果冻传媒

Elena Escalante-Block, 21, doesn鈥檛 have to wait for mother鈥檚 day to spend time with her mum - she just has to go to uni.

Elena is in her third year of a dual Bachelor of Journalism/Arts at 果冻传媒, while her mother, also called Elena, is a PhD candidate at the 果冻传媒 School of Journalism and Communication, exploring the political communication of the long-lasting Hugo Chavez era.

Both mother and daughter migrated to Australia from Venezuela five years ago after Elena Block, the senior, met and married Australian barrister, John Fraser.

鈥淚 always wanted to pursue an academic career but I was a single mother who had to pay the bills,鈥� Elena senior said.

鈥淚 just could not afford the time and money to do a PhD.

"Now I am in a new phase of my life and following my passion.鈥�

Elena junior, despite being offered a place at a German university, decided to migrate to be with her mother and study at 果冻传媒.

鈥淚 have always wanted to be a journalist," she said.

"There are photographs of me as a small child playing with a typewriter. I have always written stories.

鈥淏oth my parents were journalists.

"Mum was a political journalist and then press secretary for a politician before she broke into corporate communication.

"She has always been very successful, well known in journalistic and political circles in Venezuela.鈥�

Achievement obviously runs in the family.

Elena junior speaks three languages, with English her third.

She hopes one day to work for SBS or work in international public relations.

鈥淚 so am proud of my mum. She loves what she is doing now and is an inspiration to me,鈥� Elena junior said.

鈥淪ome of my friends have mum as a tutor and they love her.鈥�

Mother and daughter also live together, but 鈥渂ut I try to give her independence and give each other space鈥� Elena senior said.

鈥淚 am a typical Latin American mother though - very protective.

鈥淲e are best friends and we can fight like friends, but respect each other and I try not to cramp her style.

鈥淚n Venezuela she complained because she was known as Elena鈥檚 daughter. Now I am known as Elena鈥檚 mum....and I am very proud of it," Elena senior said.

Siena Perry, Communication and Logistics Officer, Centre for Communication and Social Change,School of Journalism and Communication, 果冻传媒.
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