An innovative learning program at Flinders University is enabling international students to develop industry experience by putting their digital communication skills into practice.

Kindred Labs, a student-led pro bono digital communications agency run by Flinders media and communications students, powered up promotions for this year’s South Australian Future Energy Week at the Tonsley Innovation District and other sites.

Bridging academic theory with real-world industry practice, the students led the communications, PR and digital strategy for Future Energy Week and the inaugural Green Globes Awards at Flinders Factory of the Future at Tonsley.

“Kindred Labs, the first student-led digital communications agency at Flinders University, sees our students finish their degree having already worked for real clients,” says Media and Communications Lecturer Dr Lisa Harrison, from the College of Business, Creative Arts, Law and Social Sciences at Flinders University.

“We look forward to working with more industry clients in future as the Kindred Labs program rolls from masters to include bachelor degree students,” says Dr Harrison, who ran her own digital agency for more than 15 years.

The Future Energy Week promotions follow other Kindred Labs campaigns – including for the Flinders Legal Centre this year, and an Australian medical device startup via the Flinders New Venture Institute at Tonsley Innovation District.

Since July, Kindred Lab students have worked with Mr Quentin Roberts, Future Energy Week founder and Managing Director of SA company EfficientSee, to build event visibility and engage regional and interstate stakeholders.

The team ran a multi-platform campaign featuring short-form Instagram Reels, custom visual posters on Instagram and Bluesky, targeted LinkedIn articles designed to connect with industry professionals – and the event newsletter. The content covers speaker profiles, partner spotlights, the Green Globes Awards, ticketing and program highlights as well as live updates during the events. Check out some of the students’ work on Linkedin and Instagram.

Deuanphachanh Sisongkhame, who led the agency, says: “It has been wonderful to be a part of this event and gain experiences to use in my future career path as a communication practitioner when I return to Laos, my home country, to work in building a communication campaign in the national and community development field.”

Christinna Runnath, the social media strategist for SA Future Energy Week, says: “Working with Kindred Labs on the campaign has given me the chance to apply what I’ve learned in class to a real event. As a social media strategist, I’ve helped plan content and share stories from the people shaping our energy future. Seeing those stories come to life during event week has been a highlight for me.”

Master of Media and Communications student Riya Mariam Reji, the PR and Media Relations Strategist on the campaign, adds: “Working at Kindred Labs taught me so much about how an agency actually runs, from managing projects to putting together client briefs. I think this experience will really pay off as I move into my career.”

Future Energy Week brings together innovative industries, government, researchers and community groups to educate and develop new technologies and systems that expand renewable energy transitions to homes and businesses across the State.

Mr Roberts says the student engagement provided a valuable bonus for this year’s events, which included site tours, an electric transport forum, ministerial round tables, an agritech showcase and a final Summit at the Flinders Factory of the Future (25 September), when Flinders University’s Head of Engineering Professor Rocco Zito joined a panel discussion on EV vehicles.

“Technology alone isn’t going to solve the transition to 100% renewables in this State,” says Mr Roberts.

“Innovators are a big part of the story, but it’s ultimately a people story. It’s about educating people how they can transition in their own world, whether at home, in business or across their local community, so no-one gets left behind.”