Beauty and fashion.
Homelessness.
The refugee crisis.
Animal welfare and the environment. Books. All things politics.
Yasmine investigates diverse topics through the multimodal form. Answers the questions that matter most.
Journalism.
Yasmine Alwakal won the Journalism Education & Research Association of Australia’s Ossie Award for Best Data Journalism by an Undergraduate or Postgraduate Student for her story ‘Seeing red: the high cost of menstruating’.
Judge Miguel D’Souza, a journalist and trainer with CrossCheck@RMIT, said Alwakal used “robust data sources, expert insights and personal stories to vividly demonstrate the discrimination women face due to menstruation throughout the health system and society”.
He added: “Its strong use of data engaged and informed the reader with a constructive approach to storytelling. Original infographics displayed good composition and understood the need to stand alone and drive informed sharing and conversation.”
Yasmine wrote, designed and edited the ‘Work in Progress’ digital magazine.
With four key pillars spanning across arts, culture, fashion and lifestyle; topics that are often left to specialist or senior career journalists, Yasmine investigated youth tanning culture and conducted a profile on an emerging Australian artist.
Everyone’s a work in progress and so is this magazine. But that should stop journalists producing raw, unfiltered content that cuts through an increasingly fast-paced news cycle.
At Oatlands Public School a woman bows her head in prayer. She asks a volunteer to join her, imploring God to protect and bless Kellie Darley.
It’s election morning and the councillor in question has just returned from a quick trip to her car to collect more campaign posters. In bright orange text, a colour synonymous with Darley’s campaign, the poster reads: “Vote 1 Community Champions. Putting residents and integrity first.”
One week later, at Six Ain’t Seven café in North Parramatta, I ask Darley, who heads the independent Community Champions group, what this really means.
Presenter: Yasmine Alwakal.
Dementia is set to become the leading cause of death in Australia, Prime Minister Albanese has purchased a $4.3 million home in the NSW Central Coast and Kenyan road runner, Ruth Chepngetich has broken the women’s world record at the Chicago Marathon.
Presenter: Yasmine Alwakal.
Social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter has been banned in Brazil. A women has been hospitalised at Dreamworld Gold Coast after a tiger attack and British pop sensation Adele has announced she will be taking a hiatus from music and touring.
Yasmine has recently been awarded the 2024 Student Journalist of the Year. This award recognises creativity, originality and impactful storytelling for undergraduate Journalism students.
Yasmine says “It was inspiring to be surrounded by so many industry-leading professionals at the Awards ceremony last night. Thank you to the University of Technology Sydney and my many mentors for their guidance and support.”
Self-proclaimed shopping addict, Grace Higgins doesn’t like to look at her bank balance.
She estimates to have amassed $20,000 in online shopping purchases. These orders didn’t put an immediate dent in Higgin’s bank account, rather could be paid back over four interest-free instalments thanks to ‘buy now, pay later’ (BNPL) services like Afterpay, Zip or Paypal.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, women are living longer, more fulfilling lives. Australian women live approximately 4.2 years longer than their male counterparts, are more likely to complete undergraduate or postgraduate tertiary education and as of February 2024, 60.9% of all women comprise Australia’s active workforce compared to 39.5% in 1978.
Yet for many, this a life burdened with disease.
With the hotly debated Anti-Discrimination (Religious Vilification) Bill recently passed in New South Wales, queer Christian and Youth Pastor; Ella Evans reflects on her identity and what it means to belong to a place.
This short documentary grapples with the convergence of religion, law and ethics and encourages viewers to reconsider the biases and prejudices we all hold.
Whether it be politics, science, law or ethics - our current environmental crisis can sometimes seem out of this world, out of reach.
And that is where The Green House comes in. I, your host Yasmine Alwakal bring these concerns back to home and help explain how recent environmental phenomena actually effects the world we live in.
This episode takes a deep dive on corporate greenwashing and investigates whether it is being funded by consumers wallets.
Tranquil. Secluded. Fenced off.
Western Sydney Lakes in Penrith rivals the size of Sydney Harbour and could be the solution to the region’s early heatwave.
The lakes have been categorised as ‘primary recreation contact’ – yet remain closed off to the public.
“A highly intelligent academic. Witty. Stubbornly independent.”
That is how daughter, Penelope Redmond once described her father. Now, he can’t even remember who she is.
A lifetime ago, Associate Professor John W. Redmond was an esteemed Pharmacist and Chemist in Australia’s scientific community. At 86 years old, John suffers from advanced Alzheimer’s dementia and resides among 12 other residents in the restrictive Webb unit of Arcare Aged Care facility.
Over 10 years ago, Australians crowded around television screens, waiting expectantly as Julia Gillard’s first public statement as prime minister was broadcast across the nation. As Gillard took to the podium, an inside joke began making the rounds amongst some female journalists in a small corner of Twitter.
“I can’t wait to see what she’s wearing.”
To which another journo replied: “Her hair looks good.”
What if a rich and a homeless person discuss whether money really makes you happy? Or two scientists ask, are aliens real?How about if a priest and an atheist debate on the existence of God?
And what if you got to ask all the questions?
Maybe it’s a recipe for disaster, but it will certainly be the most interesting dinner party conversation you’ll ever listen to. This is Dinner for Three and today on the menu we ask ‘Is it better to rent or buy?’
Seventy years ago, skin bleaching ads promised to transform “ugly sun-tan face shadows” into the “delicate fairness of complexion that every woman desires.” Seventeen years ago, beauty education failed to consider non-White populations. Last month, footage of a professionals makeup artist applying the wrong shade of foundation to a dark skinned model went viral on TikTok.
And still, change has not been achieved...
One post, two-hundred followers and a three-year contract. That is how a world of glitz and glamour, toxicity and tokenism began for this Australian model.
Like many in an increasingly digitalised age, she was scouted via Instagram to consider modelling. This seemingly suspicious message turned into a legitimate job offer.
Each night, domestic cats can kill between five and thirty mammals.
The recent NSW State of the Environment Report found stray felines kill up to 2.4 billion animals each year – mostly native species.
This means Australian wildlife are at least twenty times more likely to encounter killer cats than natural predators...
Nine years and five prime ministers later, Australia has finally accepted New Zealand’s offer to settle 450 offshore refugees.
The longstanding deal was first struck by former prime ministers Julia Gillard (Australia) and John Key (New Zealand) in 2013. On March 24th 2022 outgoing Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews announced that 150 refugees from Australia’s Naru and Manus regional processing centres will be resettled in New Zealand each year, for three years.
By July of 2023 the Federal Budget is estimated to cut almost $40 million from the homelessness sector, amid surging demand for more accessible services.
Chris Cleary, the CEO and founder of non-profit organisation; Street Med Incorporated has provided holistic, street level first aid to Western Sydney’s homeless community since 2014.
NSW authorities continue to prosecute First Nations Peoples for fishing in their own waters – despite Native Title provisions already protecting this inherit right.
The Parliamentary inquiry into Indigenous cultural fishing rights will examine why legal amendments to the Fisheries Management Act has not commenced almost thirteen years after it was passed into law.
Australian Publishers Association News.
Yasmine was responsible for writing internal and external communications copy for the Open Book Publishing Internship, 2024. Drawing upon her experience as a 2023 Shortlistee, her writing style appealed to both prospective interns and host organisations including Allen & Unwin, Ultimo Press, UNSW Press, Hachette Australia, Affirm Press and Cambridge University Press, as promoted via their social media accounts.
Yasmine also devised all social imagery, including still and moving graphics for promotional purposes.
From the impact and opportunities of Artificial Intelligence and Design Thinking, through to the practicalities of metadata, and publishing First Nations voices, the BookUp 2023 conference challenged attendees' perspectives on a broad range of topics.
‘BookUp was such a huge success. The program was topical and relevant with great speakers, industry experts, panel discussions and presentations.’ said Louise Stark; CEO, Hachette Australia.
Over the course of a long career, when it comes to what she's selling Louise O’Leary’s philosophy is, 'as the French say "plus ca change"'! From Penguin classics, Peter Rabbit and Jamie Oliver through to newer releases like Bluey, Louise’s has seen and sold it all, and her devotion to her craft and unparalleled work ethic remains strong.
From planning dictionary projects with multilingual teams in Paris, visiting natural history authors in California, writing children’s non-fiction books and teaching at Macquarie University, through to working closely with bestselling and debut Australian authors, these are just some of the moments which have distinguished an impressive publishing career for Scott Forbes over 35 years.
A fountain of knowledge', 'Fabulous to work with', 'A unique blend of talent, knowledge and calm efficiency' – 2023 George Robertson Award recipient Jane Kembrey has booksellers, publishers and authors from around the globe singing her praises, and seeking her advice.
For over 46 years Jane has put books into the hands of millions of readers, and made an invaluable contribution to the publishing industry as Sales & Marketing Manager at UNSW Press and NewSouth Books.
For Sean Cotcher, Head of Key Accounts at HarperCollins Publishers, no two days are the same. From working on some of the biggest brands in the world, J.R.R. Tolkein to J.K. Rowling, reading Robert Jordan’s first manuscript The Eye of the World to selling Jordan's final book 23 years later – 'there is always something different to discuss, a new story to sell'.
He looks back at the recent changes in technology and how stories have helped him retain a passion for publishing over thirty years.
From Enid Blyton to Roald Dahl and Beverly Cleary, Jo-Ann Milne was a voracious reader as a child and in her teen years was introduced to the world of romance by her aunt, and admits that since then her heart has not stood a chance!
Many years later, Jo-Ann continues to wear her heart on her sleeve and bring that very same love of literature to work with her each day.
The introduction of 13 digit ISBNs, computerisation, audio books and print on demand aren’t the only changes Kate Hoy has experienced over her 30 year publishing career. Working her way from a bookseller at the National Gallery Bookshop in Canberra to product and DK director at Penguin Random House, Kate has been instrumental in the publishing of phenomenal bestsellers including The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown and Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James.
Shortlisted for the Australian publishing industry’s Rising Star award in 2023, meet Tom Langshaw, commissioning editor at Pantera Press.
Whether it be memoir, non-fiction or personal development titles, Tom is always on the look for compelling new Australian voices and stories which ask big questions of their readers. Tom says there is nothing like working ‘with a talented person who is on the same page’ as he gives us insights into his career to date, and hopes for the future of the industry.
Shortlisted for the Australian publishing industry’s Rising Star award in 2023, meet Kajal Narayan, head of marketing at Pantera Press.
A natural creative, Kajal has led Pantera's most successful marketing campaign to date achieving unprecedented online engagement. Always keen to learn more Kajal says she is particularly looking forward to the upcoming BookUp conference 'It's so fantastic to see sessions at the conference this year on metadata and responsibly publishing books from First Nations authors'.
Shortlisted for the 2023 Australian publishing industry’s Rising Star award, HarperCollins and HQ Books digital marketing manager Eloise Plant is always working creatively and looking for new solutions to embrace change.
With the rise of artificial intelligence Eloise says ‘it would be great to see the industry grapple with this new technology’ (which is just what will happen at this year's BookUp conference), as she shares insights into her career to date, and hopes for the future of the industry.
Zoo and Aquarium Association of Australasia News.
While extinction is a natural part of life, animals evolve and become extinct over time – the rate of species extinction is occurring between 100 and 1000 times more quickly than scientists expected. The IUCN Red List reports that 28% of all assessed plants and animals are threatened with extinction.
With Endangered Species Day (May 19) and International Day for Biological Diversity (May 22) this month, zoos and aquariums prove they are the beating heart of contemporary conservation efforts.
It has been a busy time for the Australian trade and tourism sector, with the THRIVE 2023 strategy re-issued, investment in tourism growing and the ‘Tourism Forecasts for Australia, 2022 to 2027’ report released.
In March, THRIVE2023, in collaboration with Australian, State and Territory Ministers have revised and reimagined their Visitor Economy Strategy to reflect governmental priorities for First Nations tourism, climate change and long-term sustainable growth.
For the first time in over 50 years, a city in the southern hemisphere has been chosen to host WorldPride. This momentous celebration has seen institutions including Zoos Victoria, SEA LIFE Sydney, Wellington Zoo and Taronga Zoo embrace the Pride spirit.
One such example was Zoos Victoria’s participation in the Midsumma Festival Pride March to embrace all people and animals. Zoos Victoria said they couldn’t be prouder to support making Victoria a safer and more inclusive place for Australians from diverse backgrounds.
Palm oil is the most widely used vegetable oil around the world and can be found in about 50% of the products you buy in store, including pre-packaged foods, cosmetics, cleaning supplies and pet food. This unsustainable expansion has driven deforestation (primarily in Southeast Asia), contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, human rights abuses and has put wildlife conservation at stake in some of the world’s most biodiverse hotspots.
As a sector, zoos and aquariums have the power to make positive changes and ensure the ongoing wellbeing of people, animals and ecosystems for years to come. Through this lens, the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals provides a universal blueprint to improve education, reduce inequality and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and protecting the planet in the process.