Graduate Spotlight: Natalie Crellin - Turning Hybrid Study Into Real Industry Momentum.
From studying on campus in Sydney to completing her degree online from Perth, Natalie’s experience is a powerful example of how flexibility, community and real-world learning can coexist. Throughout her studies, she backed herself creatively and commercially, building confidence through internships, student leadership, industry events and hands-on projects that bridged theory with practice.
As a member of the Student Council, Natalie also played a key role in strengthening connection among online students, organising a Perth-based end-of-year event that brought classmates together beyond the screen. Now preparing for graduation, she’s stepping into the industry with a clear sense of direction, a strong skill set, and a mindset grounded in self-advocacy, inclusion and creative thinking.
In this interview, Natalie reflects on navigating hybrid study, staying engaged while learning remotely, and how TFI helped shape her confidence, career ambitions and readiness for the fashion industry - in Australia and beyond.
1. You’ve experienced both on-campus study in Sydney and online study from Perth - how did that transition shape your experience at TFI, and what surprised you most about studying remotely?
I found the on-campus experience in Sydney really rewarding, being able to take the friendships and relationships built on campus across the country, back home to Perth to study online made me definitley feel more comfortable with the transition, as the faces online were familiar! I was surprised about how quickly the transition to the hybrid learning was, while it presented it’s challenges with being out of the classroom, I found the lecturers made an effort the best that they could to help us still feel included and remain apart of the community.
2. In your LinkedIn post, you mentioned backing yourself creatively and academically while studying online. What helped you build that confidence over the past two years?
Backing myself creatively and academically meant not being scared of doing things outside of what I would normally do to help my career, I ended up finding myself creating wedding and event content in the later half of 2025, and also starting writing more often on Substack. I found confidence through putting myself out there in internships, sending cold emails to organisation in Perth and having time to connect with brands I love in Sydney through attending events that I would come across online. Being apart of communities where I felt included and around likeminded people showed me that there’s space for everyone in the industry, and being unashamedly myself was rewarded with meeting people who shared my interests, whilst sharing theirs, and the support from that was amazing.
3. Being part of the Student Council and organising the Perth end-of-year event sounds like a big moment. Why was creating that in-person connection for online students so important to you?
The end of year event for the Perth students was something that I really wanted to happen for a number of reasons! A lot of students got to know eachother from the comfort of our homes, and I thought that backing us and making space to connect in person was a beautiful way to conclude our studies and remind us that there are real people behind the screens, and showed that the connections we’d made via Zoom were special and long lasting. We had a great time over brilliant food and drinks, and I couldn't have asked for a better way to end the year.
4. How did the support from lecturers and staff impact your ability to stay engaged, motivated and on track - especially while studying remotely?
Our lecturers online definitley played a role in keeping us motivated throughout the year, always asking how we were going and if we needed furhter assistance or time to complete assessments when things were getting busy. I think check ins are crucial, and the breakout rooms made for us online students to get away from the noise of the classrooms and come together to discuss where we were at as a team were really helpful, alongside acknowledging how hard it is to be so far away from the classroom to make sure that we were being understood was really validating.
5. As you've finished your final classes and prepare for graduation day, what skills or mindset do you feel most prepared to take into the fashion industry?
I’m ready to go straight into the industry with a mindset of advocating for myself and my skills that I’ve built throughout my degree. I think that everyone brings something really unique to the table, in the form of perspective, lived experience and also our shared values as a cohort in making sure diversity and inclusion is at the forefront is something that I’m personally very passionate about. I’m excited to see how merging creativity and analysis will shape my career, particuarly in the lense of journalism or trend analysis in buying roles, as I go forward.
6. For students considering TFI but unsure about online or hybrid study, what would you tell them now that you’re finishing your degree?
I would strongly suggest that each mode of study is unique to the student, and considering a path that allows students to continue working, applying for internships and meeting new people should not be at the downfall of a fruitful social life. I would also say that there should be a sense of excitement, be ready to tackle challenges with an open mind and determination to pursue your dreams because nobody else is going to do it for you, which in my opinion is the best part.
7. What's next for you?
I’m currently interning at a Perth based social media marketing agency called Red Lips Media, and am working alongside the amazing team to make content for a number of wonderful clients in Western Australia. I’m also looking for buying roles interstate and abroad, and during the middle of this year I’m travelling Europe and Asia to celebrate the end of my degree with TFI before settling, hopefully, into full time work.