Meet the graduates shaping tomorrow

Doctor of Philosophy graduate Mohammad Rastegari was awarded the Chancellor’s Medal for an outstanding PhD thesis that makes a significant contribution to research. 

His work explored the environmental behaviour of antimony, a critical mineral increasingly important in batteries, renewable energy technologies and advanced manufacturing. 

“Antimony is a critical mineral that is attracting increasing global attention due to its importance in batteries, renewable energy technologies, and advanced manufacturing,” he said. 

“I uncovered mechanisms that control whether antimony remains trapped in minerals or is released into the environment. These findings contribute to a better understanding of how contaminated mining environments evolve over time and may help inform future remediation strategies.” 

Reflecting on the award, he said the recognition represents more than academic achievement. 

“When I came from Iran, as an international student to study at Southern Cross University, I never imagined that one day I would receive such a prestigious recognition. 

“To me, the medal represents years of perseverance, curiosity and growth, as well as the support of my supervisors, colleagues, friends and family.” 

Ilma Nishi: Bridging traditional medicine and cancer research 

Doctor of Philosophy graduate Ilma Nishi combined her experience with herbal medicine and cutting-edge research to inform modern cancer care. 

“Growing up in a Sri Lankan household, herbal medicines were a normal part of everyday life. Combined with personal experiences of losing family members and friends to cancer, this sparked my interest in understanding how traditional knowledge and modern science can inform one another,” she said. 

Her research explored how herbal medicines traditionally used for lung and colorectal cancers align with current naturopathic practice and scientific evidence. She mapped more than two centuries of herbal medicine use in cancer management and investigated curcumin, a compound found in turmeric. 

“One of the key findings was that curcumin behaved very differently at concentrations achievable in the human body compared with the much higher concentrations commonly used in laboratory studies,” she said. 

She is passionate about making scientific evidence accessible and is currently working in research and science communication.

Christine Farrell: Advancing inclusion for people with spinal cord injury 

Master of Science graduate Christine Farrell explored the social choices and experiences of people living with tetraplegic spinal cord injury. 

Her work identified a range of barriers to participation, including wheelchair inaccessibility, lack of employment opportunities, negative attitudes, social exclusion and limited political participation. These findings highlight the importance of both personal support systems and broader community inclusivity. 

“I am a quadriplegic, and found my experience with Southern Cross University very good. The University provided me with the assistance I needed to feel equal to other students,” she said. 

Her research emphasises the importance of listening to the perspectives of people with lived experience when shaping policy and support systems.

Christian Eckert: New approaches to atmospheric research 

Doctor of Philosophy graduate Christian Eckert investigated marine aerosols and atmospheric conditions over the Great Barrier Reef using drone‑based observations. 

"My research aimed to improve how we measure and understand aerosol dynamics and atmospheric conditions in coastal and reef environments," he said. 

"I demonstrated that consumer-grade drones can reliably collect atmospheric data up to 1,500 metres, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional methods such as weather balloons." 

"Working on the Great Barrier Reef with the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program was a career highlight. Collaborating with researchers and technical experts during challenging field campaigns was an invaluable experience." 

Christian's research contributes to improved environmental monitoring and a better understanding of marine aerosol dynamics, with applications in climate modelling, weather forecasting and reef management.

Sophia Ellis: Improving coral bleaching predictions 

Doctor of Philosophy graduate Sophia Ellis investigated why corals bleach and how changing environmental conditions affect reef health. 

She also explored whether reducing light through shading could help reduce stress and protect corals during ocean warming events, helping to improve understanding of how reefs respond to marine heatwaves. 

Sophia’s experimental findings were then used to improve a computer model that predicts coral bleaching across the Great Barrier Reef.  

One of the highlights of Sophia's PhD was participating in two field campaigns on the Great Barrier Reef. 

"A highlight was my research trips and seeing the Great Barrier Reef firsthand. I also valued the opportunity to work within a multidisciplinary team, which strengthened my skills in both research and communication," she said. 

Her research contributes to improving coral bleaching predictions and supports efforts to better protect reef ecosystems in a changing climate. 

Declan Forrester: Understanding colour and emotion 

Doctor of Philosophy graduate Declan Forrester examined how colour shapes emotional perception in everyday contexts. 

“My research focuses on colour‑emotion associations and how physical and psychological context influences how we process emotions,” he said. 

His findings showed that colour can influence emotional interpretation across words, facial expressions and emojis, particularly when meaning is ambiguous. 

“Colour influences how we process emojis, and ambiguous emojis are more likely to be perceived negatively if presented with red,” he said. 

His research has practical applications for digital communication, design and understanding human perception. 

Declan said his time at Southern Cross University was defined by the people he worked with and the opportunities he had to teach and get involved in research along the way.    

He is now back at Southern Cross University in a full-time lecturing role in the Faculty of Education, where he teaches educational psychology. 

Verity Beames: Supporting teacher development and evaluation 

Doctor of Education graduate Verity Beames investigated how school principals assess early career teachers against the Proficient stage of national standards. 

“My research set out to explore a gap I had observed in my professional practice as a teacher and school leader,” she said. 

Her study revealed that decision‑making is complex and shaped by contextual factors such as time, resources, leadership approaches and professional judgement. It also highlighted variability in how principals interpret evidence and standards. 

“Classroom observation emerged as a highly valued source of evidence, though it is inherently interpreted through individual professional expertise,” she said. 

Verity said her supervisors played a key role in her research experience at Southern Cross University. 

“One of the highlights of my journey was the support I received from my supervisory team, their mentorship was instrumental in shaping my growth as a researcher.” 

She is now applying her research in a national education role and working towards publication. 

Blake Toohey: Enhancing wellbeing in aged care 

Doctor of Philosophy graduate Blake Toohey explored the impact of seated dance programs for older adults living in residential aged care. 

“My research found that dance offered much more than physical activity. Participants described experiences of connection, enjoyment, self‑expression and meaningful engagement with others,” he said. 

Participants also reported reconnecting with their sense of identity, body and memories through movement and music. 

The research highlights how simple interventions can improve wellbeing, social connection and quality of life. 

“One of the greatest highlights of my PhD was having the opportunity to getting to know the participants and hearing their stories,” he said. 

Nathaniel Smorti: Rethinking music education 

Doctor of Philosophy graduate Nathaniel Smorti investigated one‑on‑one teaching and learning in conservatoire music education. 

“We set out to explore the values and ideas that drive conservatorium one‑on‑one lessons and what happens behind those closed doors,” he said. 

His research revealed a complex interplay of institutional expectations, personal values and career pressures shaping both teachers and students. 

“What we encountered was a complex web of institutional, historic, musical and career‑driven motivations and ideas about what a performance, career or degree should look like.” 

The findings offer practical recommendations to support students and better prepare graduates for a changing creative industry. 

Nathaniel is now excited to have more time to spend with his instruments and plans to present his research at industry conferences later this year.