Murdoch University School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

We are very pleased to share an upcoming book event for Search for Security: AUKUS and the New Militarism, edited by Professor Kanishka Jayasuriya from Murdoch University Politics and International Relations, with Mark Beeson and Sian Troath.

Hosted at The Lane Bookshop in Claremont, the event will feature Professor Jayasuriya in conversation with Professor Mark Beeson, a former Murdoch doctoral student and faculty member, with an introduction by Peter Dowding SC.

The volume also includes a chapter by recent Murdoch Politics and International Relations doctoral graduate Dr Trissia Wijaya, “Who wins, who loses: AUKUS as militarised neoliberalism”.

This is a terrific showcase of Murdoch’s continuing contribution to major debates in Australian foreign policy, security, political economy and international relations.

Event details and bookings:

Search for Security: AUKUS and the new militarism We’re proud to welcome Mark Beeson and Kanishka Jayasuriya to discuss Search for Security: AUKUS and The New Militarism, introduced by Peter...

Congratulations Professor Simon Adams Adams, Professor of Human Rights (HASS) at Murdoch University University, on the publication of two timely and important new articles examining the human rights stakes of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In The Conversation Australia + NZ, Simon explores how US border crackdowns are already affecting referees, athletes and fans, raising serious questions about access, mobility and fairness at one of the world’s biggest sporting events.

Read the article here: https://theconversation.com/referees-athletes-fans-how-the-us-border-crackdowns-are-tarnishing-the-world-cup-284957

In International Press Service, Simon expands this discussion in “The World Cup of Human Rights,” offering a powerful reflection on what it means to host a truly global tournament in a world shaped by borders, exclusion and inequality.

Full article: https://www.ipsnews.net/2026/06/the-world-cup-of-human-rights/

Simon’s work continues to make vital contributions to public debate, bringing rigorous human rights analysis to the urgent political and social issues shaping our world.

The World Cup of Human Rights This planet’s biggest sporting event—the FIFA Men’s World Cup—will soon kick off. Millions of people around the world will sit up, bleary eyed, watching matches at unreasonable hours and inventing feeble excuses for why we won’t be at work in the morning. More than one billion are expected...

It is wonderful to see photographic artist, HASS Lecturer and Murdoch University PhD Candidate Chloe Bartram featured as part of the FOTO Bali Festival 2026 Artist Talks this week.

Chloe will join Kate Perfilieva in conversation about the ideas, creative processes and personal histories that inform their work. Chloe’s project, Celestia, explores landscape, memory and colonial narratives, offering a thoughtful reflection on the power of photography to connect place, history and lived experience.

The discussion highlights the ways photography can bring personal experience into conversation with broader social, cultural and historical questions—an approach that resonates strongly with the interdisciplinary and creative work undertaken across HASS.

We wish Chloe and all participants every success for the festival!

We are proud to announce that Murdoch University School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences will sponsor CAUSINDY 2026!

Murdoch has been engaged with CAUSINDY for more than a decade and values the opportunity it provides for young Australians and Indonesians to connect through this unique volunteer-led Track II diplomacy initiative.

We are especially proud that our colleague, David Scholefield, serves as a Director of CAUSINDY, while current Murdoch student Anastasia Koo 潘韵竹 is leading the organisation as CEO.

Each year, CAUSINDY brings together some of the brightest emerging leaders from Australia and Indonesia through a thematic conference held alternately in both countries, creating opportunities for dialogue, collaboration and innovative thinking on the pressing challenges facing our region.

We are also delighted that Murdoch Senior Lecturer in Global Security, Dr Ian Wilson, will be presenting to delegates on the Just Energy Transition.

We wish all delegates a rewarding and inspiring four days of discussion, learning and connection.

Semangat! 🇦🇺🇮🇩

Two theatre showcases at Nexus Theatre last Thursday celebrated the talent and creativity of Murdoch University’s Theatre and Creative Production students.

The evening began with EGL101 Theatre Elements, a foundational unit introducing students to theatre history, performance theory, acting, production skills and major theatrical traditions. Students brought to life scenes spanning more than two millennia of theatre history, from Plautus’ Miles Gloriosus and the medieval Second Shepherds’ Play to Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest and Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot. Few theatre programs in Western Australia offer students the opportunity to engage practically and critically with such a rich breadth of theatrical styles, periods and performance traditions within a single unit.

The second showcase featured EGL214 Acting for Stage and Screen, a brand-new unit that combines textual study with conservatoire-style studio training. Students tackled challenging works including Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire, Patricia Cornelius’ Love, Emmanuelle Mattana’s Trophy Boys and Clare Barron’s Dance Nation. Their performances demonstrated remarkable courage, insight, technical skill and imaginative flair.

Across both showcases, students surpassed themselves. The standard of work was exceptional, with performances that were thoughtful, inventive, moving and often dazzling. Tickets sold out, reflecting the growing excitement surrounding Theatre and Creative Production at Murdoch.

Unit Coordinator Dr Alys Daroy and fellow Theatre and Creative Production academic Associate Dean Learning and Teaching Dr Melissa Merchant (SFHEA), were very proud of what the students achieved. These showcases highlighted the distinctive nature of Murdoch’s style, namely, practical training underpinned by university-level critical inquiry, delivered through individualised support and close mentoring.

Prospective students, parents and guardians interested in learning more about our Theatre and Creative Production program are warmly invited to get in touch with Academic Chair Dr Alys Daroy at [email protected].

Professor James “Jim” Warren, Emeritus Professor at Murdoch University and Senior Fellow at the Indo-Pacific Research Centre, Murdoch University, recently delivered a public lecture at Xiamen University as part of the Special Lecture Series commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Research Institute for Southeast Asian Studies.

Held on 27 May, Professor Warren’s lecture, “‘Passing Over’: The back story behind over five decades of teaching and historical research about Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean World”, reflected on a remarkable scholarly career dedicated to the histories, peoples and cultures of Southeast Asia and the wider Indian Ocean World.

Professor Warren’s visit to Xiamen City, which was historically known as Amoy, took place from 26–28 May. His invitation to speak as part of this significant anniversary series recognises his outstanding international contribution to Southeast Asian history and his enduring role in shaping cross-cultural scholarly exchange.

Congratulations Professor Warren on this prestigious invitation and decades of influential scholarship.

Master of Community Development students Alejandra Villaroel Monroy and Janeth Perez Hernandez will be working in the remote Aboriginal community of Punmu in the Shire of East Pilbara for four weeks over the winter break. The students successfully applied to work in this unique setting following an invitation from the Punmu Community Coordinator.

This opportunity has eventuated from a long-standing relationship with the Shire of East Pilbara and the mutual desire for Murdoch Community Development students to use their knowledge, contribute their skills and gain first-hand experience and understanding of life in some of Australia's most remote Aboriginal communities. Edith Costello from Punmu has now made this an annual offering for Community Development students.

Negotiations are ongoing to provide the same opportunity for students in other Aboriginal communities in the Shire of East Pilbara.

The Community Development team hopes to expand this programme into other areas of the state over the coming years.

We are delighted to share that one of Dr Barbara Ribeiro, PhD’s Shark Flow paintings will be exhibited at the annual Rotary Art Show and Sale at Westfield Booragoon from 8–14 June 2026.

A Sustainable Development academic in Murdoch University’s School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, Dr Ribeiro’s teaching and research explore the complex relationships between people, communities and the environment. Her work encourages students and the wider public to think critically about sustainability challenges and the actions needed to create more environmentally responsible futures.

Through her Shark Flow series, Dr Ribeiro extends this work beyond the classroom and into the public sphere, using art as a moving form of environmental communication. The paintings capture the beauty and movement of sharks while raising awareness of the alarming decline in shark populations worldwide.

The featured work depicts a Giant Guitarfish, a group of species now classified as critically endangered due to overfishing for their high-value fins and meat. As the Shark Flow project reminds us, sharks may be perceived as frightening, but they are also beautiful and vital to maintaining the balance of life in our oceans.

The exhibition also provides an opportunity for visitors to support both conservation and community initiatives. When a Shark Flow painting is purchased, 25% is donated to the Australian Marine Conservation Society to support marine conservation and shark protection, while a further 25% is donated to Rotary to support humanitarian initiatives, including peacebuilding and community programs.

If you’re visiting Westfield Booragoon between 8 and 14 June, be sure to stop by and explore this inspiring exhibition, which demonstrates how research, teaching, creativity and community engagement can work together to inspire positive environmental change.

Congratulations to our talented students in EGL231 Poetry as Performance: Sonnet to Slam, who presented a sensational showcase at the Murdoch Guild Tavern on Tuesday evening.

Creating and performing original poems responding to the theme Love and Repair, students brought an extraordinary range of creative voices and performance styles to the stage. The works ranged from mythological reimaginings to intimate confessional pieces, threaded together with humour, vulnerability, insight and heart.

It was a wonderful celebration of poetry as both performance and connection, with Unit Coordinator Dr Alys Daroy joined by colleagues from the English & Creative Writing team, alongside the poets’ family and friends, for a truly special evening.

Congratulations again to all our wonderful students on such courageous and compelling work 👏🏽❤️

From thought-provoking conversations to creative discoveries and unexpected moments of inspiration, Murdoch University Open Day was a vibrant celebration of everything the humanities, arts and social sciences have to offer.

We welcomed future students, families, alumni and community members and HASS was proud to showcase the extraordinary breadth, creativity and impact of our disciplines.

Across the day, visitors explored experiences spanning Philosophy, Politics, Sociology, Asian Studies and Languages, English and Creative Writing, Sustainable Development, History, Community Development, Theatre and Creative Production, Human Rights and more. From interactive workshops to cultural demonstrations, conversations with researchers and hands-on creative activities, the campus was alive with curiosity and connection.

A heartfelt thank you to all of the academic and professional staff, current students, volunteers, alumni and community partners whose generosity, expertise and enthusiasm made the day such a success. Open Day is never simply about showcasing degrees— it is about creating spaces where people can imagine futures. We are so proud to have been part of a day in which prospective students discover passions and encounter new ways of understanding the world and one another.

At a time when the humanities, arts and social sciences are more important than ever (an age of declining critical thinking due to AI and misinformation) it was inspiring to see so many meaningful conversations taking place about culture, storytelling, creativity, justice, communication, sustainability and social change. These disciplines help us make sense of the complexities of contemporary life and shape more thoughtful, compassionate and imaginative futures.

Thank you to everyone who joined us. We loved sharing the day with you.

Photographs thanks to Dr Ali Hayes.