Amanda Laugesen
@alaugesen.bsky.social
Historian, lexicographer, and chief editor of the Australian National Dictionary. Latest book 'Australia in 100 Words' out now with NewSouth Publishing.
Reposted by Amanda Laugesen
@stanleyhistorian.bsky.social makes many good points in this interview, including the lack of recognition for the Les Carlyon Prize shortlistees www.abc.net.au/listen/progr... Questions over the Australian War Memorial literary prize. Please look at the pic & read my note re shortlist recognition.
September 19, 2025 at 3:25 AM
@stanleyhistorian.bsky.social makes many good points in this interview, including the lack of recognition for the Les Carlyon Prize shortlistees www.abc.net.au/listen/progr... Questions over the Australian War Memorial literary prize. Please look at the pic & read my note re shortlist recognition.
Reposted by Amanda Laugesen
"If the ANU is not committed to research that tells the Australian story then well may we ask, what is the point of a national university?"
theconversation.com/the-anu-was-...
theconversation.com/the-anu-was-...
The ANU was set up to be a ‘national asset’. Here are 3 ways it can return to its original mission
After months of pressure, Australian National University vice-chancellor Genevieve Bell has resigned. This creates a unique opportunity for the federal government.
theconversation.com
September 11, 2025 at 10:07 AM
"If the ANU is not committed to research that tells the Australian story then well may we ask, what is the point of a national university?"
theconversation.com/the-anu-was-...
theconversation.com/the-anu-was-...
Reposted by Amanda Laugesen
Leadership must ‘come clean’ on speculated VC ousting, for the sake of the University community’s psychosocial safety. Shocking staff and students have had no official communications. Media is the only source of information atm. Incredibly bad governance. region.com.au/pressure-mou...
Pressure mounts for ANU to 'come clean' amid speculation about Vice-Chancellor's position | Region Canberra
region.com.au
September 8, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Leadership must ‘come clean’ on speculated VC ousting, for the sake of the University community’s psychosocial safety. Shocking staff and students have had no official communications. Media is the only source of information atm. Incredibly bad governance. region.com.au/pressure-mou...
Reposted by Amanda Laugesen
Melbourne Uni needs to explain this bullshit. This is destroying critical cultural infrastructure.
Unimelb axing Meanjin, ANU scuttling the Australian National Dictionary Centre, and then universities wonder why they can’t seem to exert any influence over the national discourse.
Unimelb axing Meanjin, ANU scuttling the Australian National Dictionary Centre, and then universities wonder why they can’t seem to exert any influence over the national discourse.
Literary journal Meanjin to close after 85 years of publishing
Meanjin, a mainstay of Australia's cultural landscape and the nation's second-oldest literary publication, is shuttering after Melbourne University Publishing decided to cease financial support.
www.crikey.com.au
September 4, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Melbourne Uni needs to explain this bullshit. This is destroying critical cultural infrastructure.
Unimelb axing Meanjin, ANU scuttling the Australian National Dictionary Centre, and then universities wonder why they can’t seem to exert any influence over the national discourse.
Unimelb axing Meanjin, ANU scuttling the Australian National Dictionary Centre, and then universities wonder why they can’t seem to exert any influence over the national discourse.
Reposted by Amanda Laugesen
Since our very first issue Meanjin and Overland have been comrades, mates, rivals, and drinking buddies. The UMP board’s decision is a shockingly myopic act of cultural vandalism which will grievously harm the Australian literary community.
September 4, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Since our very first issue Meanjin and Overland have been comrades, mates, rivals, and drinking buddies. The UMP board’s decision is a shockingly myopic act of cultural vandalism which will grievously harm the Australian literary community.
Reposted by Amanda Laugesen
This is an absolute disaster for the literary community, writing writ large, for Australia, the world. I cannot emphasise how bad this is
www.crikey.com.au/2025/09/04/m...
www.crikey.com.au/2025/09/04/m...
Literary journal Meanjin to close after 85 years of publishing
Meanjin, a mainstay of Australia's cultural landscape and the nation's second-oldest literary publication, is shuttering after Melbourne University Publishing decided to cease financial support.
www.crikey.com.au
September 4, 2025 at 2:38 AM
This is an absolute disaster for the literary community, writing writ large, for Australia, the world. I cannot emphasise how bad this is
www.crikey.com.au/2025/09/04/m...
www.crikey.com.au/2025/09/04/m...
Reposted by Amanda Laugesen
RIP Graham Greene. Every time he popped up on screen when I was a kid, my mom would excitedly point him out for being an actual Native on the screen. Able to be deadly serious and infinitely hilarious (even in smaller roles like Last of Us), he ate up the screen. Nʌki’wah brother.
September 1, 2025 at 10:42 PM
RIP Graham Greene. Every time he popped up on screen when I was a kid, my mom would excitedly point him out for being an actual Native on the screen. Able to be deadly serious and infinitely hilarious (even in smaller roles like Last of Us), he ate up the screen. Nʌki’wah brother.
Reposted by Amanda Laugesen
To restore confidence in #ANU:
1️⃣ Cease Renew ANU job cuts.
2️⃣ Cease Renew ANU cuts to disciplines and areas.
3️⃣ Dismiss the Chancellor.
4️⃣ Dismiss the VC.
Sign the @nteunion.bsky.social petition to ANU Council - open at all staff, students and broader community.
1️⃣ Cease Renew ANU job cuts.
2️⃣ Cease Renew ANU cuts to disciplines and areas.
3️⃣ Dismiss the Chancellor.
4️⃣ Dismiss the VC.
Sign the @nteunion.bsky.social petition to ANU Council - open at all staff, students and broader community.
Petition to ANU Council
In support of our petition, we observe that: • ANU Council has the entire control and management of the University and is required to act in all matters concerning the ANU in the way it thinks will…
www.megaphone.org.au
August 26, 2025 at 10:00 PM
To restore confidence in #ANU:
1️⃣ Cease Renew ANU job cuts.
2️⃣ Cease Renew ANU cuts to disciplines and areas.
3️⃣ Dismiss the Chancellor.
4️⃣ Dismiss the VC.
Sign the @nteunion.bsky.social petition to ANU Council - open at all staff, students and broader community.
1️⃣ Cease Renew ANU job cuts.
2️⃣ Cease Renew ANU cuts to disciplines and areas.
3️⃣ Dismiss the Chancellor.
4️⃣ Dismiss the VC.
Sign the @nteunion.bsky.social petition to ANU Council - open at all staff, students and broader community.
Reposted by Amanda Laugesen
Please sign and share this petition for ANU Council to:
🛑Stop forced redundancies
🛑Stop proposed school/center closures and amalgamations
🛑Sack the Chancellor and VC
It’s open not only to students and staff but also to all members of the broader ANU community.
nteu.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT...
🛑Stop forced redundancies
🛑Stop proposed school/center closures and amalgamations
🛑Sack the Chancellor and VC
It’s open not only to students and staff but also to all members of the broader ANU community.
nteu.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT...
Petition to ANU Council
In support of our petition, we observe that:
• ANU Council has the entire control and management of the University and is required to act in all matters concerning the ANU in the way it thinks w...
nteu.informz.net
August 26, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Please sign and share this petition for ANU Council to:
🛑Stop forced redundancies
🛑Stop proposed school/center closures and amalgamations
🛑Sack the Chancellor and VC
It’s open not only to students and staff but also to all members of the broader ANU community.
nteu.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT...
🛑Stop forced redundancies
🛑Stop proposed school/center closures and amalgamations
🛑Sack the Chancellor and VC
It’s open not only to students and staff but also to all members of the broader ANU community.
nteu.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT...
Reposted by Amanda Laugesen
Statement on risks to national social and cultural research infrastructure and capability at the Australian National University | Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
socialsciences.org.au/news/stateme...
socialsciences.org.au/news/stateme...
Statement on risks to national social and cultural research infrastructure and capability at the Australian National University | Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia has deep concerns about the current risks to critical research infrastructure that underpins the work of Aus ...
socialsciences.org.au
August 27, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Statement on risks to national social and cultural research infrastructure and capability at the Australian National University | Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
socialsciences.org.au/news/stateme...
socialsciences.org.au/news/stateme...
Reposted by Amanda Laugesen
Congratulations to @ozworders.bsky.social director @alaugesen.bsky.social. Her book 'Australia in 100 Words' has just been shortlisted for the 2025 Prime Minister's Literary Awards (Australian History). It is a brilliant book - one of my top 2024 reads. A greatly deserved honour.
August 12, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Congratulations to @ozworders.bsky.social director @alaugesen.bsky.social. Her book 'Australia in 100 Words' has just been shortlisted for the 2025 Prime Minister's Literary Awards (Australian History). It is a brilliant book - one of my top 2024 reads. A greatly deserved honour.
Reposted by Amanda Laugesen
The ANU is moving to kill the Australian National Dictionary – this is why it matters
theconversation.com/the-anu-is-m...
theconversation.com/the-anu-is-m...
The ANU is moving to kill the Australian National Dictionary – this is why it matters
The dictionary is a living, breathing and evolving record of how language is wrapped up in who we are as Australians. It is vital we protect it.
theconversation.com
August 8, 2025 at 12:24 AM
The ANU is moving to kill the Australian National Dictionary – this is why it matters
theconversation.com/the-anu-is-m...
theconversation.com/the-anu-is-m...
Reposted by Amanda Laugesen
Important open letter concerning the poor and rapidly worsening treatment of our casual sessional colleagues at @ouranu.bsky.social
ANU staff please read and consider adding your signatures.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
ANU staff please read and consider adding your signatures.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Open letter: Concerns Regarding the Treatment of Casual Sessional Academics at ANU
This letter is now open for signatures, and will be sent on August 18, 2025.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Letter to Minister for Education Jason Clare, Se...
docs.google.com
August 4, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Important open letter concerning the poor and rapidly worsening treatment of our casual sessional colleagues at @ouranu.bsky.social
ANU staff please read and consider adding your signatures.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
ANU staff please read and consider adding your signatures.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Reposted by Amanda Laugesen
“The proposed abolition of the Australian National Dictionary Centre represents a significant retreat from the Australian National University’s long-standing commitment to supporting a national public culture.”
www.australianbookreview.com.au/abr-online/c...
www.australianbookreview.com.au/abr-online/c...
‘The story of our language is the story of us: Will the Australian National Dictionary Centre go bung?’ by Amanda Laugesen and Frank Bongiorno
The proposed abolition of the Australian National Dictionary Centre represents a significant retreat from the Australian National University’s long-standing commitment to supporting a national public ...
www.australianbookreview.com.au
August 1, 2025 at 10:27 PM
“The proposed abolition of the Australian National Dictionary Centre represents a significant retreat from the Australian National University’s long-standing commitment to supporting a national public culture.”
www.australianbookreview.com.au/abr-online/c...
www.australianbookreview.com.au/abr-online/c...
Reposted by Amanda Laugesen
www.australianbookreview.com.au/abr-online/c... It's only words, but words are all we've got... #SaveOurDictionary @ouranu.bsky.social
‘The story of our language is the story of us: Will the Australian National Dictionary Centre go bung?’ by Amanda Laugesen and Frank Bongiorno
The proposed abolition of the Australian National Dictionary Centre represents a significant retreat from the Australian National University’s long-standing commitment to supporting a national public ...
www.australianbookreview.com.au
August 1, 2025 at 9:43 PM
www.australianbookreview.com.au/abr-online/c... It's only words, but words are all we've got... #SaveOurDictionary @ouranu.bsky.social
Reposted by Amanda Laugesen
Reposted by Amanda Laugesen
Rally tomorrow 12pm. We’re protesting ANU cuts. Come join us and make some noise!
And at 1pm come hear personal stories of senseless cheap cuts at the arts and social sciences people’s town hall. ✊
And at 1pm come hear personal stories of senseless cheap cuts at the arts and social sciences people’s town hall. ✊
July 14, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Rally tomorrow 12pm. We’re protesting ANU cuts. Come join us and make some noise!
And at 1pm come hear personal stories of senseless cheap cuts at the arts and social sciences people’s town hall. ✊
And at 1pm come hear personal stories of senseless cheap cuts at the arts and social sciences people’s town hall. ✊
Reposted by Amanda Laugesen
Oh no! The Australian National #Dictionary Centre is an incredibly important group. Disbanding it would be a disaster.
I can't believe ANU is proposing to disestablish ANDC @ozworders.bsky.social. Over the last 20 years of writing I've often consulted staff over the origins of obscure words and phrases. We need the dictionary to record and explain our changing language. www.smh.com.au/national/fro...
From bluey to bogans: Researchers who help define how the nation speaks to lose their jobs
For almost 40 years, the words the nation uses in speech, newspapers and books has been mapped by a small team at the Australian National Dictionary Centre.
www.smh.com.au
July 12, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Oh no! The Australian National #Dictionary Centre is an incredibly important group. Disbanding it would be a disaster.
Reposted by Amanda Laugesen
I can't believe ANU is proposing to disestablish ANDC @ozworders.bsky.social. Over the last 20 years of writing I've often consulted staff over the origins of obscure words and phrases. We need the dictionary to record and explain our changing language. www.smh.com.au/national/fro...
From bluey to bogans: Researchers who help define how the nation speaks to lose their jobs
For almost 40 years, the words the nation uses in speech, newspapers and books has been mapped by a small team at the Australian National Dictionary Centre.
www.smh.com.au
July 12, 2025 at 1:55 AM
I can't believe ANU is proposing to disestablish ANDC @ozworders.bsky.social. Over the last 20 years of writing I've often consulted staff over the origins of obscure words and phrases. We need the dictionary to record and explain our changing language. www.smh.com.au/national/fro...
Reposted by Amanda Laugesen
Australia can’t withstand further humanities cuts. Civil society depends on it.
While universities have the right to determine their education & research priorities, no one in Australia has a handle on the effects of cuts & their impact on our national skills & knowledge capabilities. bit.ly/3TqI4jn
While universities have the right to determine their education & research priorities, no one in Australia has a handle on the effects of cuts & their impact on our national skills & knowledge capabilities. bit.ly/3TqI4jn
Australia can't withstand further humanities cuts
The Australian Academy of Humanities views with great concern the impact on staff, students and the wider community of the ANU’s plan for the humanities and social sciences. Now is not the time to red...
bit.ly
July 9, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Australia can’t withstand further humanities cuts. Civil society depends on it.
While universities have the right to determine their education & research priorities, no one in Australia has a handle on the effects of cuts & their impact on our national skills & knowledge capabilities. bit.ly/3TqI4jn
While universities have the right to determine their education & research priorities, no one in Australia has a handle on the effects of cuts & their impact on our national skills & knowledge capabilities. bit.ly/3TqI4jn
Reposted by Amanda Laugesen
This will be my first in-person presentation for almost six years! If you are in town, please come along. I will be talking about the post-liberation experiences of ex-Stalag Luft III POWs. You might find some of them surprising!
The Australian War Memorial is marking the 80th anniversary of the end of #WWII in a variety of ways, including with free author talks. First up is the award winning @kristenauthor.bsky.social!
For more see: www.awm.gov.au/the-end-of-t...
For more see: www.awm.gov.au/the-end-of-t...
May 12, 2025 at 5:35 AM
This will be my first in-person presentation for almost six years! If you are in town, please come along. I will be talking about the post-liberation experiences of ex-Stalag Luft III POWs. You might find some of them surprising!
Reposted by Amanda Laugesen
Since we’re all talking about it I want to blow up a real female space pioneer, Mae Jemison, an actual astronaut. She’s a graduate of Stanford and Cornel Medical School, served in the peace corps, started an educational nonprofit, and worked for the CDC researching vaccines. That’s a woman in space
April 14, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Since we’re all talking about it I want to blow up a real female space pioneer, Mae Jemison, an actual astronaut. She’s a graduate of Stanford and Cornel Medical School, served in the peace corps, started an educational nonprofit, and worked for the CDC researching vaccines. That’s a woman in space
Reposted by Amanda Laugesen
We have lost one of the true giants of the screen. Gene Hackman could play anyone, and you could feel a whole life behind it. He could be everyone and no one, a towering presence or an everyday Joe. That’s how powerful an actor he was. He will be missed, but his work will live on forever.
February 27, 2025 at 9:31 AM
We have lost one of the true giants of the screen. Gene Hackman could play anyone, and you could feel a whole life behind it. He could be everyone and no one, a towering presence or an everyday Joe. That’s how powerful an actor he was. He will be missed, but his work will live on forever.
Reposted by Amanda Laugesen
RIP Gene Hackman, 1930-2025
February 27, 2025 at 8:57 AM
RIP Gene Hackman, 1930-2025
Reposted by Amanda Laugesen
Our Word of the Year for 2024 is 'Colesworth': used in reference to the perceived duopoly of Australia's largest supermarket retailers, Coles and Woolworths. For more about our choice, and shortlist: tinyurl.com/yeyn5tkp
November 19, 2024 at 8:59 PM
Our Word of the Year for 2024 is 'Colesworth': used in reference to the perceived duopoly of Australia's largest supermarket retailers, Coles and Woolworths. For more about our choice, and shortlist: tinyurl.com/yeyn5tkp