More than 3000 University of Newcastle students graduated this week, marking an end to their studies and celebrating their significant academic achievements.
Students were awarded their degrees over the nine separate ceremonies, including undergraduate, postgraduate, higher degrees, and research degrees.
University of Newcastle Vice-Chancellor Professor Alex Zelinsky said graduation was a momentous occasion and a key opportunity for students to celebrate their achievements.
“Graduation is a wonderful time for celebration and a time for students and their loved ones to reflect on their years of dedication and hard work,” Professor Zelinsky said.
“The skills our students have developed in their particular fields, as well as the broader resilience and adaptability that has come from studying during a pandemic, will serve our students well as they move into a rapidly changing workforce.
“I wish all of our graduates every success for their future and look forward to hearing their stories of success as they take on the world and progress in their careers.”
Doctor of Philosophy in Health Science, Bliss Cavanagh graduated this week with the first-ever trans-disciplinary PhD that combines art and health.
Dr Cavanagh is also the founder of Creative Sensory Spaces, which uses art and health science to create immersive therapeutic environments.
Diagnosed at age nine with Tourette syndrome, she spent her developmental years hiding her condition from others, but it was a life-changing experiment during her fine arts honours degree that helped her see Tourette’s as a valued asset.
Dr Cavanagh began her PhD examining the benefits of sensory rooms for the general public.
“There’s a growing evidence base on the benefits of sensory spaces for people managing conditions like mental illness, autism and dementia, to name a few,” Dr Cavanagh said.
“Now, we’ve got an evidence base to show that these spaces also greatly benefit the general population by providing a deeply restorative environment.”
The sensory spaces have become popular amongst businesses and corporate environments, where organisations seek to create therapeutic spaces for their workforces—particularly now during the burdens of a global pandemic.
Dr Cavanagh said there had also been a lot of interest in sensory spaces in community settings like airports, shopping centres, and libraries.
“It’s essentially an intervention space, an opportunity for people to take time out and then re-enter the world at optimal capacity,” she said.
“The senses are universal; we’ve all got them. They’re what shape our experience of life, so really, they’re the most inclusive and accessible way to connect to each and every one of us.
“It is powerful and inspiring to be able to see something that came out of my own personal experience transform into a real-world application that has the potential to create national change.”
Along with helping others through sensory spaces, Dr Cavanagh is a sensory artist and designer creating pop-up sensory installations for events.
To follow Dr Cavanagh’s journey or to find out more about Creative Sensory Spaces, visit her website.
Information source: Media release, University of Newcastle