Alumni in profile
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Miyo Iwamatsu
Graduate Diploma Museum Studies 2004 and
Graduate Certificate of TESOL 2001
The chance sighting of a job advertisement for a multicultural education aid during a short holiday from Japan five years ago, led to Miyo's recent completion of a Graduate Diploma of Museum Studies and has opened up several career opportunities-from writing National Trust publications, to freelance translating services, to preparing educational material for LOTE programs.
When Miyo saw the position advertised, she knew she had a reasonable chance."I had worked for 20 years in the same field in Japan, teaching English as a second language to Japanese students, and teaching Japanese to native English speakers."
Miyo was offered the position at Wantirna Secondary College, and during this period, completed a Graduate Certificate (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) with Deakin. "When I completed my contract with Wantirna, a similar position came up at Mount Waverley Secondary College," said Miyo.
"And when that contract finished, I knew I would regret it if I went back to Japan, so I decided to do a Diploma of Museum Studies for my lifelong education. I'd been focusing on education for 20 years now, and wanted to try something different," she said.
As a young woman in Japan, Miyo had worked in two art museums. Art, cultural politics and cultural diversity were subjects in which she had a strong interest. "When I got married, I had to give up my position at the museum. In Japan, the only thing I could do as a married woman was teaching," she said.
Miyo said she undertook the diploma for her own personal interests, never expecting her new qualifications to take her down a new career path. Now, with connections to the National Trust, Miyo has just finished work on publications for Japanese visitors to the Old Melbourne Gaol and is about to start work on a similar project for Como House.
Miyo's husband eventually joined her in Australia two years ago. "We're here for the next three years, and I'm quite happy to accept whatever opportunities are provided to me. I've been very fortunate," she said.
