Daniel Maddock

BA (USQ) PhD (Griffith University)

Graduated 2007

Daniel is an award-winning cinematographer, photographer, filmmaker and academic. He has had a strong and varied career in the tertiary sector having taught at the University of Southern Queensland, Griffith Film School, JMC Academy, SAE College and the Queensland School of Film and Television. Daniel has published research in journals and books with his thesis being nominated for the Chancellor’s Medal for Excellence in PhD Research at Griffith University. Daniel’s cinematographic and photographic practice is rare and multidimensional; he has been published in almost every medium of film-making including broadcasted documentaries, television drama series, music videos, television commercials, branded content, corporate, educational and television news whilst also publishing stills in magazines, newspapers, billboards and online in the genres of architecture, fashion, food, interior design, lifestyle and advertising.

Notable Productions:
– Love Patrol [Television Series Drama – SBS] – ACS Award Winning
– Artscape: APT7 – Our Century, Our Art [Television Documentary – ABC]
– The Battle of Fire Support Base Coral [Television Documentary – History Channel]
– Calais ‘Seeing it All’ [Music Video – ABC]
– Ball Park Music ‘You Only Want Me When I’m There’ [Music Video – ABC]

Vimeo site:  https://vimeo.com/danielmaddock

The Space/Time website is a good go to as it has extensive behind the scenes videos…. https://www.spacetimemovie.com

Jesse Sutherland

Jesse L. Sutherland is a writer and director, and the co-founder of Sparrowland Productions. Whilst at USQ, Jesse wrote and directed the award-winning documentary series ‘Rainbow Blood’ and short film ‘Repetition’. He is passionate about creating and showcasing inspiring films and is the Festival Director for ‘Sparrowland Short Film Festival’. Jesse graduated USQ’s Bachelor of Creative Arts, Film and TV in 2017. As well as managing Sparrowland Productions, Jesse is the Digital and Social Media Coordinator for Absco Industries, developing creative content.

LECTURER - FILM AND SCREEN PRODUCTION

Simon Van Der Spoel

USQ’s Film and TV studies appealed to me due to the practical nature of the courses, for while there was a good grounding on theory, there was regular opportunity to put theory into practice. This honed my skills under the expert tutelage of my course lecturers, which in turn gave me the opportunity to enter industry immediately upon graduation. USQ was instrumental in preparing me for the realities of the media landscape and gave me the foundation to have a successful career over the next 18 years with two of Australia’s leading broadcast networks. Career highlight was self producing and directing a documentary on WWII Spitfires with Bud Tingwell, broadcast on The History Channel.

Last count I was personally making over 300 promos, billboards, and TV Commercials per year, and had the opportunity to Produce and Direct 6 half hour TV shows, broadcast statewide and nationally. 

Simon Van Der Spoel

Graduated 2003

Former Commercial Producer Channel 7 Network

Grace Sankey

My name is Grace Sankey and I am a 2018 graduate of the Bachelor of Creative Arts (Theatre). The USQ Theatre course has had a profound effect on my life both in a personal and professional sense. The theatre course and coordinators allowed for the creation and production of my own youth arts festival, Scope Theatre Festival. Scope started as a concept and with the help of the tutors and course flourished into a live theatre festival in my final year of study. Post-grad, Scope continues annually, engaging local businesses and artists as well as continuing to open further pathways for myself in the Queensland festival and theatre scene.

The theatre course has also allowed me to find a permanent role as a Speech and Drama teacher at Speak Up Studio where I teach children who want to learn more about the craft. I also teach young people with learning disabilities as well as children whose primary language isn’t English. The course undeniably equipped me with the necessary skills to best teach all my students, and I regularly find myself basing my teaching on what I learnt throughout my degree, both in terms of the actor training and theatre theory. I would recommend the USQ theatre degree to future students as it teaches such a wide variety of content and builds young artists who are proactive and unique, while it strategically equips students for the reality of working in the arts industry post-grad.

Brodie Greenhalgh

Theatre to me means community and stories. It’s a place to connect audiences and build community around an organisation or group of creatives. Connecting on an emotional level between colleagues, mentors and students, family, friends and strangers. 

The degree at USQ taught me how to work autonomously, diligently, collaboratively and professionally. USQ provides an opportunity to work on theatrical productions from all angles thus offering a variety of technical and interpersonal skills. 

I would recommend USQ for theatrical studies because of the staff and student support. USQ provides a safe place for young artists to start their emerging career by studying and exploring a range of subjects in this field. 

Bonnie Green

Music has always been a part of who Bonnie is. She graduated from USQ with a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Honours) in Music and is currently completing a Doctor of Philosophy in piano pedagogy, specifically focusing on creative music-making and learning.

Pursuing tertiary studies in music at USQ has opened doors for Bonnie to work as a performer, piano teacher, accompanist and musical director. Through studying, Bonnie has also discovered her talent and passion for improvising, composing and arranging, recording her own music and helping other artists record their albums. With initial plans to study Journalism, Bonnie found her way back to music after living in Denmark as an exchange student, where her love for music was rekindled through exposure to genres such as funk, pop and jazz.

Overcoming personal challenges of self-confidence, breaking away from false humility and recognising that she is good at what she enjoys, Bonnie runs to pursue her passion as a career, continue learning and desires to share her talent and knowledge with others.

‘My biggest motivator is confidence in myself, in my talent and in my skill, and acknowledging that this is not prideful or egotistical. Positive self-regard is really important for anyone who wants to make a mark in the industry.

Bonnie Green & Jess Berwick

Duo Two of Diamonds is made up of vocalist Jess Berwick and vocalist and pianist Bonnie Green. Two of Diamonds formed in 2013 and are known for re-creating hit pop, jazz, and Motown tunes using original voice and piano only arrangements sparkled with sweet harmonies. Jess and Bonnie enjoy covering songs from artists such as Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Michael Buble, Norah Jones, and Sarah Bareilles. They are continually adding to their repertoire songs that are recently released as well as old time classics. Two of Diamonds are available for your next function! They are also available to perform with a full band on request.

Dan Elborne

Up to this point, the most definitive sense of purpose I’ve found is in making art. Alongside this, consuming and studying visual art dominates a great deal of my remaining time and energy. As a distinctively human enterprise, I recognise that art is an essential component to defining, shaping, and critiquing both history and culture. It is USQ where I realised this, and where I decided, with a great deal of support, to pursue life as an artist.

Marcus Oborn

Marcus is an Australian actor, voice actor, director and vocal coach.  As an actor, Marcus has worked with Opera Queensland, Queensland Music Festival, Big Scary Animal, Playlab Theatre, Room to Play Independent Theatre and Empire Theatres.  Marcus has trained with legendary Hollywood acting coach Larry Moss, British theatre stalwart Mike Alfreds, and is the protege of Patsy Rodenburg OBE, world authority on actors’ vocal practices.  In 2019, Marcus was accepted to train with Ms Rodenburg at the Patsy Rodenburg Centre for Voice and Speech, Michael Howard Studios, New York City, to become a Registered Rodenburg Master Teacher, and upon completion of his training will be one of fifty people who hold the qualification globally.  Marcus is an Australian Council for the Arts funding recipient through the Career Development Grant to assist his training in New York.  As a director, Marcus has worked on MOTH by Declan Greene, Buckets by Adam Barnard and The Crucible by Arthur Miller.  Marcus joined the team at the School of Creative Arts in 2017 and teaches across Voice and Acting in the undergraduate programs.

Eli Bunyoung

There are many different attributes of an employable actor including, but not limited to talent, dedication to work, compatibility, amiability, knowledge and much more. The best thing an actor can do to increase their chances is work to develop as many skills as possible through hard work and experience – two things in which the University of Southern Queensland has helped me to develop, enhancing the previous attributes. Through these attributes I believe I have achieved employment as a full-time actor.

Moreover, my ability as an actor extends further into independence and the ability to create, develop and perform my own work including writing, resulting in an understanding of theatre on more levels than acting alone. Hence malleability as an actor is a very important trait taught to me in order to maintain work in this industry. The University of Southern Queensland is a wonderful destination to study a theatre degree because of its extensively proficient lecturers who impart masses of knowledge to their students. Through these lecturers and their classes, I have become a much more capable, talented and knowledgeable actor and professional. My practical ability has become far, far greater than when I first began university, as has my theoretical knowledge.

Nicky Haeusler

The freedom that USQ gave me to work in the theatre industry while studying it full time meant that I stepped into paid work as soon as I graduated. Since the university invested time in letting me discover, explore, and refine my own emerging practice, I was confident in knowing what I could offer employers in the theatre arts industry and beyond.

I’m using the skills that my degree gave me every day to collaborate with services across the state to meet the large demand from audiences, businesses, and communities for artistic and cultural innovation. And the tools, networks, and support that USQ has given me continues to help me secure paid work, expand my practice, and find opportunities to grow my capabilities and feel fulfilled in my early career.

Following in the footsteps of USQ’s Creative Arts graduates – and working under the mentorship of many of them – I know my degree will launch me into rewarding challenges and that the massive support network of my new colleagues will support me through that journey.

Jess Betts

After completing the Bachelor of Creative Arts I found myself exploring the possibilities of piano teaching techniques for students with ADHD. Undertaking the Bachelor of Creative Arts Honours program provided me with great support and opportunity to research this area with qualified and experienced supervisors, while furthering my education. I have found that the lecturers at USQ are highly respected in their field and go out of their way to provide support and care for their students. This experience allowed me to develop confidence in my practicing knowledge and research skills. Both the Bachelor of Creative Arts and Honours programs were an enjoyable experience where I felt nurtured and guided – two factors that I believe have had a huge impact on the success I have had both academically and professionally. The collaboration between cohorts and community feeling allows students to feel safe learning styles outside of their comfort zone, creating a persistence and resilience which is key to working in the industry. I can confidently say that the friendships and connections I have made during these degrees not only supported me throughout the courses, but will be life-long connections. I found the team of lecturers in the Bachelor of Creative Arts program to be not just educators. The time, effort and support they put into the coursework and the students is completely unique and what sets the program apart. I have adapted many of the practices and theories taught to me in these degrees in my own teaching studio and find the mix of traditional and contemporary teaching methods and information to be relevant and effective. These degrees have allowed me to create a diverse professional network that continues to provide job opportunities and options for professional development.

Jill Kinnear

Born and raised in Scotland, Jill Kinnear received her initial degree in Textile Design from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee.  Following a three year teaching contract in Papua New Guinea at the National Art School, she emigrated to Australia where she received both a Masters of Visual Art (Research) and PhD from the University of Southern Queensland.  She worked as a full-time artist and designer in Australia for many years, fulfilling major public art and design commissions for State Government, such as the 330 square metre memorial artwork in glass for Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.  Her work is held in international collections including the National Museum of Scotland and the State Library of Queensland.  Her experiences of emigration, cultural remembrance and sense of place continue to be central to her research and textile production. Jill Kinnear presently holds the position of Professor of Fibers at Savannah College of Art and Design, Georgia, USA.

Anne Smith

Anne Suse Smith is a multi award winning photographer who lives with her family in the beautiful Whitsundays Australia.  Her PhD research (Our Strength During the Drought, 2018) investigates whether encouraging people to express their experiences through photography could increase resilience during the ongoing drought crisis in the communities of the Barcaldine region in Central Western Queensland. It investigates the connection between images, resilience and wellbeing. The research produced a Resilience Through Images Model, which outlines six interlinking steps to follow in order to use image making to respond to environmental disasters. This model can be implemented in the event of extreme weather or crisis events to help communities build resilience, wellbeing and capacity and was recently successfully deployed in the South Australian town of Burton to tell their story of Covid-19. 

Sarah Peters

Dr Peters is a playwright, theatre practitioner and practice-led researcher. Her verbatim plays engage with communities to tell the shared stories of experience, such as women living with alopecia in bald heads & blue stars, young people navigating mental health and wellbeing in twelve2twentyfive and pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago looking for belonging in Blister. She completed her PhD thesis Bald Heads and Blue Stars: A Theory , Model and Impact of Verbatim Theatre Practice in 2016 at USQ.  Her research in verbatim theatre extends across the fields of performance, process and impact on the community and her current research focuses on the pedagogy of collaborative theatre making and devised theatre. Peters is currently a Senior Lecturer in Drama at Flinders University, Adelaide.

Madeline Little

Madeleine Little is the inaugural winner of the prestigious 2019 National Leadership Award from the Australia Council National Arts and Disability Awards.  She is a passionate theatre-maker whose Masters work entitled HOLD interrogated accessible theatre practice; she wrote, directed, produced and performed the lead role of this original theatre work, performed at Laboite Theatre, Brisbane, in April 2019. Her approach articulated a safer, and more effective rehearsal room for artists and created a show that resonated strongly with audiences. In 2018, Madeleine was awarded the inaugural Arts Access Victoria Stella Young Award. She is also a member of ‘The Last Avant Garde’ research team, assisting in co-producing and co-facilitating performance-making workshops across Australia, including the creation of a unique five-day creative residency in Brisbane.

Madeleine is dedicated to a disability-led future and says the Arts Access Australia National Leadership Award will amplify her voice to pursue greater opportunities, resources, advocacy and recognition for all d/Deaf and disabled artists and arts workers in Australia.

Leah Lever

Identified as musically gifted in primary school, Leah completed a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Music) at UniSQ in 2020, having been accepted into the program at the age of only 15. An accelerated student, she skipped Year 6 and headed straight to university study after Year 10, upon completion of a Head Start course and a rigorous interview and audition process.

Leah’s first public performance was at the age of four when she sang the national anthem on Australia Day on the front steps of her house, drawing in an audience of neighbours. By the age of 12, Leah was singing on some of the finest stages in Queensland and New South Wales, singing in two concerts in a tour by world-renowned soprano Mirusia who also produced Leah’s debut CD, Dream Catcher.

At 15 years old while she began studies at UniSQ, Leah was a member of a tribute band and was also engaged in solo performances. She was named Redland City’s Young Citizen of the Year in 2017 for her musical achievements and contributions.

An emerging artist, Leah now has an early start to a professional, successful and passion-driven singing career, and has goals to continue learning more about her art and performing overseas.

‘With careful management I have been able to balance and interweave my work as a singer with my studies in music.

‘I also found along the way that this relationship is immensely productive, with my growing real-world experience sharpening my study skills and performance and vice versa.

‘Combining study with work is also helped me discover my unique sound and niche.’

Recent Graduate and Emerging Artist

Aileesha Detmers

Completing my Bachelor of Creative Arts at The University of Southern Queensland granted me access to an assortment of opportunities, such as feature articles in magazines and participating in regional gallery exhibitions. Through the Creative Arts department I was introduced to a supportive network or staff and students that strived to meet a level of excellence and commitment that I hadn’t seen before. The practical classes were the highlight of my Creative Arts experience as they were full of laughter, discussion and collaboration between students and lecturers which lead to ideas, epiphanies and projects that would never have been realised on our own.

Artwork Title: Brown Bear
Year: 2018
Medium: Etching
Size: 20cm x 20cm

Artwork Title: Marble Skull
Year: 2018
Medium: Screenprint and Linocut
Size: 40cm x 40cm

Artwork Title: Mercy
Year: 2018
Medium: Ballpoint Pen
Size: A3 (29.7cm x 42cm)

Curator (Arts and Exhibitions) of the University of Southern Queensland, Office of the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Engagement)

Brodie Taylor

Completing my Bachelor of Creative arts and Honours degree at the University of Southern Queensland brought me a wealth of understanding and expertise that I would never have had the chance to experience elsewhere. The support from the staff is unparalleled, each having an ardent desire to see you succeed in whichever avenue of the industry you decide to pursue; I myself, decided Curatorial Management and Art Collections was where my passion truly rested. The university gave me the encouragement and means of exploring that option, I expanded on my expertise and in 2019 I returned to UniSQ as Curator (Arts and Exhibitions). I have a strong network of colleagues, a driving passion for this industry and the foundations of a fantastic career, all of which started at the University of Southern Queensland.

Artwork Title: Through the foundations of Mount Olympus

Year: 2015

Medium: Artist book and hard ground etching,

Size: Varied

GALLERY (ALG) – DIRECTOR, COORDINATOR OF EDUCATIONAL EVENTS, SCHOOL OF CREATIVE ARTS

Alexandra Lawson

Study Undertaken:

PhD (Visual Art) completed in 2015.

The study undertaken at UniSQ has provided me multiple transferrable skills. My supervisor Kyle Jenkins encouraged me to start an exhibition space with colleague Tarn McLean which we ran for 8 years, this experience led me to acquire the skills needed to set up and run ALG in addition to the valuable contextual information I garnered throughout the course.

My experience undertaking a PhD in Visual Art has assisted me to work in the corporate world. I started work for InterLinkSQ shortly after finishing the PhD in 2015 and now work three days per week in a small management team in the development/freight and logistics sector. Completing the PhD has provided the lateral thinking skills which has enabled me to contribute an alternate, creative way of thinking to the team.

Studying a PhD at UniSQ enabled me to have quadruple the contact with my supervisors compared to a colleague undertaking a similar research program in Sydney. UniSQ provides an incredible opportunity through their higher research program by enabling intensive access to supervisors which aids in the support of the completion of research and the development of new ideas.

Artist/Academic – UniSQ

Assoc Prof. Rhi Johnson

Study undertaken at UniSQ:

Bachelor of Visual Arts (2007 – 2009)

Doctor of Philosophy (2011 – 2014)

“My time as a visual art student at UniSQ was a personally, professionally and creatively transformative process, and a driving factor in my subsequent career choices. I found myself simultaneously challenged and supported, which led to confidence in creative growth, the development of practical skills and an involvement in numerous exhibitions and other industry outcomes. I have retained a lasting sense of creative and collaborative community, which continues to form the basis for many subsequent art exhibitions, projects and events.”

Artwork Title: The Passive Spectator (Installation view)

Year: 2019

Medium: Mixed media artist books

Size: Various

Artwork photography by: Alex Stalling

Artwork Title: Make Haste

Year: 2019

Medium: Reduction linocut

Size: 33.5cm x 28cm

Artwork photography by: Alexandra Lawson

Artwork Title: Breaking Point

Year: 2020

Medium: Reduction linocut

Size: 44cm x 34.5cm

Artwork photography by: Alexandra Lawson

Danish Quapoor (practising artist pseudonym), Gallery & Media Coordinator at Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts, Townsville

Daniel Qualischefski

Danish Quapoor Website: https://www.danishquapoor.com/

Gallery & Media Coordinator at Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts, Townsville

I completed a Bachelor of Visual Arts (with Distinction) in 2009, and a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Visual Arts) (2nd Class Honours, Division A) in 2010, both at the University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba. The practical components of the course allowed me to learn new skills and experiment with new art forms. Despite commencing my course with an interest in drawing, I eventually majored in ceramics under Alexis Tacey, who was an excellent lecturer. While I now make primarily two-dimensional artwork, working with clay honed my aesthetic and attention to detail, and my studies in that field pushed me to critique and evaluate the conceptual underpinnings of my work, regardless of the medium. I made lifelong friends and colleagues in my degrees and I wouldn’t trade that experience.

I also went on to complete further studies – a Master of Arts and Cultural Management at the University of Melbourne, which extended my knowledge and experience within the arts industry.

Title: crying together about being alone and vice versa

Year: 2018

Medium: Paint pen, paper & card on paper

Size: 39.5 x 50cm

Title: withholding the lion’s share

Year: 2017

Medium: Paint marker on laminate board

Size: 38.6 x 80.5cm

Title: CRYSTALLISED

Year: 2018

Medium: Paint marker & acrylic on laminate board

Size: 60.5 x 60.5cm

Title: salubrious (detail)

Year: 2022

Medium: Hand-pierced porcelain paperclay, body stain and clear gloss glaze

Size: 11.5 x 12.5 x 11cm