An Engagement Interview with Tya Lovett

Hello Tya,

First, how are you progressing with your UNE Studies?

I have five units remaining before completing my Bachelor of Arts (extended major in Archaeology) at University of New England (UNE).  I am not enrolling in trimester 3 units this year (2021), rather applying for ‘Advance Standing’ for three of the five units:

  • ARPA343_Archaeology in the Field (Trimester 1, 2022)
  • ARPA356_Archaeology in the Laboratory (Trimester 1, 2022)
  • ARPA352_Public Archaeology and Management (Trimester 2, 2022)

Thus, remaining units are ARPA300 Debates in Archaeology (Trimester 2, 2022), and final unit TBC.

I believe you have also been offered a rather special job with La Trobe University.

Some exciting news, I commenced ongoing employment as Senior Educator with La Trobe University (LTU) Bundoora Campus (Vic) delivering the Certificate IV in Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management (ACHM) course.

Please click on THIS LINK for more information:

This employment opportunity with LTU allows me to work alongside Victorian Traditional Owners within a Vocational Education and Training (VET) environment, including sharing my personal/work experiences and tertiary study knowledge to a cohort of 18-20 students each year.

In addition, working within the Department of Archaeology and History at LTU will also allow me to establish working relationships with staff members who are experts in their field of study, for example archaeology and anthropology which will assist my future Aboriginal academic research projects.     

Tya, what in Additional Activities (community/volunteer/study) are you involved?

I have enrolled to upgrade my ‘Trainer and Assessor’ qualification through Inspire Education, which is a requirement for my new role at LTU as I will be assessing student assessments in 2022.

Volunteer work has allowed me to assist private property owners, Parks Victoria and Traditional Owners register an Aboriginal rock art site and rock wells at Black Range Scenic Reserve, Victoria. In addition, I have conducted one ‘welcome to country and smoking ceremony’ in Halls Gap for the local primary school and community garden members.

Since returning home, back to Gariwerd (Halls Gap / Grampians National Park), any spare time is spent reconnecting with country, exploring new and previously visited places with family. More specifically, with my daughter Allira (8) and son Wilem (5), including on occasions other family members.     

With covid-19 restrictions easing, many more invitations are being received to conduct welcomes to country, smoking ceremonies, archaeological field work, however family, university, and now work commitments are my main priority.

Do you have any Closing comments?

University studies remains a priority and anticipate graduation in late 2022. I wish to thank my donor and the Gilchrist Foundation for your ongoing support assisting me during my tertiary studies at UNE. In addition, my LTU employment allows me to work from home, expect 2021 student graduation ceremony on 3 December 2021, and my new cohort of students will be commencing studies on 21 February 2022.

This interview was by Stan Gilchrist, Founder and Director, Gilchrist Foundation.

Tya Lovett is a Gilchrist Foundation scholarship holder in Archaeology at the University of New England