About
Dr Cathy Frazer, the principal of Textual Communication, is a science communication specialist, communicating scientific, statistical and technical information to audiences be they everday Australians or government or national agencies.
While writing and substantive editing are her focus, Cathy has a broad base of communication skills, as well as support from skilled designers and other communication professionals.
With a background as a research academic in the field of online communication and as a science communication lecturer at ANU, Cathy is an accomplished communicator.
Breadth of experience
Cathy has worked mainly in the areas of agriculture and human health, and over the years has written just about everything:
- Book chapters, lectures, scientific journal articles, conference posters, literature reviews, research grant applications, guides for clinical practice, evidence-based self-help guides.
- Booklets, brochures, web content, newsletters, reports of all kinds including an annual report that was recognised by the Australasian Reporting Awards in 2013 for excellence in communication.
- Media releases and press articles, social media, talking points and speeches.
- Operational guides for national government committees, Senate and other inquiry submissions.
- Smart phone apps.
Most recently Cathy did seven years as Planning and Communication Manager at Plant Health Australia, providing high quality strategic communication support to the not-for-profit company that coordinates plant biosecurity in Australia. This job cemented her reputation as an effective strategic communicator among governments, plant industries and national organisations.
Successful grant applications
In recent years, Cathy has put her knowledge of agriculture, government processes and her plain English writing ability to good effect in securing government grants for clients.
AgriProve, a carbon service provider, commissioned two applications for Smart Farms Small Grants for soil carbon sequestration projects that were successful. Queensland Government Land Restoration Fund applications for AgriProve are also pending.
Studies
Cathy studied psychology, sociology and biology at university, specialising in cognitive psychology—how humans perceive, learn and come to understand—topping her Honours year. She put this knowledge to good effect when she won a scholarship to do science communication research for a doctorate at the ANU. Her project, the first PhD in the discipline at ANU, investigated how parents learn, think and decide about childhood immunisation, and the thesis received high commendations from both markers.
Cathy is a member of the Canberra Society of Editors.