
The Swanston Gazette
Featured Writers

Erin Visagie
LOVISA CONTENT SPECIALIST FASHION & LIFESTYLE JOURNALIST. 2022 PRIVATE MEDIA DIVERSITY AWARD WINNER. COPYWRITER.CONTENT CREATOR.COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST/TUTOR.COFFEE LOVER. FINALIST IN 7NEWS YOUNG ACHIEVER AWARDS & SEMI FINALIST IN 7NEWS YOUNG ACHIEVER …
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Natalie Fleming
I am a third-year journalism student at RMIT with a passion for storytelling and providing a platform for Victorians to share their experiences. Throughout my course, I have developed a …
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Lilian Bernhardt
Hello there! I am a freelance journalist and copywriter based in Melbourne. I am particularly interested in social and environmental issues and the people championing their various solutions.
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The Swanston Gazette Print Edition - 2025, Issue 6
Products are inevitably tailored towards male needs and experiences, leaving women to navigate a world where everyday objects overlook their bodies and perspectives.

The Swanston Gazette Print Edition - 2024, Issue 5
Australian home buyers have been struggling to call a place home after the decline in housing availability and affordability.

#HealingMyInnerChild
Healing your inner child. Hear of it? If you've spent more than five minutes online, you have. #healinginnerchild #innerchildhealingjourney #innerchildwork #innerchildwounds

Unveiling The Shadows On Melbourne’s Public Transport Network
By Kiara Angelini The bustling city of Melbourne is known for its vibrant culture, rich history, and diverse population. But beneath the surface lies a network of stories that often lingers in the shadows. Commuters, particularly women, fear for their safety on Melbourne’s public transport network.For many commuters, the public …

Who owns the night sky?
The first time I saw the StarLink satellite pass overhead, I was in regional Victoria with my friends. We’d just finished dinner at a Thai restaurant before we stepped outside to head to our cars. The sky was full of stars and we pointed out familiar constellations to each other. …

Are we under the spell of the moon?
Whether it’s feeling out of touch with oneself or tossing and turning at night, many criticise the moon as the root of these challenges. But does this celestial body actually affect us?

Home and Away: Australia's third culture youth missing from the multicultural conversation
A generation of young Australians is growing up navigating multiple cultures. Balancing life in Australia and the weight of cultural expectation. They speak multiple languages, shift between customs, and often find themselves translating not just words, but their entire characters, treading carefully on a thin line between pride and pressure.Third …

Looking for lesbians in ads? Blink and you’ll miss 'em
Nearly eight years later, and I’m still surprised when I see a lesbian couple in an ad. Don't get me wrong, it fills me with joy every time, because hey, there’s someone like me! But disappointingly, those moments are few and far between...

Does any learner driver really do 120 hours?
“I find the other class not so much, because the parents don’t have time[or] can’t be bothered. It’s not what they want to be doing, and they’re not on board to help the kids, so the kids fake their hours.” “I find the other class not so much, because the …

You hear that? It’s the sound of a politician on your favourite podcast and they're not quietening down.
A means of reaching Gen Z or a strategy to avoid scrutiny?

You hear that? It’s the sound of a politician on your favourite podcast.
Abbie Chatfield became a familiar name on the seventh season of the Australian Bachelor in 2019. Six years later, on a tram on my way to work, I found myself tuning into her pop culture podcast, ‘It’s A Lot.’

Met Gala 2025: Celebrating Black Dandyism
Adorned with daffodils from head to toe, the Metropolitan Museum of Art transformed into a floral fantasy as it welcomed guests onto a striking blue carpet for the 2025 Met Gala. Beneath the glamour of the event, lies a much deeper cultural recognition and appreciation.The event kicked off with an …



Behind the ring lights: inside the troubling world of “kidfluencers”
Quickly rocketing to a place in the Top Ten of Netflix Australia’s TV shows, Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing, has sparked a frenzy around the ethics of online child stars.

The Real Harm of Reality TV: Married at First Sight Sensationalising Abuse
Reality TV is known to be highly produced and edited content that profits off controversies and drama, both on screen and off.The latest season of Australia’s favourite reality TV show, Married at First Sight (MAFS), has sparked criticism for how it has handled domestic violence.In February, South Sydney Police launched …

Federal Budget 2025: what's in store for you?
Student debt repayments are set to be reduced by 20% if Labor is re-elected, eliminating $19 billion in debt for over 3 million students.“University education is a life-changing opportunity, but it should not leave Australians with a lifetime of debt,” said Jim Chalmers to the House of Representatives.The main point …

Revved up and ready to race: Drive to Survive and social media boost F1 excitement
In the first episode of Netflix’s hit docuseries, Formula 1: Drive to Survive, drivers are compared to fighter pilots. They are fearless, calculated, and have a terrifying willingness to put their lives on the line every day.The Melbourne Grand Prix took place last week, and while attendance peaking is partly …

Iconic Melbourne music venue 'The Gaso' to close
Known by punters in Melbourne as The Gaso, the venue has become one of cornerstones of Melbourne's nightlife and music scene. With its history dating back to the 1860s, it has become home to a range of live performances across diverse genres.One of its unique features is the opening roof …


Faces of Melbourne: Martin ‘Louie’ Mayfield
Every day, he wakes early, travelling from his Fitzroy apartment to Southern Cross Station by 7 am. He works as a Big Issue vendor at the station until 10 am. Mayfield’s work as a vendor for The Big Issue began in 1996 when he and his wife were living in …

The Swanston Gazette Print Edition - 2024, Issue 5
An updated version of my article about the international student cap for the Print Edition of The Swanston Gazette.

The Swanston Gazette Print Edition - 2024, Issue 5
Australia’s home buyers have been struggling to call a place home after the decline in housing availability and affordability.

Children's social media ban: justified or not needed?
Procrastination, FOMO and addiction to screens are just some of the struggles younger generations face as a consequence of social media use. But what is it costing young people? This proposal will be put forth at the end of 2024, with TikTok, Instagram and Facebook being some of the banned …

Rising complaints regarding inaction by RMIT security
Concerns have risen regarding the inaction taken by security on RMIT’s City Campus to uphold their duty of care to RMIT students.Hilary’s experience on campus last semester was “the first time [she’s] had any kind of incident where [she’s] had to call security”.The third-year RMIT student was studying late at …

Government evades responsibility for specialist schooling in Disability Royal Commission response
As teachers themselves, his parents thought a dual schooling approach would help the kids at school get to know Ethan on a more “mutual ground”, as well as helping his siblings through having their brother in amongst their peers. Jane believes that in an ideal world fully integrated education systems …

Fashioned for Activism: The role of art in Pro-Palestinian expressions
“Creating that space of sharing stories is kind of its activism through art and culture. It’s bringing the most beautiful songs and stories and art all of that in kind of a way to tell the story without using violence of any sort but still being heard. It’s bringing your …

How an international student cap will affect Australian universities
The federal government has proposed a plan to limit the number of international student enrolments in Australian universities.

Rain or Shine: Melbourne says ‘No More’ to violence against women
The rain didn’t stop hundreds of Melbournians protesting ongoing violence against women in Australia. Arranged by the indigenous-led organisation ‘What were you wearing?’ (WWYW), the rallies are calling for urgent change and support from men as well as the federal government, to eliminate gender-based violence.The rally was one of 25 …

