2018 Quills: The Student Journalist of the Year


Peter Bateman of Monash University won the 2018 Student Journalist of the Year award for his work 'Walking the Poverty Line'.

Judges' citation

Peter showed great initiative and news sense in identifying and pursuing the story about the under-payment of pamphlet deliverers by Salmat. His report led to a Fair Work Ombudsman investigation, numerous people sharing their stories and a share price plunge for the pamphlet distributor. As the way we work changes dramatically, these types of investigations are increasingly relevant.

The winning entry

'Walking the poverty line', The Age, 1 September 2018

'Pamphlet deliverers face hard road', The Age, 8 October 2018


Other finalists

Jack Banister of University of Melbourne for 'Indigenous Suicide in Custody: How Have Lives Just Slipped Away?'

Adrian Johnson of Monash University for 'Injury Cloud Over Dusty for Tigers’ AFL Premiership Defence'

Angus Smith of Monash University for 'Eight Years On: The Syrian War and its Child Refugees'

Selby Stewart of Monash University for 'Greens Investigating Candidate Rape Claim'

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