I have shared my research and experiences across many areas including oral communication skills for tertiary students, literacy development, trauma informed education, volunteering programs in schools, literacy/language support at university and reading to dogs. I am/was also a HDR Student Mentor both in a paid role at CQU and as a volunteer moderator on the “PhD students Australia” Facebook community. I support other HDR students to access information and build connections across Australia.
This blog is a “professional” one focusing on my perceptions, musings and reflections in these areas.
My 99-Year-Old Grandad Illustrated My Thesis
I know, I know… I’ve written about Stan Smith before. But he’s the best grandad there is, so I can’t help it. The evidence: About 10 years ago, in his late 80s, he taught himself to use a computer and typed up his autobiography plus a pile of poems and short stories. I turned it…
Imposter syndrome
On August 20th I’ll walk across a stage and someone will read out my thesis then call me “Doctor”. My “wanky hat” (thanks for that name Tim Minchin) arrived last week. And honestly? Part of me is still waiting for someone to tap me on the shoulder and say there’s been a mistake. I’ve spent…
My bound thesis has arrived!
Returned from my relaxing Bali “snooze-cation” and found this had arrived at the front door! Super excited. It was also way heavier than I expected. CQUniversity’s lovely SGR team and the amazing Susan Kinnear GAICD were kind enough to allow me to use some of my prize money (from Visualise Your Thesis) to print an…
Conferral corner
At CQU they do this amazing thing (because they are a fairly small cohort of higher degree by research students) called “conferral corner”. Every time someone completes their research degree, the Dean of Graduate Research does a wonderful post on LinkedIn to celebrate. I’ve been watching conferral corner for 3.5 years now and was very…
Why I’m Self-Publishing a Book About Surviving Your PhD
So, I am writing a short book. Because a thesis wasn’t enough! Here’s my mocked up cover. I am l self-publishing a short book about surviving a doctorate, and it is called Show Your Working: An Honest, Practical Guide to Surviving Your PhD. My experience was pretty full on and I hit a lot of…
Doctor Mel!
Officially conferred on May 25th 2026! I even got the tattoo to match the thesis. Click here for my researchgate link to my thesis!!
Thesis revision edits: slowly working my way through them
After a few solid (long) days of work, I am about halfway through responding to the revision comments on my EdD thesis. That’s halfway in numbers – not actual content changes! I have taken my supervisors advice and started with the smaller edits first before slowly working my way through the bigger sections. There are……
Graduation dresses and how to style them – updated 2026
I was asked again today about what to wear for graduations from someone who would like to wear a dress. I’m now going to expand on what I’ve learnt over 4 University grads and working at a uni. I actually wrote some of this up ages ago as a blog post and a linkedin post…
Thesis revisions after final examination – first steps and feelings
In the interests of continuing my transparent doctoral journey, I recently received the examination outcome for my Doctor of Education thesis. I want to share my result because I’ve felt very lonely experiencing this the past few months…we often share about the minor and no revision outcomes (as we should!) but don’t talk about the…
Ran my first UDL workshop today
As part of my temporary role at Edith Cowan University, I facilitated a hands-on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) workshop that blended practical modelling with the theory behind inclusive design. It was a lively, engaging session – full of conversation, connection, and “aha” moments about how small design shifts can make learning work better for…
Riding the Wave: Visualise Your Thesis Goes International
After winning the CQUniversity 2025 Visualise Your Thesis (VYT) competition, my claymation video on reading-to-dog programs as literacy interventions has now entered the international round. It’s been such a joy seeing my little clay dog take on a life of his own and help share my research story with a wider audience. This week, I’ve…
What does a PhD in Australia actually look like? What’s the structure?
As I have been updating my progress recently I have been asked what different milestones actually mean? What is a doctoral degree? It’s not just “writing a really long book” although that’s definitely part of it. It also differs from country to country. So heres a summary in Mel-speak for you. Here’s what the journey…
Stan Smith – the best grandad ever
Let’s talk about Stan Smith, my 98yo Grandad and my favourite person. Aside from being an excellent grandparent (and stand in parent at various times in my turbulent childhood) he was also an accomplished glass blower and TAFE teacher. He has always been a prolific reader and writer and my passion for storytelling and teaching…
Thesis Submitters’ Toolkit: What I’m Using to Stay Productive While Waiting
Last week I hit a big milestone: I submitted my thesis for examination! After 3 years of writing, revising, and living with this project, it’s finally out of my hands. Now comes the strange in-between space – the waiting. As I’m in Australia, the next steps for me are two external examiners review it over…
Visualise Your Thesis 2025 CQU Winner – My Top Tips!
My Visualise Your Thesis (VYT) 2025 entry is now live in the international gallery! The competition showcases graduate researchers around the world, each sharing their work in short, engaging videos. My entry was the CQUniversity winner in 2025 and uses claymation to share my doctoral research on reading-to-dog programs as reading interventions 🐶📚. You can…
Rejection in Academia (employment related)
I didn’t get the job. And I want to say it out loud, because we don’t often share the “no.” And we especially don’t do it on that shiny FB self promotion site we all use to try and get work. We share new titles, promotions, opportunities. We rarely share the rejection email that makes…
Finishing Line in Sight: How I’m Preparing for My Doctoral Submission
There’s a strange mix of relief and panic that comes with the final months of a doctorate. Submission suddenly feels real and within reach, but so does the long list of edits, formatting tweaks, and final checks. It’s a season of tying loose ends, trusting the work I’ve put in, and finding small ways to…
Struggling at the end stages of thesis writing
The final stretch of a thesis is supposed to feel like the end is in sight… right? But right now, it doesn’t. I’m in the thick of it.The last lot of feedback hit harder than I expected, and instead of motivating me, it’s left me frozen. I know it’s meant to strengthen my work…and it…
World cafe learning activity
Today I helped to run an activity for Murdoch Uni teaching staff based on the “world cafe” method. It was fantastic to see it in action, consider the modifications already made for accessibility and then discuss other things that could change. So many ideas! The World Café is a structured conversational process for fostering participatory learning…
Melissa Smith 