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My audio work

Season 3 of Uncurated is out now! As co-producer and a reporter of the series, I worked both in front of the mic and behind the scenes editing the audio. 

Remains - Season 3 Uncurated

Between the 1800s to1950s, anthropologists at the University of Melbourne were digging up burial sites of First Nations ancestors who had been laid to rest and collecting, rather stealing, their bodies. And while some of these human remains were returned to land and reburied, one collection remained hidden away at the university in a storage room until 2003.

Uncover the true story of The University of Melbourne’s troubled past of grave robbing and the efforts to repatriate the hundreds of Indig...
The Yarn •

Dark Matters: The Mind - The Yarn

When we imagine great mysteries we think of distant galaxies or unexplorable ocean depths. But one of the greatest mysteries is a lot closer to home. It’s in our heads.

The human brain is the most complex data processor in the known universe. But we still have very little idea how our own consciousness actually works.

This week, we’re bringing you three stories that shed light on the intricacies of our minds.

It’s the first episode of Dark Matters. Our new series about the fundamental essence

My written work

My written work has appeared across several publications including Cosmos Magazine, The Citizen, LadBible and more. Below you'll find a mix of non-fiction essays, news reporting and more long-form interview feature pieces too!

Science

ConnectSci •

8000 years of Indigenous history revealed on Peninsula

Archaeologists are filling in gaps about Indigenous populations on coastal and island sites of Yorke Peninsula, west of South Australia’s capital Adelaide, putting likely habitation there 8000 years ago.
A new study, published in The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology, focussing on Point Pearce Peninsula/Burgiyana and Wardang Island/Waraldi, was done in collaboration with the Narungga Nation Aboriginal Corporation and Point Pearce Aboriginal Corporation. The Narungga people are the Aborig...
ConnectSci •

Many women unprepared for the pain of medical abortions

A British survey has found that many women choosing medical abortions at home are unprepared for the severity of the pain, having been told it would be no more painful than period cramps.
But the survey from the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) an independent healthcare and abortion advice charity, revealed more than 40% of women reported the pain score at 8 or higher out of 10.
The results of the surveyed are mirrored elsewhere, with an Australian sexual health researcher saying: "...i...
ConnectSci •

Phone breaks or bans: what’s best for students’ attention?

As the debate rages in Australia about how best to handle the use of phones in class, new research from the US suggests a one-minute phone break might be the answer to enhancing student attention.
A study, published in Frontiers in Education, is one of the first to look into the effects of technology within the college environment. A “college” is post secondary, with students typically 18-22 years old.
“We show that technology breaks may be helpful for reducing cell phone use in the college clas...
ConnectSci •

Reduction in use of opioids for back pain deemed successful

A recent trial in Sydney has resulted in a significant reduction of the number of opioids used in emergency rooms for lower back pain.
Two-thirds of Australians who end up in emergency departments with lower back pain are given  opioids. In the US, opioids are administered to approximately 40% of lower-back pain patients in emergency rooms.
Opioids are a group of pain-relieving drugs that works by blocking pain messages between the body and the brain and include morphine, oxycodone, fentanyl and...
The Yarn •

Dark Matters: The Mind - The Yarn

When we imagine great mysteries we think of distant galaxies or unexplorable ocean depths. But one of the greatest mysteries is a lot closer to home. It’s in our heads.

The human brain is the most complex data processor in the known universe. But we still have very little idea how our own consciousness actually works.

This week, we’re bringing you three stories that shed light on the intricacies of our minds.

It’s the first episode of Dark Matters. Our new series about the fundamental essence
ConnectSci •

Doubts raised over AFL response to players’ concussion

As the Australian rules football seasons draws to a close with tomorrow’s grand final between Sydney Swans and the Brisbane Lions, questions are being asked about what managing concussions “conservatively“ should look like at an elite level.
The sport - among the most popular in Australia - is run by the Australian Football League (AFL). It is a physical contact game but players rarely use protective body equipment. Multiple serious concussions have resulted in the AFL peak body issuing rules fo...
Cosmos •

National breast density policy review close

BreastScreen Australia is to update its position on breast density reporting early in the new year.


Advocates for breast cancer awareness are calling for a change in the National BreastScreen Australia program, saying breast density should be included in mammogram reporting in the upcoming policy and funding review.


A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Aged Care told Cosmos:


“The report is expected to be submitted to Government in early 2025.”


BreastScreen Australia is the...
Cosmos •

Behind the door - subtracting the myths out of maths

Across the world, there are thousands of public universities that are open for members of the public to explore, to just walk in and experience firsthand the breathtaking scientific developments that are happening in their city. 


But how often do we take up this opportunity, to just simply walk into a building that we know nothing about and speak to the faculty members who are fuelled by a passion for innovation. 


Over the last few weeks, I’ve been lucky enough to do just that. For the fiv...

The Cost of Space Travel

I am named after the first woman in space, Valentina Tereshkova. This is usually my go-to “fun fact about myself” I have tucked away for the first week of uni classes; a simple and easy answer to most ice-breaker questions.

I am named after the first woman in space, Valentina Tereshkova. This is usually my go-to “fun fact about myself” I have tucked away for the first week of uni classes; a simple and easy answer to most ice-breaker questions.

Growing up, it was always in my nature to look up

Sport

ConnectSci •

Sports bodies need a cultural shift around concussion

The current AFL season has been plagued by headlines about the dangers of concussions, with 6 players announcing their early retirement due to excessive head knocks. 
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), along with long-term cognitive decline, is commonly recognised as one of the most serious and dangerous consequences of repetitive sports concussions. 
But a new study led by researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in collaboration with the Universities of Exeter, Oxford and...
ConnectSci •

Doubts raised over AFL response to players’ concussion

As the Australian rules football seasons draws to a close with tomorrow’s grand final between Sydney Swans and the Brisbane Lions, questions are being asked about what managing concussions “conservatively“ should look like at an elite level.
The sport - among the most popular in Australia - is run by the Australian Football League (AFL). It is a physical contact game but players rarely use protective body equipment. Multiple serious concussions have resulted in the AFL peak body issuing rules fo...

WHY AM I CRYING OVER 18 YOUNG MEN?

But just like that. After 20 years of nothing but constant support. This is how the North Melbourne Football Club treats me.

You enter my room and there I am. Star-fished on my bed, staring blankly up at the ceiling. I’ve given up on refreshing my phone. But it continues to flash open with messages from my friends anyway.

“It hurts now, but one day it will get better”

“Omg I just saw, are you okay?”

“Thinking of you during these trying times. Here if you need xx”

There are a bunch of feelin
SPORTbible •

Every Women's World Cup jersey, named and ranked

As the opening match of Women’s 2023 World Cup dawns nearer, it’s now time for a completely objective ranking of all the jerseys.

As the opening match of Women’s 2023 World Cup dawns nearer, it’s now time for the most important aspect of all.

All 32 teams have released their jerseys for the impending World Cup, so without further ado, here is a completely objective list ranking the jerseys from 32 to one, with one being the most amazing, appealing and artistic jersey in this year's World Cup.
ConnectSci •

Sports bodies need a cultural shift around concussion

The current AFL season has been plagued by headlines about the dangers of concussions, with 6 players announcing their early retirement due to excessive head knocks. 
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), along with long-term cognitive decline, is commonly recognised as one of the most serious and dangerous consequences of repetitive sports concussions. 
But a new study led by researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in collaboration with the Universities of Exeter, Oxford and...
ConnectSci •

Doubts raised over AFL response to players’ concussion

As the Australian rules football seasons draws to a close with tomorrow’s grand final between Sydney Swans and the Brisbane Lions, questions are being asked about what managing concussions “conservatively“ should look like at an elite level.
The sport - among the most popular in Australia - is run by the Australian Football League (AFL). It is a physical contact game but players rarely use protective body equipment. Multiple serious concussions have resulted in the AFL peak body issuing rules fo...

WHY AM I CRYING OVER 18 YOUNG MEN?

But just like that. After 20 years of nothing but constant support. This is how the North Melbourne Football Club treats me.

You enter my room and there I am. Star-fished on my bed, staring blankly up at the ceiling. I’ve given up on refreshing my phone. But it continues to flash open with messages from my friends anyway.

“It hurts now, but one day it will get better”

“Omg I just saw, are you okay?”

“Thinking of you during these trying times. Here if you need xx”

There are a bunch of feelin
SPORTbible •

Every Women's World Cup jersey, named and ranked

As the opening match of Women’s 2023 World Cup dawns nearer, it’s now time for a completely objective ranking of all the jerseys.

As the opening match of Women’s 2023 World Cup dawns nearer, it’s now time for the most important aspect of all.

All 32 teams have released their jerseys for the impending World Cup, so without further ado, here is a completely objective list ranking the jerseys from 32 to one, with one being the most amazing, appealing and artistic jersey in this year's World Cup.

Politics

ConnectSci •

Link between diplomacy and food revealed in 100-year-old menus

Analysis of Portuguese diplomatic dinners hosted over the 20th and 21st centuries has illustrated how dinners, banquets and 10-course meals have all played a role in strengthening the country’s foreign policy across history.
The new research, published in Frontiers in Political Science, examined the menus of 457 diplomatic meals hosted by sovereign Portuguese bodies from 1910 to 2023. 
The researchers found that the dishes on the menus often mirrored the government of the time’s broader politica...
ConnectSci •

Intersecting identities affect how people form social networks

New research shows social inequalities can amplify one another, making it more challenging for some people to build social connections.
For individuals who belong to a disadvantaged social group, forming these connections can be hard. But a new study shows that, for those facing multiple forms of marginalisation, building social ties can be even more difficult. This can affect how individuals access new opportunities and resources.
“Disadvantages can amplify one another when they intersect,” say...
ConnectSci •

Cyclone-specific health policies needed to protect the most vulnerable

Experts warn that tropical cyclones are associated with not just direct injuries but also a higher risk of death, especially for those in socioeconomically deprived communities.
The findings highlight an urgent need to implement evidence-guided disaster response plans for intense tropical cyclones as their frequency increases due to climate change.
Over the past decade, 20.4 million people around the world have been affected by tropical cyclones. This has resulted in thousands of deaths, countle...

Advance Australia's Flag

Velentina Boulter (writer), Arielle Vlahiotis (illustrator)Close your eyes. While your eyes are closed, I want you to think of the image that comes to mind when I say the word “Australia”?

Your brain might jump to a kangaroo. Perhaps you see an iconic landmark like Flinders Street Station, Uluru or the Harbor Bridge. Or maybe, you think of the flag. 

Since almost the beginning of civilisation, societies have been using flags, banners and symbols to represent themselves. The tradition of na...

How Many Campaign Posters Can One Electorate Take?

Velentina Boulter (writer), Vincent Escobal (graphics)Historically, posters have long been used as an art form to persuade readers on a whole range of positions. Think Uncle Sam demanding you enlist into the army or Rosie flexing her muscles encouraging us girls to help with the war effort. Suppose there’s one skill I’ve mastered studying history and politics for this long; it’s the ability to overanalyse the purpose and message of these posters.

But are they actually effective?It’s February...
ConnectSci •

Phone breaks or bans: what’s best for students’ attention?

As the debate rages in Australia about how best to handle the use of phones in class, new research from the US suggests a one-minute phone break might be the answer to enhancing student attention.
A study, published in Frontiers in Education, is one of the first to look into the effects of technology within the college environment. A “college” is post secondary, with students typically 18-22 years old.
“We show that technology breaks may be helpful for reducing cell phone use in the college clas...
Cosmos •

National breast density policy review close

BreastScreen Australia is to update its position on breast density reporting early in the new year.


Advocates for breast cancer awareness are calling for a change in the National BreastScreen Australia program, saying breast density should be included in mammogram reporting in the upcoming policy and funding review.


A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Aged Care told Cosmos:


“The report is expected to be submitted to Government in early 2025.”


BreastScreen Australia is the...

Pop Culture

LADbible •

Everyone remain calm as Taylor Swift Tickets go on general sale today

Aussie fans will have one final go at getting themselves tickets to Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour, with the general sale beginning at 10am today.So drop everything you’re doing and head over to the Ticketek website right this second.The general sale begins 10am AEST for the Sydney shows, and tickets for the Melbourne shows can be purchased from 2pm onwards.“We recommend entering the Ticketek Lounge at least 15 minutes before tickets go on sale,” said Ticketek in a statement released on Twitter.“P...

Really, this is how we’re ending things? A Guide to Series Finales

It’s no surprise that when our beloved TV shows come to an end, we’re left bereft. We’re left standing there, more awkward than a contestant on The Bachelor who didn’t receive a rose, unsure of what happens next and trying not to make a scene. But what’s the best way to end a show? How can you call off the relationship but still stay friends without the stressful will-they-won’t-they of Ross and Rachel?

Some things are constant in our lives. The sun rises each morning as I write up my to-do lis

down with capitalism

over the past few years, i’ve witnessed friends, family and now even myself fall victim to a sickening trend. what started (i can only assume) as a simple grammatical mistake, has since taken over the entire internet. but maybe, this disturbing phenomenon is actually for the best.

over the past few years, i’ve witnessed friends, family and now even myself fall victim to a sickening trend.

what started (i can only assume) as a simple grammatical mistake, has since taken over the entire internet

My Photography Work

I am also a passionate hobby photographer, so am able to capture my own images to use for projects. Here is a selection of some of my favourites...

ConnectSci •

Doubts raised over AFL response to players’ concussion

As the Australian rules football seasons draws to a close with tomorrow’s grand final between Sydney Swans and the Brisbane Lions, questions are being asked about what managing concussions “conservatively“ should look like at an elite level.
The sport - among the most popular in Australia - is run by the Australian Football League (AFL). It is a physical contact game but players rarely use protective body equipment. Multiple serious concussions have resulted in the AFL peak body issuing rules fo...