Back to previous pageTeaching grad ‘empowered’ by education
Teaching grad 'empowered' by education
Amanda Powell
7 April 2011: Artist and animal activist Lara Drew credits the University of Canberra for helping her follow her passion and make her voice heard.
The 27-year-old graduated with a Bachelor of Community Education and was also the student speaker at the Faculty of Education graduation ceremony.
“I always had an interest in working with people and a passion for social action. I really enjoyed every aspect of my degree as I was able to mix in my interest of working with people with my social justice interests.”
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Lara Drew. Photo: Rohani Moore |
In the final year of her degree, Ms Drew worked on an animal liberation project which focused on turkey farming in Australia.
Ms Drew says it’s a little known issue in Australia, with most animal rights campaigns focusing on chickens, battery hens and pigs.
Ms Drew applied for- and received funding through ‘Voiceless- The Animal Protection Institute’ to further develop and implement her project ‘Big Birds, Big Cruelty.’
The project will be released in May and again in November, in the lead up to Christmas, in conjunction with Animal Liberation ACT.
“Being able to study a passion of mine and receiving funding for the project was the highlight of my degree,” she said.
Ms Drew says it was an honour to speak at her graduation ceremony on behalf of the students.
“Education is about empowerment, liberation and social change. This was the focus of my speech as I feel it is the most important part about education and learning.”
Ms Drew is currently studying for her honours in ‘Social and Community Studies,’ with her thesis looking at radical adult education theory, activism and social change. She is also tutoring a unit called ‘Advocacy and Inclusion’ and hopes to do a PhD next year.
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