TASA - The Australian Sociology Association

"Last year I was honoured to receive a Postgraduate Scholarship, which reduced the financial pressure of attending the TASA/SAANZ conference.  The scholarship, along with presenting my paper, gave me a sense of confidence about my place in the sociological community.  If you're considering submitting a paper and/or applying for a scholarship, GO FOR IT!  It might seem overwhelming, but be assured that the TASA delegates are a wonderful bunch, they are incredibly generous to 'newbies' and the advice and encouragement you will receive will astound you.  Go on, have a go!!"
Karina J. Butera, PhD Candidate/Tutor: Sociology & Gender Studies, Deakin University, Melbourne

"In the first year of my research I attended the TASA conference in Perth and presented work-in-progress. For me as a PhD candidate in my second year the process of writing a paper, having it peer reviewed and then presenting it to fellow researchers at the TASA/AASR Conference in Auckland was as an important part of the learning process and it was as constructive as it was affirming. Writing the paper for the conference helped me to hone my thinking and advance my thesis. Presenting my contribution, testing it in a scholarly context and receiving peer feedback on the progress and quality of my work were each of particular and practical value to me. The Postgraduate Conference Scholarship provided welcome financial assistance and a fillip to both my confidence and my enthusiasm. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend to postgraduate workshop, though the feedback I received from colleagues who did attend is that I missed out!"
Christopher Baker, PhD Candidate, Swinburne University of Technology

"In 2007, I was one of the recipients of the TASA post-graduate conference award for a solo authored paper within Critical Disability Theory. Receiving the conference scholarship was a great confidence boost, particularly as I was in the depths of my thesis, which at times felt intimidating and isolating. I thoroughly enjoyed the conference and meet some really inspiring women academics, who provided rich critical feedback and in turn, encouraged me to continue with the directions of my work. As a result of their encouragement and with the support of others, I have gathered a small group of Critical Disability Scholars from across Australia together to form a Critical Disability Studies Thematic Group under the TASA umbrella, which will meet at the Melbourne conference for their first meeting."
Karen Soldatic, Phd Student, University of Western Australia

"As a postgraduate student, the preparation of a referred paper for the 2007 TASA Conference was an excellent way of developing a particular aspect of my thesis. I also benefited from the experience of delivering my paper and was encouraged by the feedback that I received from my spoken presentation. Writing for publication is a necessary part of the postgraduate experience and I would encourage all postgraduates to participate in the conference this year."
Elizabeth Povey, PhD Student, University of Western Australia

"I would encourage all post grads working in Sociology to participate in the TASA conference and to submit papers to be refereed and judged for the Postgraduate Scholarship. Writing a thesis is a long journey with many diversions. Often the eventual goal is so distant that the day to day words seem only like drafts - never a final product. Writing is different when you know it will be judged by experienced referees as with the TASA postgrad scholarship - it motivated me to make my paper as tightly argued as possible, with no wasted or irrelevant words."
Riki Lane, PhD Student, La Trobe University

"The highlight of attending the TASA/SAANZ conference last year was the opportunity to hear and meet Linda Tuhiwai Smith, the author of Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples. Her work has had a huge impact on my thinking and praxis as a researcher, and her plenary gave us all insights into the labelling of Maori iwi as terrorists, and the contentions around the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.

  I was really pleased to have the opportunity to present to well known scholars (and receive feedback on my ideas). And of course, the social aspect of meeting other post-grads and academics made all the theory of 'networking' seem less trite.

Many thanks to TASA and SAANZ for the award, Ruth"
Ruth Nicholls, PhD Candidate, University of Western Sydney

"The TASA postgraduate scholarship provided an excellent opportunity for me as a first-year PhD student to present a refereed paper in professional, yet encouraging environment. The whole conference experience was very positive, especially the postgraduate workshop where essential advice was passed from recently finished PhD students to current students. Presenting my paper at the conference gave me a great beginning to my postgraduate student career."
Rebecca Coates, PhD Candidate, University of Queensland

"By accepting TASA scholarship, I had the opportunity to attend TASA Conference and present my refereed paper, meet sociological scholars, and learn a few writing techniques from the postgraduate workshop. It certainly became a very rewarding experience for me to broaden my knowledge and expertise regarding the application of sociological theory in my research project."
Arundina Pratiwi, PhD Student, Flinders