Crawford School of Public Policy

Studying at Crawford is a unique experience, according to a recent graduate. Jaslyn Sidhu has just completed her Master of National Security Policy and describes the experience as wonderful and fulfilling.

Jaslyn came to Crawford from sunny and hot Perth via Singapore and Thailand, where she previously lived. She credits this with sparking her interest in foreign relations and geopolitics. Living in these diverse places also sparked her passion for travelling, and these experiences have broadened her perspectives on people and society, enriching her master’s degree journey.

Jaslyn completed her undergraduate degree in political science and international relations but found it left her wanting more. Jaslyn says, “I was still curious about Australia’s role in foreign relations and how it shaped our policies.” With this, she set out looking for a master’s degree that would allow her to explore all aspects of this.
“National Security was a topic I was not that familiar with, but after looking into what the course entailed, I thought it was extremely relevant for our current geopolitical environment and highlighted Australia’s strategic role amongst it all,” she said.

Through her coursework, she found a love for learning about the proliferation of cyber capabilities. She said that it’s an ever-expanding area and “having a strong cyber capacity is an extremely desirable skill to have as we are utilizing it as a non-traditional form of defence.”

This, however, isn’t the only key element she thinks we need to focus on for Australia’s national security. She elaborated, “Policymakers in Australia and the region have many imminent threats that need to be accounted for currently, but I think it is critical to focus on climate action and enact policies which will make substantive change in mitigating further damage to the climate.”

For those who are considering a National Security degree, she had this to say: “The classes that are offered at Crawford are unique, and I find myself being excited to come to class and engage with my professors and classmates. (Much different experience to my undergrad!)”

The teachers are specifically credited with making the experience a memorable one, with Jaslyn saying they are not only supportive but also foster a safe and inclusive environment for ideas and questions to be raised.

Jaslyn’s most memorable experience at Crawford was sitting in Dr James Mortensen’s classroom. “I looked forward every week to hearing my classmates’ responses to his ice-breaker questions and answering them myself, which then often led to many off-track conversations!”, she said. Jaslyn often left James’s lectures and classes feeling quite existential. Through these philosophical talks, she has been able to analyse situations with greater critical thinking skills and been exposed to unconventional approaches for analysis which she values greatly and hopefully will be able to use in her future endeavours.

Now that she has graduated, Jaslyn says she hopes to travel to Japan and Cambodia before starting to work. “I will see what comes my way! I look forward to joining the national security community, especially in the defence and cyber sectors, and applying everything I have learned at Crawford.”

Congratulations on your graduation, Jaslyn! We can’t wait to see where this adventure takes you next.