Career Summary

After completing a Bachelor's degree in Journalism in Indonesia, Evelynd was keen to pursue her studies further and enrolled in the Master of Communication and Media Studies program at Monash University.

During her time at Monash, Evelynd actively engaged in various opportunities to enhance her practical experience. She completed a semester-long internship program with Australian news network, ABC, gaining valuable insights into the industry. She played an active role in the Monash Graduate Association, contributing to the organisation of events and facilitating discussions. Additionally, she participated in the Arts Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) program, both as a mentor and mentee, further nurturing her skills and fostering connections within the university community.

Evelynd currently serves as a Lecturer in the Communications study program at Universitas Negeri Padang, a state university in her hometown of Padang, West Sumatera. She previously served as a Digital Content Producer at The Australia-Indonesia Centre, leveraging her expertise to create engaging digital content and contribute to the organisation's communication efforts. Evelynd's ability to build and nurture extensive networks has helped her attain a variety of roles in the industry.

Career pathway

2023 – Present – Lecturer (Communications), Universitas Negeri Padang
2022 – Digital Content Producer, The Australia-Indonesia Centre
2019 – 2021 Lecturer, Universitas Informatika Dan Bisnis Indonesia
2019 – 2021 Junior Lecturer, Universitas Padjadjaran
2018 – Master of Communication and Media Studies, Monash University
2018 – Professional Intern, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
2018 – Professional Marker, Pearson
2018 – Student Ambassador, Monash University
2017 – Journalist, OZIP Magazine
2017 – Digital Media Manager, Muslim Collective Australia
2015 – Bachelor of Communication Science (Journalism), Universitas Padjadjaran

Why did you choose to study at Monash University? 

In 2016, I was considering studying abroad and decided to do so by pursuing a masters in Australia.

When I searched for the best study options, a list of the top eight Australian universities came up, of which Monash was one of them. Having already completed a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, I looked at course guides in great detail to find out what each university offered around communications. I wanted to explore more studies in media, particularly digital and social media. From my research, I determined that Monash was the university that offered the ideal package to suit my study needs.

Why did you decide to study a Master of Communication and Media Studies?

Communication is a dynamic world and is in high demand in the workforce. As a result of my course research, I decided I wanted to dive into digital media.

What appealed to me the most about the master’s program at Monash, was that I could complete a professional internship and the great research pathways available. In the span of two years, I gained a lot of professional experience and learnt so much, which has contributed positively to my career.

What were your favourite units throughout your course?

One of my favourite units was Media, as it explored digital media in depth, which was exactly what I was looking for.

In my second semester, I completed a unit called Celebrity, Fashion and Publicity, which took us to an exhibition of Dior fashion at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). Not only did we learn theory, but we had opportunities to go out and explore media in the real world and see how something such as fashion is captured in a real-life context.

How have the skills you have learned from your degree translated into your job today? How did they make you job-ready?

During my studies, I came across the Australian-Indonesian Centre (AIC), located on the Monash Caulfield campus, which is a bilateral collaborative research initiative that offers various events and programs. It was through my connections at the AIC that I met a journalist who recommended I do my professional internship at the ABC.

A few years later, that same journalist who knew my passion and experience in digital media, offered me a role at the AIC. From making those connections, I was able to gain a wealth of experience, and my current role as Digital Content Producer at the AIC.

That’s one of the benefits of Monash - the connections and network that you build throughout your studies. To this day, I’m still exploring that network of people and building relationships.

You spoke about a professional internship placement at the ABC. As an international student, how important was that opportunity for you? 

The professional internship is a semester-long program. At the ABC, I worked in the International Development Division on a program called the Women in News and Sport (WINS) initiative, which trains female journalists to give sports coverage in South East Asia and Pacific countries.

The program upskills these female journalists, provides them with an opportunity to empower themselves in the industry, and supports them to reach their full potential.

At the time of my internship in 2018, Indonesia was hosting the Asian Games. I assisted in designing a program framework and drafting a comprehensive project plan for WINS in Indonesia. I was able to observe two ABC officials provide a group of Indonesian news broadcasters with three days of training.

It was good to have that firsthand experience and was amazing to see other female journalists gain opportunities to explore their potential.

What extracurricular activities did you participate in? 

I joined the Monash Postgraduate Association, which has since become the Monash Graduate Association (MGA). I volunteered to help at many of their events and made lots of friends.

My involvement went beyond just distributing food or giving out freebies; I often took on the role of MC for group discussions. I also organised packs for new students and led campus tours. Every month the MGA would organise a communal lunch. It was a great opportunity to learn about the languages and cultures of my peers, whilst sharing their traditional meals. They became a home away from home. Having that sense of family and belonging enhanced my student experience.

Monash was also very mindful of students’ mental health by encouraging a balance between study and leisure. They provided spaces dedicated to recreation and ran events giving out free goodies. They offered opportunities to mingle with students from other cultures to help build those important global friendships. This approach helped me maximise my time during my studies.

You were also an Arts peer mentor, or PAL. Tell us about this role and the skills that you gained. How important do you think these leadership opportunities are?

Arts PAL is an organised mentorship. I was lucky to be one of the mentees and a mentor, because I joined during my first few semesters. I joined the Arts PAL program because they have so many weekly sessions – both academic and non-academic. The Arts is so broad, so the program can help you explore potential majors and minors, and ideas for your essays.

As a mentor in the program, I regularly caught up with my mentees for coffee. I would check in with them and offer my guidance, not just as a mentor, but as a friend. We looked after each other, especially when it came to any study anxiety.

The program also hosted camp activities during the summer. I experienced many new things, like paddle boarding and campfires. It was amazing.

Tell us about your career journey post graduation.

Prior to finishing my degree, I had my sights set on working in communications as a media producer. During my masters study I learned studio production, video editing, news writing, and reporting. This equipped me with the basic skills necessary to undertake a communications role.

Monash graduates are considered ready to enter the workforce. However, the Australia Indonesia Centre is considered high-level comms as it collaborates with university leaders, governments and also the Australian Embassy, so they have to be really careful about what they manage and produce regarding media content. As such, I started out as a communications officer, organising the social media accounts of the Australia Indonesia Youth Association (AIYA) in Victoria. Soon after, I joined the AIYA National communications team as well. Since then, I kept gaining experience and moving up in communications.

One of the most interesting things I observed in this role is the different media habits between Indonesia and Australia. These habits continue to evolve, and keeping track of that information was one of my responsibilities as a communications professional. I also investigated which strategies would gain more engagement, and managed digital and physical content.

I've been lucky to have that opportunity to build my skills and gain experience working alongside those of many different cultures.

I'm now working as an academic, I find myself enjoying this dynamic environment. Being a lecturer is quite challenging because I have duties in 3 aspects which are teaching, conducting research, and running community service and partnership programs.

Besides this, I also have to juggle between personal targets such as publications as well as institutional goals (international accreditation). This profession allows me to keep learning how to lead my professional career, as well as my future goals in the education and social movement sectors.

How important is effective communication in your field?

This world is rapidly changing, especially within the digital media sphere, and the criteria for effective communication is part of this. It's a tool you must master, no matter what profession you are a part of, practical communication skills are a must if you are to effectively impact your audience.

You need the right strategy and the most effective way is to understand and appreciate other cultures. A good grasp of intercultural communication is one of the most significant factors for you to be an effective communicator.

Do you have any advice for Master of Communication and Media Studies students? And what career opportunities are out there for graduates after the postgraduate degree?

My best tip would be to just get yourself out there. Enhance your experience alongside your studies by joining as many extracurriculars, clubs and organisations as possible. These will help you gain friendships and expand your network.

Monash has many things to offer, so you’ve got to maximise your time to explore those opportunities.