Amanda’s passion for justice led to helping others dress for success

When Amanda first started considering her options for a Bachelor of Arts, she was initially drawn to Sociology, then took up Criminology. She was seeking to understand the reasons behind why things happen the way they do, especially the concept that not everyone starts from the same place in life.

Studying sociology provided a framework that helped Amanda make sense of the world around her, how she could contribute to a just society and support and empower people.

This drove her passion for social justice, equity, inclusion, and fairness. The alignment between Sociology and Criminology became clear, and it deepened her commitment to these values.

Amanda’s journey through university wasn’t limited to just one area of study, leading her to study journalism in her first year. Even though Amanda chose not to pursue a career in that field, the skills and knowledge gained have been invaluable throughout her career.

"What if I pursued a career in that space and studied more there, but it’s something that I think was really helpful in the career I have chosen and the amount of work I do in the media."

After completing her degree, the path to where Amanda is now wasn’t straightforward. Her initial goal was to work in the criminal justice field, specifically in corrections. However, Amanda quickly realized that having a degree wasn’t enough.

“Because my view at the time, was that even though I had tertiary education and access to what I had access to, why couldn’t I still land a job? Imagine what other people out there who have not had that access to education or social supports in place, how difficult it would be for them to get work?

"And that started getting my mind ticking, because this is something we can do as a community to support people, particularly women, into work."

This experience of struggling to find a job despite her education made Amanda more empathetic toward others facing similar challenges, particularly women who might lack access to education or social support. This empathy was a significant factor in her decision to open Dress for Success Tasmania years later.

Studying a Bachelor of Arts developed Amanda’s writing, from basic assessments and research, to how information is analysed and using your own judgement.

“I use that every day and in my day-to-day life at Dress or Success.

“Sometimes I do joke to people that I have a Masters in Criminology and Corrections and I’m in this job now and they might not feel aligned, but I don’t think it was a linear path, but a windy one that got me there and still makes sense."

Reflecting on the broader questions of our time, like gender equality and the challenges women face in the workforce, Amanda believes that a Bachelor of Arts can help students engage with these issues on a deeper level.

For instance, Equal Pay Day highlights the persistent inequality in our workplaces, and understanding the societal structures that perpetuate these issues is crucial.