Peter Mitchell graduated from CQUniversity with a PhD in creative writing, earned as he authored a memoir on his life as an immigration officer and manager of the controversial Villawood Detention Centre.

Two years after completing his thesis and celebrating publication of his book, Compassionate Bastard, Dr Mitchell is continuing his odessy into the world of literature. His long-term love of song-writing and performing is also continuing to be recognised.

Dr Peter Mitchell pictured beside his book jacket

Now some of his passions are coming together with his inclusion on the program for the Sydney Writers' Festival program on May 19. Dr Mitchell will join former senior CIA operative Glenn Carle and facilitator Simon Longstaff of the St James Ethics Centre for a panel discussion entitled You Want Me To Do What?!.

The former CQUniversity doctoral student will also be speaking and performing his song 'Unbelievable' as part of a Refugee Week event in Newcastle on June 20. In addition, he's booked for an International Congress on Public Administration in Melbourne on September 18-20.

"I've been doing songwriting pretty seriously since I was 15 - I was in a working band in Sydney during the 1980s ... The song that I'll be reprising during Refugee Week was requested because I sang it for the Kosovar refugees back in 1999 and the story that I wrote about it features in my Compassionate Bastard book," Dr Mitchell says.

The supervisor for Dr Mitchell's PhD, Professor Donna Lee Brien says his journey since graduation shows the feedback provided by creative writing courses can help people become published authors.

CQUniversity now offers a Graduate Certificate in Creative Industries and  Master of Creative Enterprise (Creative Practice). LINK HERE and HERE for writing subjects available.

Also LINK HERE to the Idiom 23 Literary Magazine         

 Also LINK HERE re the annual Writers' Workshop on North Keppel Island

Also LINK HERE for Peter's own creative website