Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies

Graduate profiles

Olivia Porter (2009) recommends 'Heritage in the Field' elective

I enrolled in the Master of Cultural Heritage at Deakin University to gain specialist skills in the field of Museum Studies. The Masters degree at Deakin is well structured and provides a theoretical perspective, professional practical skills and encourages hands on engagement.

I strongly encourage students to undertake the elective 'Heritage in the Field' to complement the Master's core subjects, as the opportunity to be involved in an experiential learning program has been invaluable. I was privileged to take part in the 'Sharing our Heritages' program. The program was jointly sponsored by the Australian Department of Education, Science and Training and the European Commission's, Directorate of General Education and Culture. It involved a semester abroad studying at BTU Cottbus in Germany and included two master classes in Natural and Cultural Management, one in Kakadu, Northern Territory, Australia and one in Paris, France. This provided me with a rich insight to the varying perspectives of Natural and Cultural Management in World Heritage sites and Museums and gave me an opportunity to broaden my understanding of Heritage and its unique roles.

I have also gained valuable insights into the Museum and Heritage Sector through an Internship with an Exhibitions Team at the Ian Potter Museum of Art and finally, by taking part in a field school in Vieng Xay, Laos in February 2009. This project was carried out in conjunction with SNV (Netherlands Development Organisation) and Deakin University working in a cross cultural capacity with the Kaysone Phomvihane Memorial Cave Office Staff on Moveable Cultural Heritage. The field school included duties relating to the priority treatment of textiles, photographs and books, the application of preventative conservation and storage solutions and the provision of recommendations for future Pro Poor Tourism initiatives.

In May 2009, I attended my first Museums Australia National Conference as a Student Representative for Deakin University and was delighted to have the opportunity to speak with others about the exciting opportunities the course provides.

Olivia Porter
BFA, University of Auckland, M Cultural.Heritage Deakin University

Rhonda Chrisanthou (2006) muses… "Looking for positive change in my professional career I decided to pursue my long term interests in visual art and cultural studies"

As a mature-aged person, I first enrolled in Deakin's Graduate Diploma course in Museum Studies as an off-campus student. This allowed me to work part-time as a secondary school teacher while I was able to complete the readings and assignments for various units.

Deakin provided all reading material for coursework and it was promptly delivered to my door. In addition, an online support network for library services and contacts with supportive lecturers and students provided a stimulating and highly accessible learning environment at home. With advanced standing for prior learning, I enrolled in the remaining units the following year. I was able to attend on-campus classes for two units - I really enjoyed attending tutorials, museum tours and participating in student group work.

Whether studying on-campus or on-line, I found the syllabus and methods of study consistent in planning, concise and always relevant. Assignments, which were often case studies, were highly engaging and allowed me to develop my strengths in Arts education. Having graduated in 2006, the Diploma, coupled with my knowledge and experience, was instrumental in gaining a position at Shepparton Art Gallery. A much closer alignment between my personal aspirations and interests has been completed.

Rhonda Chrisanthou
BA, Dip. Ed., BEd., MA, Grad. Dip. Museum Studies
Education Officer, Shepparton Art Gallery

Tracey Judd-Iva (1995) reflects… "I had already done five years of university study and was really looking for a 'way in' to the arts field"

I had a lot of the theory under my belt but what I needed was practical experience combined with a sound knowledge of how museums actually worked. Happily, this is exactly what I found when I did the Museum Studies course at Deakin. The subjects were set up for students interested in both the history of museums themselves, as well as the business side of working in a museum. Practical subjects focusing on marketing, sponsorship, business planning and strategic goal setting were all part of the Museum Studies mix. At first it was a bit of a culture shock as I'd been ensconced in the academic side of the arts, but this was the real thing: learning about the day to day business of working in an art institution. I quickly realised that combining the two was essential to actually getting a job in the field. And as a result of completing the Deakin course I did!

The strong focus on practical placements and internships enabled me to make important contacts and get a foot in the door. It was through an internship in the Department of Photography at the National Gallery of Victoria that I gained a position as a Curatorial Assistant in the Directorate. I have been at the NGV for ten years now, occupying different positions along the way, to my current role as Curator, International Exhibitions. I have, at various points throughout my career, drawn upon the skills and knowledge that I gained doing the Deakin course. In the years since I've done the course, I have regularly interviewed for staff myself and a Museum Studies qualification is nearly always a prerequisite

One cannot sugar-coat the fact that the museum world is complex, competitive, political, and tough. However, it is also intensely creative and endlessly fascinating and provides enormous satisfaction on both a personal and professional level. If you want to work in this crazy, wonderful, exciting field, the Museum Studies course at Deakin University is your ticket in.

Tracey Judd Iva
BA, MA (Prelim), Grad. Dip. Museum Studies, Deakin University, Roslyn Lawry Award for Excellence in Museum Studies, Deakin University (1995)
Curator, International Exhibitions, National Gallery of Victoria

Amanda Thornton (2006) describes… "A job before I graduated!"

Working as office manager in an art transport and storage business, I became interested in museums by looking through the 'back door'. Despite no university degree, I was thrilled to be offered a place in Deakin's Postgraduate Diploma of Museum Studies on the basis of work experience. It was the beginning of a life-changing, rigorous and empowering preparation for a professional role in the museum sector. I gained a qualification that enabled me to secure full time employment with a museum - before I graduated!

I found Deakin's program infused with reality, expertise and enthusiasm. My lecturers were all respected and experienced professionals from across the museum and heritage sector. Studies combined history, philosophy, theory and practice, plus site visits, case studies, research tasks and excellent readings.

Assessment tasks required applying learning to real-life work situations, and I was encouraged to value and build on the sector networks I developed along the way. My classmates were intelligent and enthusiastic people from a wide variety of disciplines: local and international students, post-graduates applying their discipline specifically to museum and heritage work, museum professionals fine-tuning their expertise and qualifications, and others, such as myself, wishing to shape and add to existing knowledge and skills.

Amanda Thornton (Grad. Dip. Museum Studies 2006) is Assistant Registrar at the RAAF Museum Audit Registration Project at the RAAF Museum, Point Cook, and undertaking further studies in art history and conservation.