Patrick inspires postgraduate students to launch their futures and develop agency and autonomy as professionals by embedding industry partnerships, networking, and career development in curriculum.
Patrick utilises a constructivist approach in his teaching, in which students acknowledge and build upon the various contexts in which they work, fostering an environment of inclusive and transformative collaborative practice. As a champion of creative practice pedagogy in screen production, he has enhanced Master of Media students’ employability through embedding industry partnerships, equipping students with the confidence and motivation to draw closer connections with individuals and organisations in the real world.
Industry Partnerships
Partnership with Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission
In 2015, Patrick set up a video project for students with the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC) that explored the impact of amendments to the Equal Opportunity Act on LGBTI people. Student videos created in partnership with VEOHRC.
More on this partnership at:
Little, W. (2016) ‘Students help in the fight against discrimination’, in RMIT News, 09 Jun, available at: <https://www.rmit.edu.au/news/all-news/2016/june/students-help-in-the-fight-against-discrimination>.
Partnership with Winda Mara Aboriginal Corporation
In 2016, he set up a mobile walking tour app project in partnership with Winda Mara Aboriginal Corporation. Students learned how to use storytelling techniques to offer a glimpse of the cultural and environmental significance of Tyrendarra Indigenous Protected Area.
More on this partnership at:
Little, W. (2016) ‘Mobile app to promote Indigenous protected area’, in RMIT News, 15 Nov, available at: <https://www.rmit.edu.au/news/all-news/2016/september/mobile-app-promote-indigenous-area>.
Ready for the Future
My approach to teaching sees students reflectively collaborating as part of an inclusive and supportive community of practice. This environment scaffolds students as they progress from working on projects for external partners to autonomously engaging with industry. They emerge as curious professionals who are ready for life and work.