Graduation celebration for record number of PhD students

The largest number of PhD students ever graduated from Deakin University across four ceremonies from 23-24 June at the University’s Geelong Waterfront campus – nearly double that in 2023.

The 73 scholars represent an exceptional range of expertise, spanning health innovation, engineering, business analytics, education and social sciences.

Deakin University Caretaker Vice-Chancellor Professor Matthew Clarke said the steadily growing number reflected Deakin’s excellence in education and research.

'My most heartfelt congratulations to all our graduates on reaching this milestone in their education journey that reflects so much hard work and commitment,’ Professor Clarke said.

‘It is particularly wonderful to see the breadth of topics across our graduating PhD cohort, many of which will have immediate and positive impacts on our communities.

'Our higher degree graduates have not only grown their skills and expertise but made meaningful discoveries within their fields and beyond. As they transition into the next chapter of their careers, I am confident they will continue to make a lasting difference in the world.’

Among the PhD graduates are two researchers both driven by solving real-world problems who hope to soon see their work creating practical outcomes for the Geelong and Southwest Victoria communities.

Belinda Dean’s PhD in medical play therapy found it could help support children to cope with vaccinations and needle-related medical procedures.

Driven by falling childhood immunisation rates, her unique research combines medical play therapy with Deakin’s eye-tracking technology (iPupilX) to provide an evidence-base that can be used in general practice.

Belinda’s research clearly showed that children cope better when they are prepared through age-appropriate play as they are more socially connected, confident, curious, self-expressive and less fearful.

Belinda chose to study full-time but continued her career as a director of her private play therapy practice and lecturer in the School of Health and Social Development, which proved essential to her wellbeing.

‘I felt it was really important for me to stay current, but also being able to feel like an expert in one area while allowing myself to be a novice in the research, which helped keep me from feeling overwhelmed.'

Belinda hopes to work with Barwon Health to use the findings to secure funding for more child life and play therapists within the hospital. She is also preparing to publish a second edition of an integrating therapeutic play into nursing, medicine and allied health textbook and presenting her findings to play therapists, nurses, doctors, paediatricians, and child life specialists globally.

‘We need more people doing quality research to be able to back us. Being able to have quantifiable measures that prove that play therapy works has been crucial to promoting this as a legitimate, outcome-focused intervention.’

Linda Wong’s PhD in equine-assisted interventions and their potential to improve health and wellbeing came about through her own need for clear evidence to expand the work of her charity, Hands of Change.

'When I did some preliminary research I realised there’s actually quite a lot of confusion and not a lot of guardrails protecting individuals who are seeking this type of intervention within Australia. So I said “Okay, in order for me to raise the credibility and provide clarity I am going to do a PhD”,’ Linda said.

Her research investigated how horses can be used in human service interventions as well as whether virtual reality can deliver comparable benefits – a combination of interests that proved challenging but ultimately transformative for her charity work.

'I knew that it’s sometimes difficult for individuals to physically attend a face-to-face session or there are people who are really anxious around horses, so there needed to be another avenue for them – that's why I investigated the use of virtual reality.'

For Linda, she hopes her research will inform how Equine Assisted Services are delivered and defined in the sector.

‘I really want to use the findings to commercialise back into our charity as well as advocate for the professionalism within the industry around the core areas of therapy, learning and horsemanship focusing on the protection of three actors: the horse, the participant and the facilitator.’ 

Guest speakers across the four ceremonies included: Mr Glen Bartlett, one of Australia’s leading workplace relations, employment and WHS lawyers and a respected AFL and WAFL leader; Professor Marie Bismark, psychiatrist, public health physician, health lawyer, and company director; and Ms Helen Vaughan, Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability Victoria.