Dr Kirsten Hudson & Luke Webster PhD

Taking the Classroom into Community

Recorded on: Whadjuk Country, Noongar Nation – Fremantle, WA

Episode Summary:

In this episode, Kaz and Andy sit down with Dr. Kirsten Hudson and Luke Webster to explore their collaborative project, Taking the Classroom into Community, presented at the ReimaginED conference in Fremantle. This initiative, based in Denmark, WA, reimagines education by integrating classroom learning with community engagement, fostering deeper connections between students and their local environment.

What You'll Learn:

• The educational journeys of Kirsten and Luke, and how they came to collaborate 
• The inspiration and objectives behind Taking the Classroom into Community
• How creative experimentation, feminist inquiry, and Indigenous Knowledge Systems shape Dr. Hudson’s teaching 
• Real-world examples of community-integrated education in Denmark, WA 
• Challenges and successes encountered during the project 
• Measuring impact on students and the broader community 
• Future directions for the initiative 
• Practical advice for educators interested in transdisciplinary and community-focused teaching

Guest Bios:

Dr Kirsten Hudson is a senior academic in the Faculty of Humanities at Curtin University, known for her innovative work in community-engaged education and creative practice.  She leads immersive student programs in Denmark, WA, where Curtin students collaborate with local residents to develop sustainable tourism initiatives that address the environmental and social impacts of high-volume tourism.  Dr Hudson also integrates creative archival exploration into her teaching, fostering student engagement through projects that reimagine historical materials.

Luke Webster PhD is a community engagement specialist and transmedia storytelling researcher at Curtin University.  His work focuses on empowering underrepresented communities through narrative and higher education equity initiatives. In Denmark, WA, Dr Webster helps facilitate programs that connect local voices with university resources, promoting inclusive pathways into tertiary education.  His award-winning projects, such as the "Humans of Curtin" campaign, showcase his commitment to storytelling as a tool for social change and community building.

Connect:

Dr Kirsten Hudson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsten-hudson-01722728/

Luke Webster PhD: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-webster-transmedia/?originalSubdomain=au

Curtin students tackle Denmark sustainable tourism

Hosts:

•Kaz (Host)

•Andy (Director & Producer)

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