Melanie Swalwell
@melswal.bsky.social
Prof of Digital Media Heritage, Swinburne University. #AusEAASI Project Lead. 🖤💛❤️ ally, living and working on Wurundjeri and Dja Dja Wurrung lands.
Reposted by Melanie Swalwell
The irony here is that academics don’t just write the articles for free—we also referee and edit for them for free. Something is deeply broken.
“New Zealand's eight universities spent $30-million a year on journal licences and about half of that sum went to Elsevier.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
“New Zealand's eight universities spent $30-million a year on journal licences and about half of that sum went to Elsevier.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Universities in 'battle of the century' with journal publisher Elsevier
One New Zealand university told its staff all universities in New Zealand and Australia would "lose some degree of access" to the publisher's 1600 titles from the start of next year.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 15, 2025 at 5:50 AM
The irony here is that academics don’t just write the articles for free—we also referee and edit for them for free. Something is deeply broken.
“New Zealand's eight universities spent $30-million a year on journal licences and about half of that sum went to Elsevier.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
“New Zealand's eight universities spent $30-million a year on journal licences and about half of that sum went to Elsevier.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
This is a hugely significant step.
October 31, 2025 at 1:47 AM
This is a hugely significant step.
Some good news from Australia - no text and data mining exceptions to copyright will be introduced for training AI.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...
Artists tell AI to 'solve the problem' as copyright carve-out ruled out
Labor has ruled out changing copyright laws to give tech giants free rein to train artificial intelligence models on creative works after the proposition was met with widespread backlash from artists.
www.abc.net.au
October 28, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Some good news from Australia - no text and data mining exceptions to copyright will be introduced for training AI.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...
I am sensing something of a pattern here 🤔
Audited accounts show surpluses - not budget crises - at ANU and UoN. Who's next?
bsky.app/profile/aust...
Audited accounts show surpluses - not budget crises - at ANU and UoN. Who's next?
bsky.app/profile/aust...
New Australia Institute analysis shows the University of Newcastle had net assets over $1.8 billion at the end of 2024, contrary to claims that the university is in a finanical crisis.
#auspol
#auspol
October 24, 2025 at 7:14 AM
I am sensing something of a pattern here 🤔
Audited accounts show surpluses - not budget crises - at ANU and UoN. Who's next?
bsky.app/profile/aust...
Audited accounts show surpluses - not budget crises - at ANU and UoN. Who's next?
bsky.app/profile/aust...
Reposted by Melanie Swalwell
New Australia Institute analysis shows the University of Newcastle had net assets over $1.8 billion at the end of 2024, contrary to claims that the university is in a finanical crisis.
#auspol
#auspol
October 24, 2025 at 4:35 AM
New Australia Institute analysis shows the University of Newcastle had net assets over $1.8 billion at the end of 2024, contrary to claims that the university is in a finanical crisis.
#auspol
#auspol
Reposted by Melanie Swalwell
This is incredible news, and shows the incredible power of collective action. The fight against the neoliberal university (my own included) goes on, but its nice to hear some good news for a change.
#Breaking | ANU College of Arts & Social Sciences will not face structural changes at this time. No renaming, merging, or disestablishment of areas. Change management appears to have been halted, even walked back completely. It’s unclear the impacts of this announcement on the school of music.
October 9, 2025 at 1:56 AM
This is incredible news, and shows the incredible power of collective action. The fight against the neoliberal university (my own included) goes on, but its nice to hear some good news for a change.
Australian academic colleagues will want to fill this out: "The Australian University Census on Staff Wellbeing: An investigation of psychosocial safety climate in Australia's universities" doit.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
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doit.az1.qualtrics.com
October 7, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Australian academic colleagues will want to fill this out: "The Australian University Census on Staff Wellbeing: An investigation of psychosocial safety climate in Australia's universities" doit.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Reposted by Melanie Swalwell
New Australia Institute analysis shows the ANU had a $90 million profit in 2024 and INCREASED the value of its net assets...
All while the ANU was claiming a budget crisis to justify staff cuts!
@richarddenniss.bsky.social #auspol
All while the ANU was claiming a budget crisis to justify staff cuts!
@richarddenniss.bsky.social #auspol
October 2, 2025 at 6:51 AM
New Australia Institute analysis shows the ANU had a $90 million profit in 2024 and INCREASED the value of its net assets...
All while the ANU was claiming a budget crisis to justify staff cuts!
@richarddenniss.bsky.social #auspol
All while the ANU was claiming a budget crisis to justify staff cuts!
@richarddenniss.bsky.social #auspol
Reposted by Melanie Swalwell
The settlement website in the Bartz v Anthropic class action is now live and can be found here: www.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com. It includes comprehensive information about the case and settlement, including a searchable tool to see if your books are included in the settlement and a claim form.
ANT Homepage | ANT
www.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com
October 2, 2025 at 7:08 AM
The settlement website in the Bartz v Anthropic class action is now live and can be found here: www.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com. It includes comprehensive information about the case and settlement, including a searchable tool to see if your books are included in the settlement and a claim form.
Reposted by Melanie Swalwell
October 1, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Reposted by Melanie Swalwell
A formidable coalition of Australian creators and book industry organisations attended a Senate Inquiry hearing yesterday to strongly oppose the Productivity Commission’s proposal for a text and data mining exception for AI training.
Read more: www.asauthors.org.au/news/its-not...
Read more: www.asauthors.org.au/news/its-not...
‘It’s not copy-charity. It’s copyright’: Authors oppose copyright exception for AI training at Senate Inquiry - Australian Society of Authors
Creators and book industry organisations attended a Senate Inquiry hearing to oppose the proposal for a copyright exception for AI training.
www.asauthors.org.au
October 1, 2025 at 11:19 AM
A formidable coalition of Australian creators and book industry organisations attended a Senate Inquiry hearing yesterday to strongly oppose the Productivity Commission’s proposal for a text and data mining exception for AI training.
Read more: www.asauthors.org.au/news/its-not...
Read more: www.asauthors.org.au/news/its-not...
Reposted by Melanie Swalwell
🏆 The #sigcis2025 awards are up!! 🏆
📖 Computer History Museum Prize ➡️ @apdamegriff
*The Two Revolutions: A History of the Transgender Internet*
https://nyupress.org/9781479818310/the-two-revolutions/
📄 The Mahoney Prize ➡️ @theodorajewell
“Settler Computing: Water Algorithms and the Equitable […]
📖 Computer History Museum Prize ➡️ @apdamegriff
*The Two Revolutions: A History of the Transgender Internet*
https://nyupress.org/9781479818310/the-two-revolutions/
📄 The Mahoney Prize ➡️ @theodorajewell
“Settler Computing: Water Algorithms and the Equitable […]
Original post on aoir.social
aoir.social
September 26, 2025 at 8:06 PM
🏆 The #sigcis2025 awards are up!! 🏆
📖 Computer History Museum Prize ➡️ @apdamegriff
*The Two Revolutions: A History of the Transgender Internet*
https://nyupress.org/9781479818310/the-two-revolutions/
📄 The Mahoney Prize ➡️ @theodorajewell
“Settler Computing: Water Algorithms and the Equitable […]
📖 Computer History Museum Prize ➡️ @apdamegriff
*The Two Revolutions: A History of the Transgender Internet*
https://nyupress.org/9781479818310/the-two-revolutions/
📄 The Mahoney Prize ➡️ @theodorajewell
“Settler Computing: Water Algorithms and the Equitable […]
The eSafety Commissioner has done something right. It’s heartening to see such a hefty fine handed down for image-based abuse.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...
Man fined $350k in Federal Court for creating deepfake porn
A man who made deep fake pornographic images of prominent Australian women and posted them to a website has been fined $343,500 by the Federal Court — the first case of its kind in the country.
www.abc.net.au
September 26, 2025 at 9:04 AM
The eSafety Commissioner has done something right. It’s heartening to see such a hefty fine handed down for image-based abuse.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...
Reposted by Melanie Swalwell
I stan Violet!
“We are told by leaders that we are the future. But when it comes to the ongoing pandemic, our present is being stolen right in front of our eyes.”
Incredible speech by Violet Affleck who warned about the ongoing dangers of COVID & Long Covid, & advocated for masks and clean air at the UN today!
Incredible speech by Violet Affleck who warned about the ongoing dangers of COVID & Long Covid, & advocated for masks and clean air at the UN today!
September 23, 2025 at 10:33 PM
I stan Violet!
Excited to see this post about preserving #gamehistory and use of the EU’s Out of Commerce works.
September 23, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Excited to see this post about preserving #gamehistory and use of the EU’s Out of Commerce works.
John Passfield, #homebrew #gamehistory legend!
There’s heaps more on his early work in my Homebrew book, and at playitagainproject.com
There’s heaps more on his early work in my Homebrew book, and at playitagainproject.com
August 15, 2025 at 11:10 PM
John Passfield, #homebrew #gamehistory legend!
There’s heaps more on his early work in my Homebrew book, and at playitagainproject.com
There’s heaps more on his early work in my Homebrew book, and at playitagainproject.com
Heartened to see that the Australian Society of Authors are pushing back against a proposed text and data mining exception to the Copyright Act to allow the training of AI.
Did you see this @manjusrii.bsky.social ?
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...
Did you see this @manjusrii.bsky.social ?
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...
August 15, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Heartened to see that the Australian Society of Authors are pushing back against a proposed text and data mining exception to the Copyright Act to allow the training of AI.
Did you see this @manjusrii.bsky.social ?
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...
Did you see this @manjusrii.bsky.social ?
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...
I'm looking forward to presenting a keynote on my homebrew game history research at the Replaying Japan conference at RMIT, September 1-3. sites.google.com/view/replayi...
Replaying Japan 2025
Replaying Japan 2025
The 13th International Japan Game Studies Conference
1-3 September 2025
Melbourne City Campus, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.
sites.google.com
August 6, 2025 at 12:09 AM
I'm looking forward to presenting a keynote on my homebrew game history research at the Replaying Japan conference at RMIT, September 1-3. sites.google.com/view/replayi...
Reposted by Melanie Swalwell
Opinion | "Humanities and social sciences academics are signing petitions, writing open letters and organising actions in response to these threats to their jobs. They are anxious and angry."
The disastrous dismantling of the humanities in Australia’s universities has begun
www.crikey.com.au
July 31, 2025 at 5:31 AM
Opinion | "Humanities and social sciences academics are signing petitions, writing open letters and organising actions in response to these threats to their jobs. They are anxious and angry."
Thank you @austhistassoc.bsky.social for addressing the abomination that is Job-Ready Graduates and petitioning the Albo Labor Government to repeal it #auspol. We need more grads and esp. lawyers from Indigenous and other minority backgrounds, not fewer!
Very cool. Though much of this research undertaken by @austhistassoc.bsky.social Help take action by addressing our petition: :) www.openpetition.org/au/petition/...
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 (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/28/open-letter-to-australian-govern...
www.openpetition.org
July 31, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Thank you @austhistassoc.bsky.social for addressing the abomination that is Job-Ready Graduates and petitioning the Albo Labor Government to repeal it #auspol. We need more grads and esp. lawyers from Indigenous and other minority backgrounds, not fewer!
Reposted by Melanie Swalwell
Speaking of petitions . . bsky.app/profile/coro...
Hi friends, please sign this petition to save Sociology and Politics (and half the Ancient History staff!) at Macquarie University.
www.megaphone.org.au/petitions/sa...
www.megaphone.org.au/petitions/sa...
SAVE SOCIOLOGY AT MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY
We urge Macquarie University management to reverse this decision and preserve the vital disciplines of Sociology and Politics.
Sociology has a key place in the social sciences as the broadest and mos...
www.megaphone.org.au
July 31, 2025 at 5:38 AM
Speaking of petitions . . bsky.app/profile/coro...
Reposted by Melanie Swalwell
Super proud of the whole @acmimuseum.bsky.social team with Game Worlds now on full sale -> au.variety.com/2025/digital... … time to start planning your trip, customise your character, fill your inventory. Open Sept 18
ACMI Unveils Full Lineup for 'Game Worlds' Exhibition
ACMI has unveiled the full lineup for 'Game Worlds', its major upcoming exhibition dedicated to the art and impact of video games.
au.variety.com
July 31, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Super proud of the whole @acmimuseum.bsky.social team with Game Worlds now on full sale -> au.variety.com/2025/digital... … time to start planning your trip, customise your character, fill your inventory. Open Sept 18
Reposted by Melanie Swalwell
Hey @albomp.bsky.social, after more than three years in office, how is it that you still haven’t abolished this terrible, economically counterproductive, blatant culture war policy ?
theconversation.com/...
theconversation.com/...
Top Australian writers urge Albanese to abolish Job-Ready Graduates, calling their humanities degrees life changing
Tim Winton, Helen Garner and Peter Garrett are just a few of the high-profile signatories to an open letter against Job-Ready Graduates – and for the humanities.
theconversation.com
July 28, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Hey @albomp.bsky.social, after more than three years in office, how is it that you still haven’t abolished this terrible, economically counterproductive, blatant culture war policy ?
theconversation.com/...
theconversation.com/...
Reposted by Melanie Swalwell
Open letter against the adoption of the Australian Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism’s Plan: Academics against racism overland.org.au/2025/07/open...
Open letter against the adoption of the Australian Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism's Plan - Overland literary journal
We, the undersigned university researchers, educators, students and professional staff, call on the Australian Government to reject the unprecedented attack on academic freedom and the autonomy of uni...
overland.org.au
July 28, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Open letter against the adoption of the Australian Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism’s Plan: Academics against racism overland.org.au/2025/07/open...