Culture Vulture

Alexandria Burnham and ‘Swallow’: the Writing

Alexandria Burnham and ‘Swallow’: the Writing

  Award-winning writer and WestWords Creative Producer Alexandria Burnham’s debut novel ‘Swallow’ will be released in November 2025, after she announced in May that WestWords Books acquired publishing rights.    ‘Swallow’: Australia’s Untold Story  The novel is set in...

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Rise of Australian Romantasy: Keshe Chow

Rise of Australian Romantasy: Keshe Chow

  ‘Romantasy’ is a hybrid genre of fiction rising in global popularity. When it comes to combining fantasy with romance, Australian authors are no exception.  Read more about Australian authors at the 2025 Sydney Writers’ Festival romantasy session here.  ...

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Lottie McLeod LoveLoveLoved her Time on Tour

Lottie McLeod LoveLoveLoved her Time on Tour

  After the release of her newest album ‘Bug’ at the end of May, Australian singer songwriter Lottie McLeod toured the nation with LoveLoveLove from the 10th to the 26th of July 2025.  You can read about ‘Bug’ here.  ‘LoveBug’ was “Unreal” says McLeod After she...

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Finding Nemo (Another) Therapist

Finding Nemo (Another) Therapist

What could possibly be worse than a father eating his son because he’s deformed? Well, you’re about to find out. This is part two of finding Nemo a therapist (yes, Disney’s Finding Nemo). Why? Because clownfish are slightly traumatising. Click here for part one if you...

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Finding Nemo a Therapist

Finding Nemo a Therapist

Disney’s Finding Nemo. A 2003 childhood classic, full of laughs, tears and family bonding. Haven’t seen it? Here’s the whole plot.   And here’s an out of context, no spoiler version:  A serial killer brutally murders a mother (Coral) and almost all of her children...

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Is TikTok the Future of Journalism?

Is TikTok the Future of Journalism?

(Hamish Macdonald and Rully Kurniawan speaking during event. Photo credit: Garish (Luci) Kugathasan, 2025) Early in 2025, acclaimed journalists Hamish Macdonald and Rully Kurniawan attended Western’s Parramatta South campus for a journalism masterclass. They discussed...

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Jacinda Ardern: A Different Kind of Powerful Woman

Jacinda Ardern: A Different Kind of Powerful Woman

(Front cover of ‘A Different Kind of Power’ by Jacinda Ardern. Photo credit: Natasa Aster-Stater, 2025) Reading this memoir made it clear that Jacinda Ardern has been one of the people that she is trying to serve. She isn’t from a dynasty like the Kennedys or the...

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Using AI: Good vs Bad

Using AI: Good vs Bad

  Artificial intelligence (AI) is a common tool for university students and lecturers today. Yet, confusion and limited awareness of what counts as ethical use of AI remains.  Academic Integrity teams are working alongside Subject Coordinators, Academic Program...

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Student Elections 2026: Kirk Gomes

Disclaimer:  This post is published for information only and does not constitute an endorsement of any nominee or ticket by W’SUP, its editors, or the Western Sydney University Student Union (WSUSU). Nominee details and statements are supplied by the nominee and have...

The WEST Journal Brings a Voice to the Outer Suburbs

In a bid to rewrite the disconnect between capital cities and outer suburbs, The WEST Journal strives to provide a space for the Western Sydney community in the media.   Founded in 2009, The WEST Journal is an independent Australian media platform built around...

My Experience at Edcon 2026 – And Why People Should Attend

My name is Kirk Gomes. I’m one of the interim disability officers at Western Sydney University (‘WSU’). I was recently invited to attend the National Union of Students (‘NUS’) Education Conference. This was a four-day conference hosted by the NUS, and it was held at...

Homegrown Mystery: Tamara Moss

Tamara Moss majored in Asian Studies at the University of Western Australia before going on to work as a primary school teacher. In 2017, she published her debut book in the Lintang series. The series was shortlisted for the Readings Children’s Book Prize in 2018,...

The Heart Behind the Hands

Before the sun begins to rise,  a nurse is already by someone’s side.  Not just asking what hurts today;  But wondering what words cannot say.    They carry no spotlight, applause, nor fame;  Just quiet commitment to every name.  With tired eyes and steady hands, ...