Matt Thurgood

The student graduations are always special, just seeing what it means to students to get through their course, walk across the stage, being able to chat with them after, meet their families and just know what it means to them. 

When and how did you come to be working with Navitas? 

So I started technically at Navitas in 2008 when they acquired the college that I’d been working at, at the time called Australian Institute of Public Safety. And I started working there in 2002 just as a tutor, as a sessional tutor, obviously teaching criminal justice. That’s my area. And we’re now the discipline of criminology and justice at ACAP. So yeah, I’ve been through a few iterations and yeah, been along with Navitas for the ride. 

What is one of your favourite memories working at Navitas? 

The ones that stick out for me are the student graduations, which we’ve been lucky enough to have obviously one or two a year for the entire time that I’ve worked at the college. But just seeing what it means to students to get through their course. One of the great things about working at a Navitas college is the types of students that we attract aren’t the traditional university student. They’re people who are often first in family. They come from backgrounds that mean it means so much for them to study in the first place, let alone to complete. So, yeah, seeing students, you know, walk across the stage, being able to chat with them after, meet their families and just know what it means to them is always special. 

Probably the other set of memories I always have and enjoy are any major staff interactions. So in particular, I have very fond memories of the different Christmas parties over the years where the great thing about Navitas is you get to meet people from a range of different colleges and we get together, we drink, we’re merry. It’s just a really nice way to finish off what’s often a very busy year for people. Those are really the memories that stand out for me. 

How has working at Navitas made an impact on your life?  

When I think about the impact that Navitas has had for me, I do think about the professional side in terms of just the, the great job that I’ve been able to have here. The thing that Navitas has allowed me to do is teach. That is the thing that I most enjoy, that I’m most passionate about. And if I was at any other institution, I know that wouldn’t be as straightforward as that. There’d be a whole bunch of other requirements, research and all of that sort of thing. 

But the fact that we are student first, which is one of the key approaches at ACAP, specifically, putting our students first, but the fact that Navitas allows us to do that and just to focus in on what we really do enjoy has been huge for me. It speaks to the fact that I’ve been here for a couple of decades now, is the fact that I’ve been able to do what I love. So, I very much appreciate that Navitas has been able to give me that opportunity. 

The other great thing, and I think the thing that keeps a lot of people in the organisation is just we get to work with a great bunch of colleagues. People get along. It’s work, so it’s not always going to be easy. There are always challenges, but the fact that we band together, we get through the tough times and yeah, we can have a laugh at the end of the week, is huge. Yeah, I’m really grateful to Navitas, honestly, for the opportunities that it’s given me over time.  

And one of the other things that we have, it’s a bit of a vertical structure, we’ve been describing it as. We can talk to people who are ranks above us, right. And just have personal conversations, but also business conversations about work. And I don’t think you would get that anywhere else. 

So yeah, the idea that you can sit down, talk to the EGM, meet, you know, the CEO, these are opportunities that I don’t think too many people get. It’s a testament to how the place runs. 

What are your key professional achievements during your time at Navitas? 

My key professional achievements over my time at Navitas, I think about the…in the opportunities that have been afforded to me via Navitas. I was able to complete a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Practice, which was really great for reflecting on and also honing my approach to teaching and learning. I’ve been able to achieve a Higher Education Academy Fellowship, which – Navitas granted me that opportunity – which again was a great chance to reflect on what I’ve done, how I go about my teaching and learning practice. 

I’ve also had a couple of publications along the way, which has been nice. I think what we do for our students is well above what other institutions do, but the fact that we get to put that up in lights is pretty cool.