Meet your Student Council: Madeleine Hobbs

Madeleine Hobbs
Master of History
UNE Student Council Online Representative

What are you studying?

I'm in my third trimester of the Master of History, majoring in Medieval to Modern European history, fully online.

What is the UNE Student Council and what does your role entail?

The Student Council is the primary voice for all online and on-campus UNE students, to enable stronger relationships with the university, promote the learning experience and welfare of students, and together build an exciting future. Having enjoyed my first year at UNE, I wanted to 'give back' and was thrilled to be elected one of the five online student representatives. I have only just started in the role, and so far I have met some outstanding, passionate and articulate people, with a wonderful blend of life experience, fields of study, regional/urban and Australian/international backgrounds. I particularly admire those members who have pushed themselves out of their comfort zone to join.

Would you recommend students be involved with the UNE Council? If so, why?

The university leadership is really keen to hear from students, and the Student Council is well placed to facilitate that conversation. Getting involved in the Council, or other clubs and societies will help you share your unique perspective, make friends and connections, gain valuable experience outside of the (virtual) classroom, and most importantly, have fun. After working full-time in IT and management consulting for 40 years, which culminated in an intensely busy global role, I retired in late 2023. Then I took a few months to relax but realised I couldn't spend the rest of my life playing computer games (Cities Skylines and Anno 1800 are my faves), so I decided to follow my passion and study postgrad history. I'm pleased that I selected the coursework UNE Master of History; it provides a valuable introduction to the field, the online experience is great, and it offers a variety of intriguing options for a magpie like me.

What would you like to do after your studies?

I'm quite interested to continue with a PhD, but I'll let you know after I've finished my Masters research project in a couple of years' time! At a conference in July, I met a UNE student of my vintage who has just completed a PhD in History - very inspiring.

What have been your biggest achievements and challenges in your study journey so far? Who/what has helped you along the way?

Four decades have passed since I last studied at uni (BA Hons Sociology at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg), and it's been a pleasant surprise to find that my brain is even sharper and more capable the second time round. Initially it was challenging for me to focus for several hours on one topic, whereas in business you tend to work more quickly across a variety of things. The learning technology available today would have seemed like science fiction to me in the 1980s, when you had to spend hours flipping through card catalogues at the library, write your dissertation by hand and cajole your mother into typing it.

What has been your favourite unit so far?

This is a bit like asking who your favourite child is, because I love them all. The units that most resonated with me were 'Liberty and Democracy in the British World, 1780 to 1860' with Matt Allen, especially because I have ancestral connections to one of the events we covered, and 'The Swinging Sixties: The Global 1960s' with Richard Scully, about the turbulent and transformative era that I grew up in. I never thought I'd be listening to rock and roll in a university lecture!

What have you learnt about yourself through university?

It is possible to pivot 180 degrees from a fairly technical career to an academic focus on a different field, it just takes a bit of adjustment and some hard work. Studying a subject that you love and find challenging is hugely motivating.

Do you study around other interests and commitments?

As a retiree I am fortunate enough to be able to dedicate most of my time to study. I am also the treasurer of a local non-profit organisation and love spending time with family, friends, my book club and travelling. My personal reward is to sneak in an hour or two building cities on my PC.

Is there any advice you might give to other uni students, or to your younger self?

Starting first year at the tender age of 17 I had a lot of fun at uni, getting involved in student politics, meeting my husband of nearly 40 years and making lifelong friends, but perhaps I was too young to fully appreciate it. What I would tell my younger self is: Be part of something that's bigger than you - join in, even if you're somewhat nerdy like me. Build a wide and deep network - all the best jobs I've had were through contacts, not job ads. And don't be so hard on yourself - it takes a lifetime to grow into who you really are.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

You can get in touch with me any time by email.

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