h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Good moaning me Aussie old biker type...As there are currently only eight researchers logged on, including us I thought I'd drop by to annoy you a bit!

So...isn't there anything better to do on a Friday evening in Oz than playing on hootoo?

OH Hi there! erm...sorry about not replying I've been a bit distracted lately....

I've got some serious uni work on my plate at the moment! Arg!

That's okay me old studious student type - no apolobogies necessary. It's been a week since I've found time to play on hootoo myself.

The serious work on your plate doesn't sound very palatable...May one ask what you're studying (but please keep it in layman's terms coz I'm a total thickie!)?

I'm doing my honours in Psychology (provided I don't decide it's not worth the effort very shortly!). Started the degree back in 1987, had a few years off and started again about 4 years ago part-time. Got my BA, now just 2 years to go! 2 years...argggggghhhhh

Oooh! I'm impressed but poor old you for having two years to go . Don't give up as it'll be worth it in the end (I expect ). Have you any ideas what you hope to do once you've got your BA?

Oh I've got the BA, doing honours now...become a registered psychologist, I guess, but might also need to do a masters degree (if I live long enough). I do mediations as my second job, so I'm hoping to be able to combine psychology and dispute resolution in an organisational setting (preferably as a highly paid consultant)

I should think that it would have to be highly paid after all your effort!

I assume that you currently mediate between families and that by 'organisational setting', you mean industrial relations?

*Is suitably impressed and hopes that she never goes back to being a trades union negotiator or has to use RELATE - just in case*

I do all sorts of mediations on an on-call basis with the Queensland state department of justice - between neighbours arguing over a fence, court-ordered, divorces, child custody, etc etc. Very interesting! The nice thing about it is it's generally free (and works).

Were you involved in unions? I was (until my recent change of full-time jobs) a national union rep in my old workplace...solidarity comrade! Now I'm working in the private sector in a small company and with no union involvement.

I guess I'm thinking of all sorts of disputes that can happen in organisations, from industrial relations to between staff members, or dispute system design. Anything to do with conflict resolution within organisations (or even between) that will let me use psych stuff and get paid, really. Not sure how it might all work, but here's hoping

I was a trades union member and Area Representative/Committee Member of the ACTT and then ABS (both broadcasting/film industry unions that subsequently merged and became BECTU) from the time I was 16 until I left work after my second child was born at the age of 33. It was really interesting (I got to attend lots of conferences and was sent on courses) and on one occasion one of our committee meetings was filmed for television. I used to love sitting the other side of a negotiating table to much older and grumpy old male bosses and I think that they hated having to deal with a young woman sporting black nail varnish, long black hair and jeans! It's a shame, but the union offered me a place at Ruskin College, Oxford but by that time I was six month's pregnant with my first child.

My parents who are both 'devout' Conservatives have always wondered where they went wrong with me!

I'm sure that you'll do really well, especially having been both sides of the industrial fence and make 'loadsamoney'!!