These awards recognise and celebrate students in the Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture for their contributions to ADA’s student experience and equity, diversity, and inclusion. Our 2022 winners reflect the passion, commitment and creativity of our student cohort!
MEET THE WINNERS!
EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION STUDENT AWARD
We recognise the value of diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds, and acknowledge that these contributions may not always be immediately visible. This award, therefore, seeks to recognise and celebrate the contributions of students from diverse backgrounds and experiences to our faculty.
KODIE MASON (she/her), is a proud Dharawal, Ngarigo, and Dunghutti woman from La Perouse. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Social Research and policy majoring in Indigenous studies. Through her business, @malima.km, Kodie has engaged with UNSW Health, ADA, and Arc to conduct Aboriginal weaving workshops and bush plant and tea workshops with UNSW staff and students for cultural awareness, healing, and education. She is also a tutor through Nura Gili and provides academic support and advice to Indigenous students in ADA subjects. She has a passion for education and hopes to use her skills and knowledge to help others, in both an academic and cultural sense. Through her activities at Uni, Kodie hopes to use education as a tool for inclusivity.
LUCA SAWYER (she/her), is a proud Wiradjuri woman who grew up on Biripi Country on the Mid-North Coast. She is an undergraduate in Arts/Law with a major in creative writing and minor in Indigenous studies. She chose these subjects because she is passionate about storytelling and celebrating Aboriginal culture. She came to UNSW in 2017 for the Indigenous Winter School and a few months later, the Indigenous Preparatory Programs, which made her love & embrace UNSW.
TIAH PAYNE (she/her), is a proud Aboriginal woman studying a Bachelor of Social Work (Hons) at UNSW. She is currently completing her second year of study. She has contributed to ADA’s community and culture through being a student ambassador for the Matraville Sports High School Uni Taster program, assisting Year 12 students with UAC applications, and assisting with on-campus workshops. She has also participated in the ADA First Nations promotional photography and video. Further to this, Tiah has been a tutor and this year will also be on Nura Gili’s Indigenous Social Work pre-program.
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DAYEON SEO (she/her), is passionate about creating a more diverse and inclusive learning environment for all. She believes University should always be a place where everyone feels safe to learn and grow. As a representative for the English & Creative Writing Student Consultative Group and the Humanities & Languages Student Advisory Board, Dayeon helps build bridges between domestic and international students, discussing ways to further support international students. She is also an editor for the Law Society’s social justice publications, Run the World and Shades of Injustice.
ROSE RAFFAELE (she/her), is a fourth year Global Development & Politics and International Relations student undertaking a Bachelor of Arts at UNSW. She loves what she studies and being a part of the UNSW community. As someone who is neurodiverse, Rose has a passion for a more inclusive UNSW community that lifts up and equips students who are neurodiverse, able-diverse and have long-term health conditions, to thrive – academically, professionally, and personally.
ADA STUDENT EXPERIENCE AWARD
This award seeks to identify and celebrate students who are going above and beyond in their contributions to ADA’s student experience. We acknowledge the importance of recognising and celebrating the many ways that our students positively shape our student experience. While we take great pride in the academic success and engagement of our students academically, we are equally proud of the myriad of ways that they immerse themselves in, and contribute to, the ADA student experience.
KATE MESAGLIO (she/her), is a fifth-year Social Work/Arts student majoring in Politics and International Relations, minoring in Global Development. She is currently completing her Social Work Honours thesis which focuses on technology-facilitated abuse and the courts. She also currently works at a women’s domestic violence and homelessness service. Kate has been a member of the Social Work Student Association (SWSA) since 2020, as Secretary, President, and most recently as Grievance Officer. During her time with SWSA, Kate has worked with her peers and staff to improve the experiences of Social Work students, offering support where possible.
NAYONIKA BHATTACHARYA (she/they), is a final-year Arts/Law student at UNSW. She is an international student of Indian heritage raised in the Sultanate of Oman. Nayonika has been actively involved in her local community, currently as the President of the UNSW Student Representative Council and as the NSW Ambassador for MYAN Australia, Hockey NSW, and the Institute for Economics and Peace. She has also been involved as a City of Sydney Ambassador in supporting international students and was a 2019 International Student Award winner finalist and the 2021 Betty Makin Youth Award winner.
LIZZIE CROUCH (she/her), is a creative producer who specialises in bringing together people with different expertises, backgrounds and lived experiences to create spaces for new possibilities to emerge. Among other roles, she has been a Senior Coordinator of Engagement for SensiLab, Monash University, produced art-science seasons for the Science Gallery network (MOUTHY, London and BLOOD, Melbourne), and has freelanced for organisations including Superflux and the Francis Crick Institute. She is currently a PhD candidate at UNSW, where she is investigating how practices that bring arts and sciences together can create more inclusive experiences.
TANYA KWEE is dedicated to making a more fruitful and rewarding journey for HDR students. She has organised monthly seminars with speakers in Australia and overseas, covering the latest topics on responsive teachers, teacher education, and university-school partnership for the HDR students and academia in the Teacher Education and Professional Development Research Committee. Tanya is also devoted to supporting the growth of the research community and fostering connections between her peers. She has organised a mentoring programme, HDR helpdesk seminar series, and networking meetings to support the HDR students in the School of Education.
LARISSA HOOPER (she/her), is a passionate supporter of city planning. As the current Vice President and former Peer Mentoring Director of the Organisation of Planning Students (OOPS), she has been able to shape the University experience of many of her peers, especially first- year students commencing their degrees. She looks forward to working with OOPS and the City Planning cohort to support our students and create a memorable University experience for all.