Ms Katrina McLachlan

I am an online course facilitator for the Bachelor of Digital Media and Bachelor of Communications and have responsibility for leading the development and delivery of online teaching for UniSA Online students in those programs. My role involves working closely with divisional staff at UniSA to provide high-quality online teaching to undergraduate students and to coordinate the day-to-day activities of online tutoring staff.

As a digital media communications specialist with more than 25 years’ experience as a journalist, media adviser, digital media creative and corporate communications manager I have an intimate knowledge of the South Australian, Australian and international media, political, education and business landscapes and bring this industry focus to my work as a Teaching Academic.

Throughout my career I have experienced massive changes in journalism and digital media creation, business models and publication forms along with significant changes in Higher Education curriculum design and delivery.  Digitisation is revolutionising modes of, and opportunity for, learning and as Professor Glyn Davis, in his book The Australian Idea of a University, argues, “experimentation, innovation and resilience are the only way Australia’s universities will endure”. Many academics would be overwhelmed with the need for ongoing innovation but as a working professional, industry connected teaching academic who has been part of the talented teaching team at UniSA Online since before the launch of the first programs, I see this changing landscape as an enormous opportunity.

The University of South Australia has always been an innovative, outward-looking institution known for its strong and engaged research and its graduate employment outcomes and so my research focus is on the design and delivery of authentic and engaging learning experiences that prepare digital media and journalism graduates for professional practice.

As a media professional I am passionate about news, storytelling and entrepreneurial media business models. As an academic, I combine my working industry knowledge with my educational experience and research findings to implement authentic and engaging learning experiences for students to build both their technical skills and their professional practice capabilities.

I have been a member of the Hunter Institute of Mental Health Mindframe Education Advisory Board overseeing the MindFrame guidelines for the responsible reporting of mental health and suicide.  I am a judge and social media manager for the MEAA Walkley South Australian Media Awards (2003-present) and a member of many professional organisations including MEAA Women in Media and Women in Innovation.

As an industry-focused teaching academic, in a discipline that is always changing, I strive to constantly update my professional practice skills and knowledge and embed best-practice approaches into my curriculum development and teaching practice. This professional practice has included being a co-developer and director of the entrepreneurial digital media storytelling business Stories Well Told that works with a range of clients and creative agencies across Australia. Working on a range of digital media projects for clients further motivates me to deliver authentic learning experiences that will genuinely prepare UniSA students for rewarding and successful careers in digital media and digital journalism.

MEAA Women in Media

Women in Innovation

Australian Collaborative Education Network Limited (ACEN)

Adobe Education Exchange Member

Member of Higher Education Research Group of Adelaide

MindFrame National Advisory Group Board: Hunter Institute of Mental Health

Member of Public Relations Institute of Australia.

Professional Member of the Australian Institute of Management

Corporate Member of the Marketing Institute of Australia

Qualifications

• Masters of Educational Leadership (In Progress) University of South Australia

• Graduate Diploma in Education The University of Adelaide

• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) The University of Adelaide

• Bachelor of Arts The University of Adelaide

• Bachelor of Arts (Journalism) University of South Australia

Work history

UniSA Online Bachelor of Digital Media and Bachelor of Communcations Teaching Academic July 2017- Present

Stories Well Told Director 2012 - Present

University of South Australia Media Liaison Coordinator 2015 - 2017

Motor Accident Commission Corporate Communications and Policy Manager June - December 2015

Media and Communications Manger Anglicare 2011 –  2013

Adelaide Anglican Archbishop Media Adviser and Editor of The Guardian 2011 – 2015

UniSA Bachelor of Journalism Teaching Academic 2001 - 2017

Communications and freelance journalism contracts 1995 - 2010

Journalist at the Southern Highlands Times 1991 - 1994