P O R T F O L I O
T A S H T U R G O O S E
Bachelor of Creative Writing (Honours, 1st Class), University of the Sunshine Coast
PhD in Crisis Communications, specialising in multi-platform storytelling
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS.
Crafting innovative, story-led strategies for brands with purpose.
My communications portfolio spans from small, family businesses to large-scale government project branding, launches, marketing and events. My proudest achievement, to date, is building the branding and communications strategy for the launch and ongoing management of the Australian Government’s Pacific Agriculture Scholarships, Support and Climate Resilience Program (PASS-CR), which support students in the Pacific Island’s who are fighting back against climate change. Brought in at the ground level, I created the branding suite, website, social media and launch collateral, worked with senior government officials to develop a long-lasting communications strategy, and implemented this as a team leader. I also worked to create diplomatic ties, visiting Pacific Island ambassadors in Australia and Fiji, and managing a high-level launch event at the Australian High Commissioner’s home in Fiji. I cannot share the communications strategy as it is embargoed due to the nature of the program, but I am happy to talk you through this at any time. You will also see examples of the work created for the PASS-CR Program throughout this portfolio.
Additionally, my PhD thesis worked to create new models for multi-platform storytelling in crisis situations — I am obsessed by story strategy, and am devoted to continually innovating in this field, promising to push your brand further.
COPYWRITING.
We are story-driven animals and, with the never-ending cycle of content running through our phones, televisions and computers, it takes something special to cut through the noise and make a connection. Combining a background in creating writing and academia, I pride myself on creating research-based messaging with a soul, presenting aligned stories across your entire brand ecosystem.
A SELECTION OF MY COPYWRITING:
FURTHER COPY SKILLS:
Press Releases | Articles (Online & Print) | SEO-Driven Web Copy | Social Media Messaging | Policy & Grant Writing | Speech-Writing
WEBSITE PRODUCTION & MANAGEMENT.
Design and web development that drives results — specialising in Squarespace and Wordpress.
SOME OF MY WEBSITES:
SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY & MANAGEMENT.
Strategy is the key ingredient that is often missing for brands who struggle to connect via social media. Story-driven social media channels are essential in the Digital Age, and I am proud to have built multiple brands from the ground, up. This has included brand creation for the Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research, where I launched their Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to receptive audiences, and later a YouTube channel driven by an ongoing monthly seminar, as well as the launch of the PASS-CR Program. I have also been lucky to work with established brands to grow and innovate their social media presence.
A HANDFUL OF MY SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT:
PUBLIC RELATIONS, MEDIA ADVOCACY & RESEARCH DISSEMINATION.
Brands with purpose deserve as many eyes on their work as possible. Through public relations and media advocacy — work which entails liaising with press through disseminating releases and fielding enquiries, picketing for story space and spouting your message across the media — the world can, and will, know your why. Research communication can often get lost in the mix, scaring off audiences with big words and bigger ideas. Having sat in newsrooms and academic spaces, I have an intimate understanding of the intersection between these spaces, and the work that needs to be done to bridge the gap between these fields.
SOME OF MY MEDIA PLACEMENTS:
C R E A T I V E
ILLUSTRATION.
I am an accomplished illustrator, specialising in highly-detailed, photo-realistic pieces but multi-disciplinary across most styles and mediums (and always willing to give a new idea or process a go!).
As an illustrator I have worked with major publishers to illustrate their books or create book art, such as for Levison Wood’s The Last Giants: The Rise and Fall of the African Elephant (Book illustration: Hodder & Stoughton UK, Little Brown USA and Hachette Australia) and Anthony Doerr’s Cloud Cuckoo Land (Launch art: Simon & Schuster). I also illustrated (and wrote) my debut book Makeshift Galaxy in 2018, illustrated Felicity Banks’ The Monster Apprentice in 2018, and was a featured writer and artist in interactive narrative Murder in the Mail, all with Odyssey Books.
HERE ARE A FEW OF MY ILLUSTRATIONS:
DESIGN.
I love everything to do with design, whether logos, document design, social media graphics or marketing collateral. I’ve been lucky to work across a wide range of fields and am always undertaking professional development to ensure that I am ahead in my field.
I currently work within the Adobe Suite, but am a quick learner across other design softwares.
HERE ARE SOME OF MY DESIGNS:
VIDEO.
Video is king, and no brand can be successful in the Digital Age without it. I am proficient in video storyboarding, production and editing, ensuring consistency from the inception of an idea through until its launch.
HERE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVOURITES:
WRITING
Last, but miles away from least… writing is at the heart of everything that we do as communicators. Writing has always been a part of my DNA — it’s who I am, and always has been. I am a published author, and I am also an academic in the field of creative writing. This has allowed me to spend six wonderful years teaching almost a dozen creative writing courses at the University of the Sunshine Coast whilst honing my craft.
In 2019 I presented my research at the Children’s Media Symposium and the Australian Association of Writing Program’s Annual Conference.
In 2020, 2021 and 2022, I presented again at the AAWP Annual Conference.
My first journal article, Prosthetic journeys: Re-thinking travel writing through documentary adaptation, was published by TEXT Journal in October 2019.
YOU CAN SEE A LITTLE OF MY CREATIVE WRITING HERE.
Thank you for taking the time to review my portfolio. :)
I look forward to hopefully working with you soon!