‘Do what you enjoy’ – Micah Kickett on creating his own path through radio, comedy, theatre, law and more

“What do you enjoy doing?”

It’s a deceptively simple question and one that Micah Kickett thinks we should be asking our kids in school rather than, “what do you want to be when you grow up?”

It’s what he asks people who come into his orbit. AFTRS Graduate Diploma of Radio and Podcasting student, CBAA First Nations Affairs Correspondent and this year’s conference MC, theatre student at WAAPA, comedian and lawyer Micah still doesn’t exactly know what he he’ll be as a grown up, but he has multiple roles that he does and is good at because they bring him joy and purpose.

Very few of us follow one path to a desired destination across our lives. And, once we commit to something, via years of study, or needing the pay packet, it can feel awfully hard to pivot.

‘I haven’t got time.’

‘I can’t afford to.’

‘There’s no way I could actually do that.’

‘What would people think?’

But what if you could?

Since Covid, in fact I suspect because of the pandemic, I’ve spoken to many of the students who have embarked on one of the radio and podcast courses with the Australian Film Television and Radio School because the pause in proceedings gave them the chance to ask themselves, ‘what do I actually want to do?’

And many of the students after they have finished would probably tell you that where they’ve ended up has still not followed a linear path. Kent Small, Jason Morrison, Tim Blackwell, Cheralyn Darcey and Sean Brown are a few names that spring to mind.

Micah’s journey is more twisting and turning than most, but as a result his whole is far greater than the sum of his parts.

Micah received his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Western Australia in 2017. That year the Uni had the highest number of Indigenous Law graduates in its history. He said:

“Even when I became a lawyer, I always saw myself more as a storyteller.”

While working in Broken Hill, his mum’s country, Micah was driving there one morning when he felt compelled to stop in to the local ABC he was listening to. He introduced himself, said he was interested in any work experience and walked out with a microphone.

A short while later he was in Wollongong visiting his two brothers in Berry. The Berry markets were on and the Yes campaign was in full swing. Micah had been told to use the microphone to get some interviews, and used the time in Berry as an excuse.

“I spoke to this one old Indigenous lady. She would have been around about 80, I reckon. And I said to her, can I have an interview with you?

She said to me, are you a journalist? I said, oh no, I’m not. I’m just doing this for fun. I’m actually a lawyer by trade.

She turned around to me and she said, I was a lawyer. That was my fifth and final career. But my biggest regret in life was I always wanted to be a journalist and I never made it happen.

She said, you make it happen. Anything that you want to do in life, you make it happen. That’s what I’ve always kept in my heart now and why I try and live my life like I don’t want to have regrets.

Micah also turned up the 2DRY FM, the pioneering, multi award winning community station in Broken Hill around the same time, when he happened to hear they were looking for volunteer announcers.

“So what I would do is I’d work as a lawyer during the day. And then I’d go into the radio station on a Thursday afternoons and do a live show. Megan Williams, the station manager, ended up sending me a job she saw that I she thought I might be interested in.”

Micah was, and that’s how he ended up working with the CBAA as the community broadcaster’s First Nations Affairs Correspondent in Canberra. Then the drive to upskill further led him to AFTRS.

All is interconnected and none is in vain. Each opportunity has lead to another, plus mentors and hands on experience. Were you to meet Micah tomorrow, he would be the first to tell you that you can do it too.

You just have to walk in and ask. Sign up. Explore the options for ways to assist your journey. Create a support network and then become one.

Micah is still completing his Graduate Diploma of Radio and Podcasting, while recently commencing studies in Aboriginal Theatre with WAAPA. He’ll be at the CBAA Conference, coming up in October in Geelong, as MC and continues to host events, perform stand up comedy and even occasionally use his legal skills too.

It’s a lot, but it’s also a choice and it’s the being able to choose that makes Micah content.

“I live my life day to day and I allow my life to take me where I’m called.

I don’t like to be asked where do you see yourself? I would prefer to be asked, what do you enjoy doing? What is what is that thing that fulfills your spirit? What is that thing that keeps you content? What is, what is that thing that keeps you inspired and motivated?

I can answer that question better than where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years time? So that’s what I always say when I speak to students as well. That’s the question you should be asking yourself.”

Applications for the 2027 Graduate Diploma of Radio and Podcasting with AFTRS are now open. There are online study, scholarships and accommodation support options.

The CBAA annual conference is October 22-24 in Geelong, Victoria. Keynote speakers are Malkah Muckenschnabl plus Dee Salmin and Pip Rasmussen from triple j‘s The Hook Up. Micah and Beth Tracey are conference MCs. Awards entries are now closed but you can definitely still attend the conference in Geelong. More information is here.

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