Unashamedly Creative

Bringing together a panel of experts who not only freelance but also work hard for the vested interests of the Australian freelance community, The Future of Work is Freelance is about exploring freelancing in an honest and positive way.

​Includes entire discussion complete with Q and A

Bringing together a panel of experts who not only freelance but also work hard for the vested interests of the Australian freelance community, The Future of Work is Freelance is about exploring freelancing in an honest and positive way.

We'll cover landscape such as what it's like to freelance in Australia, the challenges faced plus a special highlight on key areas such as developing a client base, presenting yourself well in the market, managing stress and issues, and finding the right support on your journey.

This panel discussion is designed to give you proper information on how to freelance well in Australia while also having your voices heard on the future of freelance. Whether you are considering taking the plunge or you're an old salt in the freelance world, we welcome you. 

Featuring Monica Davidson from Creative Plus Business, Cameron Rambert from Freelance Australia, Rebekah Lambert from the Freelance Jungle and Lara Lightfoot as compere

RECORDED LIVE ON JUNE 7TH AS PART OF VIVID IDEAS

Australian freelancers are a giving bunch and a surprising number of us volunteer on tasks large and small. We often enjoy using their freelancing skills in community, NFP, arts and other causes.  

We volunteer in subjects as wide as puppy raising, mental health and kid's literacy. The school system sees us back the future generation just as much as major organisations receive pro bono projects. 

Choosing to volunteer can help with connections, reducing stress, grounding, growing skills and more. But in a profession where time is indeed money and the hours are often all consuming, how can you freelance and volunteer at the same time?  

We explore the who, why, how and what it takes of the volunteering world with 3 special guests and your host. 

RECORDED IN FRONT OF A VIRTUAL AUDIENCE 

Kylie Saunder 

Kylie has been a freelance SEO copywriter for 8 years in Melbourne. With a Bachelor of Arts, she's worked in marketing & HR for companies like Motorola and Amcor. When her father died at only 56, she changed paths and studied fitness & Pilates before setting up several businesses. After selling her studio, she wanted to use her marketing & writing skills again and set up her freelance business. For the last 4 years, she's volunteered for Seeing Eye Dogs Australia as a permanent puppy carer.

http://kyliesaunder.com/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyliesaunder/

https://twitter.com/KylieSaunder

Lou Merrington

Lou Merrington runs Pure Arts Communications, which provides communications and outreach training and consultancy services to universities, companies, community groups, researchers and practitioners working in the humanities, arts and social sciences.

Lou holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) a PhD in international relations. She has worked as a journalist, strategic analyst, editor, facilitator and university communications manager. She is the author of Greythorne and Communications for Volunteers: Low-Cost Strategies for Community Groups.

www.pureartscommunications.com

www.lmmerrington.com 

Canberra's https://www.facebook.com/safeshelteract/

Andrea Rowe

Your Coastal Connection is the business name for creative copywriter, content crafter, and strategic freelance communicator Andrea Rowe. She's also known as The Coast Writer. She's based on the Mornington Peninsula where she gets her coastal living fix. Andrea has 25+ years experience in communications with a background in journalism, PR and media management, a swag of successful client communication projects, and an ability to reign supreme over the scrabble board!  

She's the co-founder of  the Peninsula Writers' Club, an active parent volunteer and uses her skills pro-bono to support the Australian of the Year.  

Rebekah Lambert- host

Rebekah Lambert is a content marketing freelancer at Unashamedly Creative. She's also the founder of Hacking Happiness, a project designed to remind Australian businesses & professionals that stress has a productivity cost. As the founder of The Freelance Jungle, an online and offline social club designed to support Australian freelancers, she continues this message of community support and stress reduction through focusing on ending the isolation inherent in sole employment.

Rebekah is currently training as a Crisis Supporter for Lifeline Australia, spent 12 months as part of a joint COSBA and Beyond Blue work group tasked to improve the mental health outcomes of Australian small business, and is an Assistance Dogs Australia relief carer. When she's not talking business and stress reduction, she's exploring the wonders of Wollongong and the Illawarra.

Speaking to the ever lovely ABC Illawarra Saturday morning show about the upcoming Vivid Ideas event 'future of work is freelance' as well as freelance life, volunteering and more.

A small squeal of excitement echoed through the Freelance Jungle recently. It was when Bek realised she finally had an accountant ready to step up and give hungry freelance minds a taste of financial advice. 

Now, we'll be able to ask some questions, get some resources and unravel a few financial mysteries in this here Freelance Jungle in a special virtual event! 

We'll be looking at common questions such as:  

1) EOFY, BAS and the ATO (and other scary sounding acronyms)  

2) The benefits of having an accountant or bookkeeper by your side  

3) Ways to save and get yourself organised for thing such as credit lines and home loans 

4) Avenues you can investigate to make your finances and financial advisors work better for you 

5) Common mistakes made by freelancers in our BAS and how to avoid them 

6) How to survive the knee knocking moments like a bigger than expected tax debt, audit and more 

7) How to work out things like profit & loss and start reinvesting in your business the smart way

THIS SESSION WAS RECORDED IN FRONT OF A VIRTUAL AUDIENCE. 

ABOUT CRISTINA

Drawing on over 15 years experience in the finance and accounting industry, Cristina works with businesses to develop processes and systems to increase efficiency and give decision makers access to key financial indicators. 

Since 2010, she's been partnering with businesses, providing them with bookkeeping and financial management assistance, short term projects to implement new programs, and consulting arrangements.

Her philosophy is to focus on each client's specific needs to deliver a consistent, high quality service, develop long-term partnerships and help clients grow. You can catch Cristina and crew via http://vixenbusiness.com.au/ 

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Ever wanted to get into podcasting but weren't sure how? Have you been wondering about what an audience looks for in audio education? 

Well, you're in luck because the Freelance Jungle has Jennifer Macey on the case.

Making a killer podcast with Jennifer Macey 

Jennifer Macey is a freelance journalist and podcast and radio documentary producer with more than 15 years experience, based in Bulli, New South Wales. Her radio work has aired on DW-Radio, ABC Radio, Pacifica Radio and KCRW.

She's covered UN Climate Change conferences, the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, reported from Indonesia on the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami, talked to the Archbishop of Krakow about Poland joining the EU, met members of Cologne's Nazi resistance movement, interviewed elephants and their keepers and heard extraordinary tales from everyday people.

She's currently producing the Australia Institute's podcast Follow the Money, This Kid Life a podcast for children for the Sydney Opera House and an oral history podcast in the Illawarra. Jennifer has previously made an internal training podcast for the NSW Department of Family and Community Services. Her work has won the Judges Pick Prize in the Audiocraft short feature challenge and has won third prize in KCRW's 24-hour Radio Race 2016. She is an alumnus of Varuna the National Writers House and has run podcasting workshops for adults and kids at Wild Rumpus in the Illawarra. 

Impressed? I am! 

THIS ZOOM WAS RECORDED IN FRONT OF A VIRTUAL AUDIENCE.

Looking to plan a new product or business idea? Need a hand with the definition phase? Find a comfy chair, gather up 9 minutes and have a listen to this guided meditation on new product development.

Every so often, a story comes along that begs to be told. That is the story of our next Zoom participant, Kylie Travers. 

Kylie and I met through the Freelance Jungle as I tapped and poked at her determination to only accept work you felt you were worth. Agreeing with Kylie yet in a mood to test this resolve, I asked strong questions. She never shied away and convinced me of her ability and nous when it came to asking for what she was worth. 

Ambling around the internet in another group, I found the very same person sharing candidly, honestly and with respect her story of moving from homeless domestic violence survivor to self employed CEO. Her aim was to inspire other women, squash the stigma and assumptionsurrounding both homelessness and family violence. And to give hope to those who found themselves facing adversity of all kinds that things can and do get better. 

It was then I knew I had to bring Kylie to the virtual talks part of the Jungle to share her story. 

THIS EPISODE WAS RECORDED IN FRONT OF A VIRTUAL AUDIENCE. 

ABOUT KYLIE: 

Kylie Travers has gone from homeless single mother because of domestic violence to multi-international award winning CEO. Kylie has a passion for travel, finance and her family. She has turned her obstacles into opportunities, been an advocate for various charities and now focuses on writing, public speaking and mentoring about goals, motivation, travel, finance and the steps to take to create a life you love. 

Her methods have enabled many to increase their income, travel more, increase time with their family and in general live happy, fulfilling lives. Through what she has achieved Kylie has won numerous awards. 

She is currently based in Melbourne, Australia and you can find her athttp://www.kylietravers.com.au/

Regulars to the Freelance Jungle will recognise Cyndi as the person who jumps in to offer advice and a few handy links. She's s smart go getter who has come from a varied freelance background. Now she's turning her super powers to the law. And so she's popping in to help us minkies wander around the legal jungle. 

​ABOUT CYNDI: 

Cyndi Tomlinson was a filmmaker and writer supporting herself as a board level PA until 2008 when she decided to go to law school. Now she is writing for businesses to support her studies as she works towards becoming a Barrister. Her company, tomlinson online is the solution to her business and life needs as well as yours. Need research, writing, or administrative assistance? Go to http://www.tomlinsononline.weebly.com/

PLEASE NOTE: This is not in place of legal advice. It is advice on navigating the legal landscape around freelancing and creative work. It is designed to help you find sources of aid you need.

At a certain point, a freelancer may grow their educational wings. They move from supplying the client side of town into helping their clients and their fellow freelancers to learn the skills they need.  

Three such people are Kate Toon, Brook McCarthy and Dr Sarah McKay. 

Kate Toon is the always in motion, SEO toting freelancer turned educator. She's the founder of the Recipe for SEO Success, a DIY SEO course for business owners and freelancers. And she runs the Clever Copywriting School, a website full of templates, blogs, advice and information designed to develop the next level of Australian copywriters. 

Brook McCarthy is the sassy smart yoga marketer turned business coach for small business and creatives. She runs successful workshops throughout the year on blogging and social media. Online, she coaches in person and in a group setting via Hustle and Heart. She's adept at teaching, instructing and inspiring business people with their marketing and business planning. So it seems only fitting that these lovely ladies will be sharing their learning about being on the course trail. 

Dr Sarah McKay is an exceptionally popular neuroscientist who spends her time educating people about brain health and the wonders of the human mind. She spent her time in lab coats studying the brain along other post doctoral scientists until realising her true passion lay in bringing brain health and understanding to the masses. Her course is niche and highly successful. 

WHY SHOULD YOU TUNE IN? 

We'll be looking at the various aspects of what it takes to run a successful course such as: 

1) How do you know if you should run a course 

2) What it takes to successfully promote a course 

3) What are the preferred methods, platforms and ways you can launch and love your course 

4) The truly hard parts of running a course no one has the balls to discuss 

5) Looking at industry challenges such as market saturation, the dreaded copycat, getting the RSVPs where you need them to be and more

ABOUT YOUR PRESENTERS

ABOUT BROOK:  

Brook McCarthy is a writer, speaker, trainer and business coach with more than 10 years' experience in online communications. 

Brook's flagship program, Hustle & Heart, helps service professionals to grow their business, their way, through digital marketing, PR and simple sales.

ABOUT KATE:  

Kate Toon is a copywriter, SEO lover and Head Chef at The Recipe for SEO Success eCourse. She also runs The Clever Copywriting School and is the co-host of the Hot Copy Podcast.

The Recipe for SEO Success is an eight-week, online training eCourse is specifically designed to help small business owners do their own SEO.

ABOUT SARAH:  

Sarah McKay is an increasingly influential brain health commentator, neuroscientist and science communicator who specialises in translating brain science research into simple, actionable strategies for health and wellbeing. 

Sarah is founder of an online course The Neuroscience Academy, which teaches neuroscience to practitioners, coaches and educators. 

Sarah received her PhD in neuroscience from Oxford University. After 5 years of postdoc research she hung up her lab-coat to start her sci-comms business. She pens a brain health blog and regularly speaks and writes about the mind and brain.