Curtin Uni student to embark on scholarship at ABC

CURTIN University student Mona Ghiasi was named the recipient of the ABC Women in Broadcast Technology Scholarship for Western Australia.

Ms Ghiasi received four weeks paid work experience with the national broadcaster’s technology team in Perth.

She will experience first-hand the technical side of broadcasting; how the equipment works, how radio and television are transmitted and how to keep programs on air when things go wrong.

Growing up in Iran, Ms Ghiasi said she knew from a young age she would not be pursuing a traditional career.

“I was a tomboy, people commented that I was active and needed to do something that kept me busy,” she said.

Ms Ghiasi completed diplomas in electronics and communications in her country’s capital Tehran, and became the only female technical employee within the Iranian Telecommunications company at the time.

She said she had never considered broadcast technology before and did not think it was possible.

“The scholarships offer a real experience compared to University labs … You don’t get a chance to make mistakes in the real world as it can disrupt everything,” she said.

Deputy Director of Technology Margaret Cassidy and Manager of Technology Client Support Nola Mylonas presented the scholarship award along with $1000 book allowance towards her studies.

Margaret Cassidy said the scholarships “highlight the ABC’s long-standing commitment to increasing the participation, development and retention rates of women in technical roles within the broadcast industry”.

“I’m here to learn as much as I can, and be hands-on with everything”, Ms Ghiasi said.

She hoped the practical work experience will open doors to a career in electrical engineering, one she said was underrepresented by women.