arrived at Curtin and joined – a unique initiative supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students through culturally safe accommodation and community.

Will with Program Coordinator at Centre for Aboriginal Studies, Brendon DeGois at the 2025 Curtin Scholarships Event.

There, Will found more than a place to live.

He found mob who embraced him with open arms – regardless of how strong or recent his cultural connection was.

“That’s where my journey of reconnection really began,” he said.

Last year, that reconnection deepened with a powerful return to Country.

Travelling to back to country in the Dampier Peninsula, Will experienced a profound sense of belonging.

“It was healing being able to reconnect to country and meet my Aunty who was so warm and welcoming.”

Will with Aunty saving a pelican on Country.

It was actually at sunrise on the shores of Pender Bay in Dampier, that Will proposed to his partner.

Will proposing to his partner on Country.

Will’s journey into design wasn’t straight forward.

Like many young people, he initially followed the path others had mapped out – enrolling in engineering under the growing push for STEM careers.
But something didn’t feel right.

A gentle nudge from his partner to consider graphic design ended up the shift he needed, and from the first semester on, he knew he’d found his purpose.

Today, Will’s design work is shaped by culture, lived experience, and an unwavering commitment to uplift others.

His style is bold, honest and deeply personal – and eventually he hopes to build a platform that gives voice to other Indigenous creatives.

Will said the Moorditj Maaman Scholarship had been more than financial support – it’s been the freedom to breathe, focus, and thrive.

“It’s taken so much pressure off,” he says.

That support helped him excel last semester, finishing with a course-weighted average of 79.79 and 90 in a core unit.

Now, with just one unit left, Will is focused on building his portfolio and entering the design industry ready to make a difference.

After graduation, he and his fiancée plan to move to Denmark in WA’s Great Southern – a quiet, creative town where he hopes to establish a collective to support and collaborate with other First Nations artists.

Will on the jetty.

He also plans to return to Country every year to continue learning from Elders, family, and the land –carrying forward the stories and responsibilities entrusted to him by his aunties.

“To anyone who feels like they’re too disconnected or it’s too late – it’s not. It’s never too late,” Will said.

“Opportunities like this scholarship can change your life. Just go for it. You never know where it might take you.”

To learn more about Curtin’s scholarship opportunities, please contact give@curtin.edu.au .

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