Although I’m now not on campus because I’m isolating ~ I’m still going to share some of what being an academic looks like for me I’ll thread it here

#blacademia #blackfullatwitter #AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter

On a work day I am usually up early & on my emails by 7:30am I then drop my kids at school, and if I have face to face meetings or classes to teach, I drive to my office at Macquarie University in the School of Education. Today I started my day with a drive through covid test

The role & work of an academic varies by field of expertise, role, & position. I knew so little about the ‘what’ of academia that I found the space intimidating when I started. In 2020 I launched my lil DIY podcast @blacademia to share an insiders view - https://open.spotify.com/show/6L1r1qozNHOlqnRsm8jguX?si=KXUhwRa1QhWiQyERN0Xn7Q

I am a social person, love to yarn & it drives me (& my colleagues at time) to distraction so I use the Pomododo technique! Only way I get things done tbh

25 mins work, 5 min break (in the 5mins I will snack/stretch/toilet/check socials etc)
Repeat

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique

There are three main 'types' of academic:

- Research academic, who would have a research workload, as well as a service workload.

- Teaching academic, who would have a teaching workload (course development & delivery), as well as a service workload.

- Teaching + research academic, who would have a teaching workload, a research workload, and a service workload.

I am a teaching & research academic, meaning I get to do both :) As course convenor I develop course content that is then delivered within our Bachelor Degrees :)

I also deliver the content, so I lecture, and I teach, and I get to do that with some other incredible academics & professional staff who support the running of this course!

So what does service mean? It depends on your field & your institution, but for me it involves community

engagement, monthly department meetings, being on several committees, and contributing to various projects. These take time & are work, but are super important as they allow opportunity to connect, listen & to stay atop what is happening & needed within & outside the academy.

As my field of expertise is 'education' the committees I am part of are focused on education& each connect with the communities I am part of. As an Indigenous academic there's a chunk of work/committee membership which I consider linked to my academic role but technically isn't.

I am a full member of the AECG, as well as one of our elected Regional Delegates. You can join the AECG in the region you live or work in, non-Indigenous people can be members, but only Indigenous peoples can be full (voting) members. This is NSW specific.
https://www.aecg.nsw.edu.au/ 

(not so) Fun Fact: The AECG is the peak advisory body to the Gov on Indigenous education, but was defunded during the Abbott era. Which means we are the peak advisory body but we are all volunteers. We support mob within schools, & provide guidance to school staff & workers.

If you work in education in NSW you should be part of your local AECG, you should familiarise yourself with their work (historical & present), and check out the resources & policy work they do! The @nswaecg are a valuable & vital community org.

https://www.aecg.nsw.edu.au/about/ 

I am also a voting member of a Local Aboriginal Lands Council (LALC), most of my family are part of the same LALC & I am responsible for getting my Pop to meetings (except this week as I will be in Iso still).

The LALC and the AECG are not in my work service technically, but my goal is to make sure all the mob in my network who want to connect with the uni, can. Being present in a community space & people knowing you are *also* in the academy can make the academy feel more accessible

When it comes to service that is formally part of my service, this week I will attend:
- Departmental meeting with all my fantastic School of Education colleagues. This would normally be face to face, but again remembering I have to isolate now, my boss has sent me a zoom link.

- Expert Committee into New Media & Schools
This is a really enjoyable one as it's hosted by @QUT and members are from various Universities & education facilities. I love that being within the academy means connecting on national + International projects & committees too

- Attending (as an audience member) the 'Indigenous Women Futuring' Panel, which is hosted by @ISCollaborates of @unimelb & will be an introduction to a new text: 'Indigenous Futures and Learnings Taking Place'

Reading & listening are a huge part of an academic's workload

It is also ORIENTATION WEEK! Walanga Muru hosted an Orientation Camp for commencing Indigenous students last week, weekly community lunches are currently being organised, & on Thursday the School of Education will host Orientation for the First Years undertaking degrees with us!