Graduate Story

Ross Tapsell completed his PhD entitled 'A History of Australian Journalism in Indonesia', with the Department of History and Politics, and CAPSTRANS, in 2009

After completing his Bachelor of Arts with Honours at the University of Sydney in 2003, Ross worked and travelled through Southeast Asia in 2004 and decided to continue his interest in Indonesia and history by enrolling in a PhD program at the University of Wollongong in 2005.

His postgraduate study gave him many opportunities to be significantly involved in Australia-Indonesia relations. In 2006, Ross was a visiting scholar for the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Jakarta, where he conducted fieldwork for his PhD, conducting interviews with Australian and Indonesian journalists, and also Indonesian government officials, including the former President of Indonesia, Abdurrahman Wahid. He has worked as a journalist in Indonesia, including The Jakarta Post (2006) and the Lombok Post (2008). In 2007, Ross was selected to be part of the Australia Indonesia Youth Exchange Program which involved living in a village and conducting community development work in Eastern Indonesia. In February 2009 he was invited to be part of ‘Australia and Indonesia: Partners in a New Era’, hosted by the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd.

Ross’ work has been published in major academic journals, such as The Australian Journal of Politics and History, and more frequent publications such as Inside Indonesia, The Point, and The Jakarta Post. His research also saw him present at both international and national conferences on Asian Studies, journalism, and history. Ross has been heavily involved in teaching in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Wollongong since 2005, and was lecturer and subject co-ordinator for ‘Film and History’ (2008) and ‘Reporting War: A History’ (2009). Upon completion of his PhD, Ross was awarded a prestigious Australian Government Endeavour Postdoctorate Award, which involves living and researching in Indonesia for six months, examining the current state of journalism and freedom of the press in the archipelago.

Last reviewed: 9 February, 2010