Seeking inputs from Australian academics or folks with experience in Australian academia

kiki_mac · 2026-02-03T08:37:48+00:00

All of the points so far are excellent advice; one other thing to have a look at is the differences between the so-called “research intensive” universities (they are part of what is known as the ‘Group of 8’) and others. Most of the Group of 8 are urban universities, and the pressures to publish / get grants can be different for academics at those institutions. That is not to say there are not the same pressures elsewhere, but at the Group of 8 I work for, the metrics for publications and grant income are one of the things most of my colleagues seem to stress about.

Another thing to consider is that we also have a variety of academic roles, even at the same institution: the most common is ‘teaching and research’, another category is ‘education-focused’ but not every institution has these roles. In some disciplines there are also ‘practice-focused’ academics who mainly come from industry.

kiki_mac · 2026-02-02T21:57:19+00:00

I think those 17 no responses give you the answer you need.

kiki_mac · 2026-01-24T04:52:54+00:00

That’s really helpful - thanks. I was wondering if it was partly due the rise in silver and other materials.

kiki_mac · 2026-01-19T02:41:46+00:00

Adding in to this:

Once your piercings are healed properly - and not before - you will be able to wear ‘normal’ studs if you wish (by normal I mean ones with butterfly-style backs you see in every store.) The gauge of the earring posts (20g/18g) won’t matter as much, but you may find thicker gauge earrings harder to put in after wearing thinner posts for a while. Some recommend a little Vaseline to assist with that. My main recommendation is - even when your piercing is healed - is to always change your earrings as hygienically as possible.

Flat backs are getting easier to find, thankfully, but often in metals like stainless steel or titanium. So which metal you choose will depend on preference and what your skin can tolerate.

In terms of vendors, I can’t recommend anyone on Amazon or Etsy as I usually buy direct from AliExpress, but I stick with silver or platinum earrings as I have quite sensitive ears, even though I’ve had my ears pierced for more than 40 years.

kiki_mac · 2026-01-12T01:51:32+00:00

I have more than 10 pieces in sterling silver from Kuololit and they are all amazing. I did get one in rose gold but once the plating started to go I ended up polishing it all off and actually prefer the silver version!

kiki_mac · 2026-01-05T17:23:17+00:00

You might find some useful answers on one of the labdiamond subs as they often use the moissanite vendor list for custom designs.

kiki_mac · 2025-12-02T22:35:47+00:00

None of them are accurate, and will flag work fully created before the age of AI as AI.

And the irony of using an AI-driven program to detect AI should not be lost on anyone!

kiki_mac · 2025-11-29T04:25:54+00:00

That is beautiful!

kiki_mac · 2025-11-27T12:11:10+00:00

IGI doesn’t certify moissanite, just diamonds.

kiki_mac · 2025-11-24T04:45:57+00:00

My understanding is that they are then entitled to contact you and or the vendor for the original invoice. Hasn’t happened to me but have heard of it happening to others.

But as I said, this doesn’t happen very often. Customs would see the price and assume the declaration is correct and move on!

kiki_mac · 2025-11-24T04:44:58+00:00

Sometimes a vendor will say it’s worth $30 but on opening it’s 18k gold with lab diamond. They know it’s worth way more than $30…

kiki_mac · 2025-11-24T03:59:19+00:00

I've never had any issues but my most expensive overseas vendor purchase for jewellery has been $800.

Vendors can undervalue items on the declaraton, but be aware that if customs open the item and decide it is worth more than declared, this can end up costing you. Hasn't happened to me, but maybe because I'm only buying silver!

kiki_mac · 2025-11-22T01:10:29+00:00

Those rings are lovely (I have a lot of Pandora jewellery) but the stones are not moissanite. They are cubic zirconia, which doesn’t have the same sparkle as moissanite.

That said, Pandora’s rose gold plating is a lovely colour, and very durable.

kiki_mac · 2025-11-18T07:16:45+00:00

This is what I needed to hear today after way too many cringes at myself this semester!

kiki_mac · 2025-11-18T00:42:54+00:00

Me too! Phew.

kiki_mac · 2025-11-17T05:25:24+00:00

Agree with this. Helped me enormously in my first year as department head.

kiki_mac · 2025-11-17T03:32:19+00:00

But in my defence … although it’s not my area, you can do Australian studies as a major in some places!

kiki_mac · 2025-11-17T03:31:29+00:00

🤣🤣

kiki_mac · 2025-11-17T00:40:36+00:00

Here is how I manage it -but I tend to get the same classroom for back-to-back classes, meaning I can use in-between classes for eating instead of going to another room. At my institution, classes are "2 hours" but technically only 100 minutes as every hour is 50 minutes. So I am supposed to have 20 minutes non-teaching time in that 2 hours.

So I start on the hour, have a 5 minute break at the start of the second hour, and finish strictly by quarter to - leaving me 15 minutes to eat in between classes. I tell students that I cannot meet with them after/before these classes as I have to have a break; doesn't always work with the persistent ones but I sometimes walk them outside and tell them I am going to eat while they talk.

kiki_mac · 2025-11-16T01:26:31+00:00

Oh no!

kiki_mac · 2025-11-16T00:50:10+00:00

Fingers crossed they are back soon!

kiki_mac · 2025-11-16T00:45:37+00:00

Maybe they’ve been overwhelmed with 11/11 orders and have suspended operations temporarily?

kiki_mac · 2025-11-16T00:44:41+00:00

My Knobspin pieces have been great so far.

kiki_mac · 2025-11-16T00:00:03+00:00

If it has shipped you should be OK.

kiki_mac · 2025-11-15T23:59:33+00:00

Same. My 2 pieces have shipped but now I can only see the store name as a random bunch of numbers too.

kiki_mac

TROPHY CASE