Our Alumni

Where are they now?

In a new feature newsletter page, from time to time we want to tell you about some of past students and what they have gone onto achieve and do after leaving Nossal. We sent them a survey and asked them to let us know about the path they followed after graduating and perhaps something they might like to share with the current Nossalonians. In this edition, we have a former student for you to meet.

Flick Anderson

Known as Natasha Anderson when she was at school, Flick is now a freelance performance specialist, which she says ... "means I pay the bills by voicing ads or recording IVR messages for businesses from a home studio for a few hours a week",  and when she isn't doing that, she is dramaturgically developing and producing theatrical works in Sydney, or pursuing her other passion of being a playwright. 

Flick's voice over work is done mainly with radio stations and marketing departments of many companies, and in the dramaturgical (+others) roles she works with everyone from individual artists to theatre companies to funding bodies to venues. Flick has also spent time studying at uni, at TAFE, working in radio and working in finance as well, but now no longer works in any structure where she has a formal boss.

Like all of of alumnists, we asked Flick what advice she would give to current students of Nossal and this was her reply.

"To forget about the ATAR and what subject their parents think they should do. It sincerely does not matter, and universities make a lot of money from students so there are always pathways to make tertiary education accessible if you look for them (and if that's what you want). But there's always an opportunity cost of university and I would advise that it's not the only or best option all the time - it's fine if you don't know what you want to do or where you want to go... it's actually perfectly fine to be a young adult and take some time to figure that out - whether that be whilst working, travelling, studying something smaller/more practical like a diploma etc."

Flick says her fondest memories of Nossal were probably being involved in extra curricular activities. She was in the Drama Club and really enjoyed performing. Flick also enjoyed being on the debating team. 

Prior to Year 12, Flick recalls students had to fight for the existence of diverse subjects, and distinctly remembers having to fight for VCE Drama and Food Technology. She says... "Whilst we were not successful with Drama, I remember the joy of securing a Year 12 Food Tech class, and Ms Ansalde letting us toast cheese sandwiches in the Food Tech room at lunchtime! My family didn't have much food at home and sometimes I came without lunch because there was none, I don't think she realised she was genuinely keeping kids fed between that and breakfast club.  Flick listed Philosophy as her favourite subject while studying at Nossal.