Koen Stapelbroek

All the links relating to the current campaign to repeal Job-Ready Graduates are housed here. Please feel free to share widely! We'd especially love people to sign the petition. Thank you for your support! linktr.ee/aushistorica...

Repeal Job-Ready Graduates Policy Now: Restoring Equity in Higher Education - Online petition We sign this petition in solidarity with those who signed the Open Letter to the Prime Minister on 28 July 2025 (about:blank). We also write as individuals with a range of political beliefs. We are de...

If you would like to add your voice in support, you can sign here:

url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/w2nbCBNqgB...

Tim Winton among 100 high-profile Australians calling for university fees that don’t ‘punish’ arts students Open letter urges Labor to reverse JRG scheme, introduced by Coalition in 2021, as cost of humanities degrees reaches more than $50,000

More than 100 high-profile and distinguished Australians -and BA graduates- have signed the @austhistassoc.bsky.social open letter calling for the repeal of Job-Ready Graduates: a policy that punishes humanities students with life-changing debts: www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Tim Winton among 100 high-profile Australians calling for university fees that don’t ‘punish’ arts students Open letter urges Labor to reverse JRG scheme, introduced by Coalition in 2021, as cost of humanities degrees reaches more than $50,000

What is the use of a Labor government that won't address this punitive tax on humanities students? www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Virtue Capitalists: The Rise and Fall of the Professional Class in the Anglophone World, 1870–2008 Published in Journal of Australian Studies (Ahead of Print, 2025)

@hannahforsyth.bsky.social's *Virtue Capitalists*, “the sort of book that changes how you see the world”. (Me, quoting @adamtooze.bsky.social, quoting Claire EF Wright). Class, settler-colonialism, global history - it's good!

My review out now in @jas-jozstudies.bsky.social: doi.org/10.1080/1444...

History’s booming in podcasts – but many of its academics are out of a job We live in momentous times. History podcasts and books are more popular than ever. So why is academic history in crisis?

The decline of academic history in Australia: an interesting & important article in SMH by @nickbryantoz.bsky.social Much more to be said, but a good start. Includes @frankbongiorno.bsky.social @capandgown.bsky.social @michellearrow.bsky.social Anna Clark et al
#history @austhistassoc.bsky.social

No Swank Here: : The Development of the Whitsundays as a Tourist Destination to the early 1970s This year James Cook University celebrates its proud legacy in historical research, writing and publishing through the  Studies in North Que...

Our 7th 'Studies in North Queensland History' retrospective for
@austhistassoc.bsky.social #AHA2025 @jcucase.bsky.social
@jcuofficial.bsky.social is Richard White (USyd) on "No Swank Here: The Development of the Whitsundays as a Tourist Destination"
jculibrarynews.blogspot.com/2025/07/no-s...

Congratulations to our 2025 Prize Winners, announced last week at the AHA conference in Townsville!

Towering over Townsville in North Queensland is a stunning rock. Just before flying home I took a walk up there to watch the sunrise.

#AHA2025 @austhistassoc.bsky.social in Townsville officially complete with last minute salt water croc spotting on the Friday arvo. Thanks everyone for all the inspiration and see you next year at Macquarie!

A photograph of downtown Townsville, Queensland, featuring Ross Creek and views of Flinders Street on Wulgurukaba country.

Many Australian Women's History Network members had a beautiful week in Townsville for the 2025 @austhistassoc.bsky.social Conference.

Highlights included the fantastic presentations in the AWHN stream, a plenary panel cultivating solidarity against academic precarity and our feminist dance party 👯‍♀️

I've started this awesome new project with @johannawiggers.bsky.social ! if you're a HDR or ECR and super into longform literary criticism you should consider pitching!

Presentations finished, but #AHA2025 @austhistassoc.bsky.social still “Looking up”!! Birdwatching tour with Russell McGregor on town common

The world is going troppo: and things in universities are not looking up. This week I went to a *really* good conference with the theme 'Looking Up'. But I was alarmed at the experience of those currently working in universities, many of whom are not able to look up rn.

With a million thanks to @stplbrk.bsky.social for the best collegiality ever, I had two incredible days but a bazillion heartbreaking conversations in North Queensland hannahforsyth.substack.com/p/the-world-...

This past week, educators and those interested in democratic and citizenship education came to Townsville for the SCEAA conference hosted at JCU. Attendees participated in two days of exciting discussions about the future of democratic and citizenship education across contexts.

The warmth of Townsville will forever be in my heart. 😜

Thanks. Starting to wonder why we booked Tassie, not Townsville. Oh yeah, fireside reading and snow.

Dammit.

Thanks to the organizers, attendees, and my copresenters at the #AHA2025 conference; its time for me to return to the south.

This was an incredible opportunity. The community of support & their dedication to developing history research and teaching that I saw at JCU was truly inspiring

Cheers 🥂

Do check out this new intellectual history podcast hosted by Selma Sondern @standrewsiih.bsky.social - the first episode features Richard Whatmore (@uniofstandrews.bsky.social) on why the Enlightenment, eighteenth-century republicanism, & the history of free states matter for global politics today

A funny, insightful, and much to the delight of the audience, musical keynote from Lyndon Megarrity. His love for Townsville shines through. #AHA2025 #OzHA2025

This was before Lyndon broke into song…!!!

Lyndon Megarrity’s keynote #AHA2025 on the history of Townsville is officially complete by mentioning the historic Magnetic island swim: www.towsa.com.au/magnetic-isl...

Arctic Regions In a Torrid Zone: The Ross River Meatworks 1892 - 1992 This year James Cook University celebrates its proud legacy in historical research, writing and publishing through the  Studies in North Que...

Our 6th 'Studies in North Queensland History' retrospective for @austhistassoc.bsky.social #AHA2025 @jcucase.bsky.social @jcuofficial.bsky.social is @ncushing12.bsky.social on "Arctic Regions In a Torrid Zone: The Ross River Meatworks 1892-1992 jculibrarynews.blogspot.com/2025/07/arct...

Everyone learns when Lyndon Megarrity speaks: our last keynote #AHA2025

I've been struck by how heartfelt the introductions have been at this conference. Love to see such sincere collegiality. A beautiful tribute to our final keynote Lyndon Megarrity from Claire Brennan. #AHA2025 #OzHA2025

A fascinating, funny, and thoughtful reflection on a life in politics and activism from the irrepressible Margaret Reynolds. #OzHA2025 #AHA2025

Pr Koen Stapelbroek launches the amazing, free, online, Studies in North Queensland History series. Look up and read up on the North. #AHA2025 #OzHA2025

jcu.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/co...

Day 3 done and dusted 💪 #OzHA2025 #AHA2025

Great!!! Yes!

Very cool experience attending my first ever AHA Conference day today. Highlights for me included a great panel discussion on the use of AI and hearing about @stplbrk.bsky.social's planned book on the Dutch Free City of Riouw. #AHA2025

Back tomorrow!

The 2025 annual conference of the Australian Historical Association is underway in Townsville, hosted by JCU and CQU. Among the many meanings of this year's theme, 'Looking Up' is also an invitation to look 'up North'.
@jcuofficial.bsky.social @austhistassoc.bsky.social @stplbrk.bsky.social