Meet, Kylie.
In this On the Fala feature, Kylie Hatch reflects on her journey from maternal health into higher education, where she now leads equity and inclusion work at Monash University and advocates for Pacific students across Victoria. Grounded in her Fijian, Tongan and Anglo-Australian heritage, Kylie shares what being the eldest daughter taught her about service, why community has shaped her path back into study, and why "you can't be what you can't see."
Kylie Hatch, Executive and Project Officer, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
I was born in Auckland, New Zealand. My Mother is Anglo-Australian from Country Victoria - part of the Western District or Djab wurrung country. My Father is of Fijian Descent, born in Tamavua, Suva. His paternal line traces back to Lomanikoro village, Rewa and his maternal line traces back to Levuka in Ovalau in the Lomaiviti group & Tonga (Ma'ufanga, Tongatapu, Tonga). My family moved to Melbourne in the '80's. The only Pasifika people we interacted with were those that played rugby with Dad. I'm incredibly grateful to my Mum and my Fijian Aunties who really fostered and cultivated my sense of being 'Fijian' and the importance of family and community.
I'm the oldest daughter so it was instilled in me early, the importance of being of service, which has helped shape my career. Education was always a given in our household. My parents were leaders in their respective fields and my Mum particularly instilled in me the importance of connection and learning and growing to achieve your goals.
The connection to my culture has evolved over time and become important to me, to ensure that my son maintains the connection to his Pacific roots. My background is in Women's Health, specifically around Pregnancy and Maternal health, Childbirth and those early childhood years.
My career has pivoted quite a bit over the years. I was previously working in the maternal health space. After six years, I knew I needed to create a financially stable life for my son and I. So I had to pivot and I joined Monash University seven years ago. Since joining the faculty my role has expanded to support projects such as our Equity, Diversity & Inclusion programs, specifically the Multicultural Outreach Support for Advancement, Inclusion and Community (MOSAIC) - a network for Professional and Academic staff within the Faculty. The work MOSAIC does for the faculty has been an important step in recognition and support for staff of multicultural backgrounds in Higher Education. Other teams I am a part of include, the Faculty Indigenous Advisory Group, plus Wellbeing programs for the Faculty. I am also a member of the Pacific Community of Practice group for Monash University. This work has connected me to EPHEA, (Equity Practitioners in Higher Education Association), and then to APEN (where I am) currently an Executive member.
On a personal level I am on the board of Pacific Connections, a local Melbourne based community organisation to support and enhance the lives of the diaspora here in Melbourne/ Naarm.
The support and inspiration I receive from not only my local Community group, but the APEN Network has encouraged me to continue furthering my studies and I am currently completing my Master of Public Health at the University of Melbourne, alongside being involved in the Pacific Island Student Association. Pacific students and staff are an underrepresented group within the Higher Education space in Victoria. The networking and advocacy that comes from being in these spaces with other Pasifika Educators and students is key to improving the pathways of our young Pacific students into Higher Education in all its forms.
I didn't envisage myself working within the Higher Education sector, and especially didn't see myself continuing my studies this way. "You can't be what you can't see". I'm now developing my career so I can continue to be of service to my community through improving access and inclusion of Pacific students into the Higher Education space, but also on a personal level, improving access and equity to health education for the Pacific diaspora in the community. I would not have been able to do this without the support of my Manager here at Monash, but also the encouragement and community that APEN has given me. I'm inspired daily by seeing the work my Pasifika colleagues are doing in Melbourne and through APEN around Australia and the Pacific.
I'm most proud of my son and the life we have created. He has found his passion working as an electrician and I see that same sense of giving back to the community, to be of service with his desire to join the Country Fire Authority as a volunteer.
We wouldn't be where we are today without the encouragement and support of my family.