How Raffa went from RMIT student to international social media journalist

A few years out from graduation, Communication alum Raffa Pramata is leading a career that mirrors his RMIT study – full of “different perspectives, cultures and ways of life”.

Raffa has found himself in a uniquely global career only a few years after graduation, though his aspirational spirit makes it clear that it was always meant to be. Currently a social media journalist, he has worked in numerous roles across Australia and Indonesia, including his current position in the Asia-Pacific Newsroom at the ABC.

This is the latest step in Raffa’s successful career trajectory since coming to Australia from Indonesia as a 17-year-old fresh out of high school.  

We’ve caught up with Raffa to chat about his career several times since his graduation in 2022 and we’re happy to report that he continues to excel while keeping his eyes on the horizon.

Combining communication and experience

At RMIT, Raffa studied the Bachelor of Communication (Professional Communication), a course that gives students an in-depth understanding of the communications industry with the opportunity to specialise in advertising, public relations or digital communication.

As he describes it, the best part of his degree was learning how each of these fields come together to complement each other.

“In this day and age every single communications discipline is interwoven, everything is interconnected,” he said.  

“So, if you’re studying journalism, you need to know how to pitch and that’s where public relations comes in, and you need to know how to create short-form videos on TikTok and that’s where media comes into it.”

Now that he’s been in the workforce for a few years, Raffa realised there were a few experiences that he learned during his studies that he draws quite often. The most notably of these were the collaborative experiences.

“I’ve worked through challenging tasks, tight deadlines, and with people who had different working styles from mine. Those experiences reflect working life quite well. In any career, you’ll work with different personalities, take on different roles and face pressure, and RMIT gave me plenty of opportunities to learn how to navigate that.”

The importance of perspective

When working on the international stage as a journalist, it is important to have a global perspective, you can’t just see the world through your own lens. Thankfully Raffa’s lived experience and his studies were the perfect coupling to prepare him for his current career.

“RMIT is a melting pot of different perspectives, cultures and ways of life. I met people from India, Canada, areas of South America and Africa (people who grew up thousands of kilometres away from me), which really broadened the way I see the world.

smiling graduate posing outside for photo with two family members

“At the same time, it connected me with the Indonesian community too. I built relationships that continued even after returning home. Ultimately, RMIT taught me how to adapt across cultures and environments and gave me the confidence to take what I learned in Australia and apply it wherever I go.”

The university experience is more than just what is learned in the classroom, especially for those who are looking to nurture community. Some of Raffa’s proudest moments from his time studying were those he spent volunteering as part of the RMIT University Student Union (RUSU).

“I honestly gained so many of the practical skills I still use today through those experiences, from working in cafés and as a kitchen hand, to front desk, admin and events. It helped me build my customer service, teamwork and ability to work in fast-paced environments. I was one of the few students who reached 100 hours, and I’m still really proud of that.”

Indonesia student raffa and his mom at graduation

The journey so far

In Raffa’s current role he puts his professional communications expertise and understanding of perspectives to use at the ABC.  

“News is very different to what it was 20 years ago and I feel like a lot of younger audiences consume the news through social media, so it’s not just creating stories anymore,” he said.

“It’s also about tackling the right audiences on the right platforms. So, it’s my job to tell those stories and bring them to the right people.”

Even with the best industry-led learning, the leap from a lecture hall into a workplace can be daunting for a new graduate, but Raffa’s advice is to embrace each lesson as they arise.

“Be prepared to learn again, despite just graduating, because every company has their own way of working.

“There will be different clients that you’ll be handling, and you’ll be collaborating with different workmates all the time. It’s funny how life is a big circle of learning new things then implementing it and learning from that experience and so on and so forth.”

Workforce insights and beyond

So, what’s next for someone who is already kicking career goals? Well for someone with as much drive as Raffa, there is always something else to aspire towards.

“Video and audio journalism is an area I’ve become increasingly interested in,” he said. “I currently work as a social media journalist, where I also produce video and audio content, but I’d love to explore long-form documentary work and podcasting more deeply in the future.”

When asked if he had any advice for current or future students, he said to value and nurture the connections you make while you study – from friends to future employers, you never what doors they may open.

“Don’t let your university connections fade just because you’re in a different country,” he said.

“I’m still supported by people I met at RMIT, even though we’re now thousands of kilometres apart. In the digital age, distance really doesn’t have to be a barrier.”

Story: Kate Jones and Jacob Johnston

Learn more about Raffa's course

If a career in digital communication, advertising, public relations or journalism sounds good to you, explore the Bachelor of Professional Communication.

Explore course

Explore more

Melody and Priscilla on their balcony in Richmond.

International students: what your accommodation choice says about you

For many international students arriving in Melbourne, choosing where to live is first and foremost about practicality: budget, distance to campus, safety and accessibility.

Four RMIT architecture students working on a project in Building 100

Three RMIT graduates on the future of design in an age of AI

What does the future of design look like? We spoke to three RMIT alumni who say it’s more human, interdisciplinary and culturally aware than ever before.

The best things to do between classes at RMIT

From rock climbing and Sunday brunches to study space hopping, our international students share the top fun things you can do to pass the time in between your classes.

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

Learn more about our commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples