What was the appeal of conducting your research with PlaceLab for the Voices From The Margins Project?
Students enjoying international student week at RMIT. Image: RMIT University
Robyn: PlaceLab offered a funded opportunity to shine a light on the experiences of international students and I have a longstanding interest in student’s experiences of intersectional disadvantage.
Sonia: My work is informed by a firm commitment to social justice and to making various forms of disadvantage and injustice more visible in order to influence social change. In conversations with international students, I was alerted to some of the distinct challenges international students encounter while studying in Melbourne. These challenges, of course, became more pronounced during the 2020-21 COVID19 lockdowns.
PlaceLab provides a welcome opportunity to further explore the experiences of international students and to develop strategies and initiatives for change in a short and sharp way. A focus on outcomes also encourages us to consider different ways of designing and undertaking research.
Robyn: PlaceLab is innovative and encourages academic researchers to situate their work within community, for community, by community and I resonate with this approach.