Alumni Profile: Dr Mark Brophy
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Degree: Education 1992 Current Position: Senior Project Officer in Vocational Education and Training (VET) Division of the Victorian Government Department of Education and Training. Mark Brophy recently won the 2006 Fulbright Professional Award in VET. This Fulbright Award was established in 1995 to support the exchange of research and ideas on VET between Australia and the United States. Through his Fulbright Award, Mark will undertake research at the Study Circle Resource Centre in Connecticut. His work will investigate ‘study circles’ and ‘community wide circle programs’, where many circles take place simultaneously and focus on a particular issue. These programs often lead to a wide range of community action outcomes. |
What does your current work as a Senior Project Officer in the Vet Division involve?
Current work is centred on assessing, monitoring and evaluating the initiatives emerging from the ‘Ministerial Statement on Knowledge and Skills for the Innovation Economy’ (2002) and more recently preparing for the new projects to commence under the ‘Maintaining the Advantage - Skilled Victorians’ policy (2006).
What does a standard day at the office entail for you?
'Standard days’ are fairly unusual. Work may involve meetings, discussions and visits to TAFEs, training organisations, industry associations, other Government departments and with other stakeholders. Monitoring the performance of contractors and responding to internal and external queries on the progress and results of initiatives such as the Innovation Fund, Specialist Centres, New and Emerging Skills research and Industry Liaison Agents.
What’s the most difficult decision you have had to make in your career?
Deciding what direction you want your career to go. The changing nature of ‘work’ in our society and the need for lifelong learning creates a challenge. We need to be multi-skilled, ready for new roles and tasks. This means there is a difficult balancing decision we need to make. To be an expert – which may limit our opportunities - or to be multi-skilled – never an absolute specialist. I think that training of any sort helps. I tend not to procrastinate - just do it. I’m a qualified mechanic, but have never worked as one beyond my training. I’ve completed a degree in Primary School Teaching, but never been paid a day to teach in a Primary school. Yet at one stage of my career I taught Motor Mechanic Apprentices.
Variety is the key, to keep one interested in learning. And keep career and life learning connected somehow. I’ve completed a Certificate in massage, secured my Heavy Vehicle Licence, completed courses on Marketing, Bookkeeping, Business studies, cultural diversity, management training and am currently progressing through a Master of Public Policy and Management at the University of Melbourne. You never know how your knowledge and skills will become useful somewhere at sometime.
What is the most enjoyable aspect of your job?
Meeting and learning from others. The privilege of working with extremely skilled and wise co-workers. Being challenged and the opportunity to create real change that benefits those who really need it.
What inspires you about your job and life in general?
The above - however I’m inspired by the potential of study circles. Study circles are a democratic approach to learning used in the United States and a staple of adult education in Sweden.
About five to fifteen ‘members’, with a common interest, gather to investigate a particular issue. Being in a small circle automatically allows members to experience equality. In a circle you get to know the real person.
They are democratic, highly participatory discussions which provide a setting for deliberation, for working through social and political issues and for coming up with action strategies.
This small, safe and supportive environment allows members to feel comfortable about expressing their true feelings. When you hear someone’s true feelings, it’s hard not to begin to be understanding and considerate. Members begin to actively engage and participate and experience connectedness. One begins to understand that we are all interdependent, and the well-being of each of us affects the well-being of all.
What is the most stressful or difficult aspect of your job?
Understanding the complex unwritten historical politics between organisations and people. This along with the inherent nature of large cumbersome bureaucracies is a challenge for anyone who likes to see immediate and tangible outcomes.
What led you to focus on educational programs for the unemployed in your postgraduate study?
Working on a range of programs over many years with unemployed I found the situation was basically unfair. In our society, the unemployed (like other disadvantaged groups) are made to feel personally responsible for their situation. They are often viewed as some sort of social parasite – wasting taxpayer’s money, lazy, incompetent, etc. They then take this on themselves, lowering self esteem and their ability to pull themselves out of a hole.
In my research, I posed the question – “What is the main reason you don’t have a job now?” Most answers start with “Because I… l live in the wrong area / haven’t studied enough / too old / too young / medical condition/ haven’t tried enough / lack skills/”, etc. The problem is theirs.
Hardly ever do you get the response that it is because of external factors, such as government, industry policy and resultant factory closures, casualisation of the workforce, reduced welfare state responsibility, globalisation, industrial relations changes, technology, changing nature of work, barriers to training and education, etc.
Yet the majority of unemployed are not only highly skilled and experienced, they contribute to our social capital in an abundance of ways. Volunteering, helping friends, neighbours, involved in community initiatives, etc.
Furthermore, basic economics tells us that a healthy level of unemployment is vital in helping control inflation and keep interest rates down.
Anyone who is working, that appreciates low interest rates and low inflation rates should be grateful for the hundreds and thousands of those who are denied work. The irony is that we blame the victim.
My PhD was an attempt to conduct research with and for the unemployed participants involved in the study, not on them. From a critical theory methodology perspective, it attempted to challenge the notion of “blame” and the label of “deviant” the unemployed are coerced to accept for their own situation. The study therefore did not pathologise the unemployed, but sought to address issues in relation to unemployment from the research participants’ perspective. My PhD was the first ever study circle conducted with unemployed people, on the issue of unemployment in Australia.
What was your reaction to receiving the Fulbright award and what sort of impact will it have on your life?
Firstly, disbelief, then a sense of privilege, responsibility and huge opportunity. One vision of the Study Circle Resource Centre founder was that the approach one day be internationalised. My visit to the US, with the support of an ‘alliance’ of keen organisations here in Australia, may see this country being the first outside the US to adopt the systems and processes of the SCRC.
What are your strongest memories of life at uni while you were studying at University of Melbourne?
The passion and commitment of the lecturers during my Bachelor of Education. Also studies based on the work of Robert Connell, which were the foundation of my views on education to today. The healthy debate, discussion and dialogue between the students who were nearly all studying part time and worked in a wide range of education and training environments. This helped us all build a rapport and empathy of the challenges facing all educational practitioners. More recently my studies in the Master of Public Policy and Management with Dr Jo Barraket and Dr Jeff Keddie.
What do you like to do in your spare time – hobbies etc?
My motorbike, fishing, Richmond football club, reading, handyperson, travel.
Do you have any advice about life/career after study to pass on to current students?
Most ‘advice’ tends to be in the form of clichés. I think the individual choices we make in regard to career and life need to ring true to yourself. Persistence is nine tenths.
Mark’s host institution in the US is the Study Circle Resource Centre.
He will also be visiting the Montgomery County Public Schools Study Circles Program.
Prior to travelling to the US, Mark has been engaged in discussions with several organisations who are interested in supporting the establishment of a Study Circle Resource Centre presence in Australia. If you or your organisation would like to be involved, or are interested in finding out more please email Mark at: brophy.mark.m@edumail.vic.gov.au
