Dr David Sweet

In mid 2019, after 15 years teaching at the Magill Campus David was appointed to an Adjunct role in Justice & Society.  During this time David was Course Coordinator, Lecturer and Sessional Tutor in a range of communications, public relations, journalism and advertising subjects and until late in 2014, offshore in Hong Kong and Singapore.

David's thesis for his PhD was titled: Talking about family photographs and the Australian Baby Boomer's Legacy.  The thesis opens the literal and metaphoric shoeboxes of photographs and uses these snapshots to investigate the oral histories, memories and narratives they generate.

David undertook a study tour researching oral history centres at Berkley campus, University of California, Winnipeg University and Concordia University, Montréal in late 2017. This provided a foundation to help establish the UniSA Oral History Hub (ohh…), which was launched in June 2018. His current research interests are in oral histories, narratives around family photographs and the use of language in post-traumatic stress for first responders and veterans.

David has published in genealogical and oral history publications and presented at conferences in Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane in Australia. In July 2014 he attended the international conference of the British Sociological Association (summer conference) at Wolfson College, Oxford University. David presented a paper on his PhD research titled: "Grandpa, tell me about the olden days? I have to do a school project."  In 2015 David had a busy year, he presented at two international conferences, one in Vienna and another in his hometown of Adelaide. In addition he presented at the Oral History Australia national conference in Perth. In 2016 he presented a paper at the International Oral History Association conference in Bangalore, India.  David recently had that presentation published in the OHA journal.

David returned to Adelaide in late 2005, after working in Perth since 1994. For the previous thirty years David was involved with public relations and the media at the operational and executive management level covering emergency services, transport and the energy sectors of industry.

In the mid 90's David was appointed Adjunct lecturer at the School of Communication and Multi Media, Edith Cowan University and after leaving the corporate world in 2001, David became a contract Lecturer and Tutor in Public Relations, Journalism, and Advertising at the School.

In addition to this he continues to mentor many Australian and international students in their career and professional development. He has supervised and mentored an Honours student with a research thesis in advertising.

Moving into the world of higher education has been the fourth career for David. He has served in two Police Services (South Australia and Papua New Guinea), he was a Firefighter for almost fourteen years before another career change to the corporate world of media, public relations and advertising.

For ten years (1985-94) David was the (South Australian) State Media Liaison Officer for major Heads of State Visits including: Pope John Paul II, Her Majesty the Queen of England, other Members of the British Royal Family, Queen Beatrice of Holland, and Heads of State from Italy, (West) Germany and Malaysia.

David is a Fellow of the Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA). His elevation to the Fellowship is in recognition to his outstanding contribution to the Institute and the public relations profession. David was formally honoured at a special dinner and presentation in Sydney in October 2007. He is the vice President of the History Council of South Australia, National Secretary for Oral History Australia and State President of Oral History SA/NT.

Besides an avid interest in photographs, David enjoys travel, both international and in Australia. For relaxation he reads, enjoys jazz, has a glass of two of good red wine and grows Bonsai, specialising in Australian natives.

• David is a Fellow of the Public Relations Institute of Australia (SA) (PRIA)

• National Secretary to Oral History Australia: https://oralhistoryaustralia.org.au/

• President to Oral History Australia SA/NT: https://oralhistoryaustraliasant.org.au/

• Vice President to The History Council of SA: https://historycouncilsa.org.au/

Former National Board member of the PRIA and former State President in both South Australia and Western Australia, former Member of the National Education Committee–Public Relations Institute of Australia and a Member of the Association of Justices, SA.