Kara Joubert: Writer, Journalist & Filmmaker

Category: Blog

  • Audio Drama/Thriller by Kara Joubert: Strike a Cord

    Listen now!

    In a world where music is the only safe way to communicate, a young woman learns that betrayal doesn’t sing – it whispers.

    Poster by Kara Joubert

    The inspiration for this script came from two thought fields. Firstly I wanted to write something – ideally, a thriller – which fit in the brief of “unravel”. Secondly, I asked how can sound be used to tell that story?

    I wrote the script under both creative and time constraints but thoroughly enjoyed the process. Most of the script was written on a flight from Melbourne to Sydney, and I submitted it once I landed. The next day, I learned it was accepted!

    This one-episode audio drama was one of six scripts to be accepted and made for Darebin’s Fuse Festival. I am beyond impressed by everyone’s input in making this world real.

    This apocalyptic world is now a favourite of mine, and I hope to do more with it someday.

    Unravel is a series of recorded short fiction works written and performed by students or recent graduates from La Trobe University creative and professional writing students, presented as part of the Darebin FUSE Festival Open Access Initiative 2025. Each writer has responded to the theme ‘Unravel’.

    ©2025 Kara Leigh Joubert. All rights reserved.

    Project Lead: Dr Noel Maloney, Carrie Tiffany
    Director and Editor: Lakshmi Ganapathy
    Story Editor: Paddy O’Reilly
    Performances: Natasha Nagle and Thisara Hewmanne
    World created and written by: Kara Leigh Joubert
  • British Film Institute Empowers Youth with Cinematography Training

    British Film Institute Empowers Youth with Cinematography Training

    The next generation of cinematographers gathered at the University of Lincoln last month to take part in a new course, led by the British Film Institute (BFI). The initiative brought together 30 ambitious 16-to-19-year-olds for an intensive, hands-on week of training.

    The course was spearheaded by filmmaker and lecturer Jack Shelbourn, who explained the course’s “learning by doing” approach. He said, “The focus was on listening to professionals and being able to walk away with hands-on skills to bolster [the students’] CV and employability. Each one is now ready to step onto set as either a camera trainee, grip trainee, or trainee spark.”

    For many students, the course provided a taste of what their future in filmmaking might look like.

    Izzy Kearns, 18, credits the course with their decision to enrol at the University of Lincoln. “I’ve met some really lovely people, and it was a pleasure meeting Jack Shelbourn, who will be my future lecturer in September.”

    Jack Shelbourn was supported by Tony Daniels in setting up the course, which included talks, seminars and workshops.

    Iona Dorsett, 17, from Leeds Art University, is studying an extended diploma in creative practice at Leeds Art University. She said she enjoyed the course’s professional atmosphere. “It’s a lot more professional because we have people from the industry coming in to speak to us,” she explained.

    Sashi T. Kissoon, a director of cinematography who worked as a 2nd unit director on Netflix’s 3 Body Problem hosted talks.

    Steve Young and Cody Nichols from the university assisted from a technical perspective and lecturer Chris Greybe joined on the final day to deliver a class on colour grading.

    Actors Steve Gillard and Laura Turner offered their talents to allow the students to practice filming and directing.

    Dorset’s favourite moment was a party scene they filmed for a short movie. “It was really fun to do that,” she said, adding that she’s now considering a filmmaking foundation year.

    Daniel Meikle, 16, recently finished his GCSEs. He came to the course knowing he wanted a career in cinematography. He said, “I’ve learned a lot about how the industry actually works and how different roles on set interact.” His highlight was also making a short film, “It was a lot of fun,” he said, “I think we’re going to edit it soon and it’s going to look really cool and it’s going to win everything. All the Oscars.”

  • Unstoppable Mindset Appearance

    Unstoppable Mindset Appearance

    I was recently interviewed by the incredible Michael Hingson, a NYT bestselling author and survivor of the 9/11 attacks. Blind for virtually all of his life, he led people out of the tower with his trusty guide dog, Roselle. He’s a miraculous human being. Not just because of his story, but because of his positive attitude towards life and how he treats others.

    In Michael’s podcast, Unstoppable Mindset, I talked about my past with trauma and PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), and how I went from a place of fear to fearlessness. The trauma itself is not the focus of the podcast (no doubt, there will be a time for this discussion in the future!). Instead, I focus on PTSD and its impact.

    As someone who came from “a hopeless situation”, I believe that nobody is broken beyond repair. And yes, PTSD can go away. It is treatable.

    So, why am I sharing this? I have three main reasons:



    One – to inspire hope. Hope and faith go hand in hand. It often means believing without seeing. I remember the first time someone else shared their healing journey with me. It was like I could borrow their hope. So, I’m here to offer mine to those who need it.

    Two – people don’t understand PTSD. I want to educate people about my experience, aiming to debunk myths around PTSD, including the misconception that it is “incurable”.

    Three – I’m doing this for my younger self and those who are still struggling. Sharing my journey isn’t something I take lightly. I still get scared sometimes!

    But if I think about that young Kara who was undiagnosed for so many years, she would have loved to hear these words:

    Nobody is broken beyond repair.

    If you would like to listen to my interview on Unstoppable Mindset, you can find the podcast on Spotify and Apple.

    If you need support with PTSD, below are some resources.

    * NHS: Call 111 or book a GP appointment.
    * MIND: Call 0300 123 3393 or email info@mind.org.uk
    * PTSD UK: online resources to learn more about PTSD.

    If you’re feeling distressed, in a state of despair, suicidal or in need of emotional support you can also contact:

    * Samaritans: Call 116 123
    * Shout: text CONTACT to 85258 for support

    #unstoppablemindset #accessibe #ptsd

  • Studying Abroad Episode 3: Studying

    Studying Abroad Episode 3: Studying

    Hello! I’m Kara Joubert, a journalism student from the University of Lincoln. This is the third episode of my video vlog.

    I can’t believe I have been studying at La Trobe University for seven weeks! Lots has happened, like going on a film set, exploring the city and finding my feet in the new routine.

    Watch for the full story, including my awkward first moment moving into my accommodation…

  • Lincoln’s Steep Hill defies national shoplifting trend

    Lincoln’s Steep Hill defies national shoplifting trend

    A street of independent shops in Lincoln is defying a national trend of increased shoplifting.

    Shoplifting figures are at their highest since records began, according to the Office of National Statistics, with the East Midlands being the most impacted area.

    However, Steep Hill in Lincoln appears to have very few reports of shoplifting.

    The street is known for its unique retail shops, vintage character and unsurprisingly, its steepness.

    With a gradient of 16.12 degrees, shoppers regularly trek up the fourth steepest street in England to reach independent shops, such as Steep Hill Wines, The Pot Shop and On The Hill.

    Named Britain’s Greatest Street in 2012 by the Academy of Urbanism, Steep Hill now appears to be championing another achievement: low shoplifting numbers.

    Yvette Mills, project manager for Lincoln Big, a business improvement group, said: “We have an intelligent database which the shops sign up to, and we have a security radio link for the shops and pubs in that area.”

    Of the five shop owners who were interviewed for this article, all said they had not been impacted by shoplifting.

    One of them is Jackie Hodson. She sells fine jewellery in her shop, On The Hill/ Her average sale is £200, but shoplifting is a rare occurrence.

    Jackie praises the local policing policy, saying: “The relationship between the police, the council, and the traders, is very good.

    “I’ve been open for two and a half years and I had two instances of shoplifting, the last one about a year and a half ago. So, shoplifting is definitely not an issue.”

  • Student Documentaries Showcase Community Projects in Lincoln

    Student Documentaries Showcase Community Projects in Lincoln

    The first screening of student documentaries made in partnership with the Lincoln City Council took place on the 17th of January, 2024 in the Lincoln Arts Centre.

    It was the first sign of success for a new filmmaking module called “Community Film”. The module is being led by Phillip Warnell, a lecturer at the University of Lincoln.

    Phillip said on a LinkedIn post: “I’m extremely grateful to have colleagues such as Ben Anderson [from the Lincoln Arts Centre] and Frances Plant [from the Lincoln County Council] with the vision to be able to build community relations and documentary studies within the city of Lincoln.”

    He said: “There’s genuine value in each of these projects for those involved, but they’re also evidence of the good work being done around the city.”

    The module allows students to select a community project to document, which they eventually turn into a documentary.

    Staff in the council coordinate the first line of contact between students and community projects. Students can pick from a long list of council-funded initiatives to film as part of their documentary project.

    Paul Carrick, the neighbourhood manager for the City of Lincoln Council, said: “To see them [the documentaries] on the big screen is truly unbelievable.

    Regarding the community projects, Rejwan Gareb, a first-year film production student at the university, said: “[The screening was] was really cute. I didn’t realise there were all these little things to do in Lincoln.”

    From litter-picking to football clubs and charities, there were many different subjects covered by the screening.

    Rachel Scarrott, a filmmaking and documentary lecturer at the university said: “The more you connect with communities, the more you find the unusual things that are happening.”

  • Studying Abroad Episode 2: Meeting Family

    Studying Abroad Episode 2: Meeting Family

    Hello! I’m Kara Joubert, a journalism student from the University of Lincoln. This is the second episode of my video vlog.

    Featuring Freaky the leech and Freddo the frog, this video goes into detail about my time in Australia before my semester begins.

    Watch the video for more – and stick around for a blooper!

  • Studying Abroad Episode 1: Travelling

    Studying Abroad Episode 1: Travelling

    Hello! I’m Kara Joubert, a journalism student from the University of Lincoln. This is the first episode of my video vlog.

    From cancelled trains to bumpy flights, a lot could have gone wrong when I travelled to Australia. Thankfully everything went well! Mostly…

    Watch the video to see more!

  • Touring the Great Ocean Road

    Touring the Great Ocean Road

    As the name suggests, the Great Ocean Road is a big deal. Not just because of its 234-kilometre length, but also because it serves as a World War 1 memorial for fallen soldiers.

    As the name also suggests, the road is situated near the coast, with beautiful views to explore along the way.

    Tours are available for people to visit the Great Ocean Road and all of its associated attractions.

    I went on a tour, which started in the Melbourne city centre and ended in an ice cream factory in Brellbrae.

    These are my thoughts on the experience…

    The tour started at 6.30 in the morning. An early start was unfortunately necessary. To get there in time, we had to leave the hotel at around 5am at the latest – resulting in my alarm being set for 4am…

    The collection spot was two tram rides away from the hotel, so that paved the way for a new experience exploring the city in the dark.

    This was interesting, and surprisingly a lot safer than I expected. That being said, homeless people and intoxicated party-goers were very active, so I would recommend anyone going into a city at night to take a friend.

    Getting picked up was reasonably smooth sailing, although the driver was a few minutes late. When he arrived, the talking started and it rarely ended until after the tour had concluded.

    Driving out of the city was an educational experience, as the driver explained some of the facts and figures about the local sites and bridges that we passed.

    Skip to an hour or so later and we arrived at our first stop for breakfast. There were plenty of stops along the way (although perhaps an hour and a half leg without a stop was unfortunately timed for my bladder).

    A deadline of 20 minutes was given at each stop, with a “generous” 40 minutes for lunch.

    This leads me to my main criticism.

    The tour was beautiful, but rushed. I felt that I could never settle in one location. From the 12 Apostles to koalas in the forest, there was never enough time to really soak in the moment.

    By the end of the 13-hour trip, I was quite ready to lie in bed and recover.

    The experience overall was a good done, with stunning scenery to remember for a lifetime.

    But it was also a rushed, stressful experience. I would recommend anyone using a short one-day tour to see it simply as a reconnaissance for future travels.

    Alternatively, take a weekend tour instead.

    See the sights, and then return to your favourite ones for a hotel stay. And then sleep in at that hotel. Ideally, past 4am.

  • Enjoying Scenic Views and Fine Wines at Moffatdale Ridge

    Enjoying Scenic Views and Fine Wines at Moffatdale Ridge

    Nothing says boutique like a personalised experience and at the Moffatdale Ridge winery in Queensland, Australia, that is what exactly I got.

    Despite the large property, the visitor facilities are reasonably small. Next to the parking area are two buildings. One is for the wine, the other is for the people drinking it. I can imagine the place gets busy on weekends, but that was not the case on a Monday morning.

    The tasting room is essentially an open-door small shop, with the classic cold tiled floors you will find in the majority of Australian facilities.

    Drinks line the bordering shelves of the shop. Some are in giftable shapes and sizes, and others are in standard wine bottles.

    The family-run place has a surprisingly large variety of wines and liquors. For the mature palette, there are several dry wine options and a few sweet ones.

    The wine tasting itself was free, as it allows people to understand what they would like to purchase. As someone who merely likes wine, I found that there were some that I loved. Their late harvest white has the unique flavour of the rare-find Hannepoot wine, despite using a different variety of grape altogether.

    Outside the shop on the veranda, people can also eat a meal between tasting the wines and liquors.

    The deck overlooks the rolling hills of the Barambah Valley. In the distance are specks of cows and rows of grape vines.

    It is a surreal scene deserving of an oil painting equivalent.

    The food was decent, and between four people, the $45 (or around £22.25) “wine makers platter” was enough for all of us. That included toast, crackers, cheese, dried meats, gherkins, chicken liver pate, sundried tomatoes and chutney.

    After some stunning views and good food, the liquors and fortified wines were next.

    These were unbelievably delicious. I wanted to make my tasters last as long as possible.

    Suzan Kinsella, the owner of the winery, served us throughout and was evidently proud of her produce. She had no trouble answering our questions about the process and wine overall.

    The one-to-one interaction made the experience feel particularly special. As did the views.

    Overall, the environment was friendly and intimate. With the romantic landscape and atmosphere, this winery is a must-have stop for anyone* going through the region on a quiet Monday.

    *Excluding the designated driver, of course .

    Prices:

    Wines: $21 – $48

    Liquors: $20

    Wine tasting: free

    Food: $13 – $45