In his final semester at UniHall, Shourjya Chowdhury has made a deliberate choice: to slow down his FIFO commitments and dedicate his time to giving back to the community that has shaped him over the past two and a half years. For Shourjya, this final chapter at UWA isn't about closing; rather, it's about showing up, being there, and serving as a resource for the upcoming generation of Perth residents who are trying to find their place.
Shourjya, who is originally from Kolkata, India, moved to Perth to study for a Master of Mining Engineering at The University of Western Australia after completing his Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree. Since coming, he has taken great initiative to expand his professional network, acquire experience in the industry, and set himself up for a long-term future in Western Australia, which he hopes will eventually involve moving his parents here as well.
During his studies, he has held multiple mining roles across Australia. FIFO work, he says, has been the perfect balance: it allowed him to study, earn, and stay deeply involved in community life. It’s also a lifestyle he hopes to continue in the immediate years after graduation.
Shourjya has been an active member of the AusIMM UWA Student Chapter, contributing to student engagement and professional development initiatives within the mining community through different committee positions.
He also represented UWA in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) Mining Games, a competition that celebrates the heritage and hands‑on skills of the mining industry. For those who don't know, the Mining Games are an intense, physically taxing display of traditional mining methods, including tasks like hand-steeling, shovelling sand or mucking, and other tasks that mimic past underground mining operations. It’s a unique blend of teamwork, endurance, and mining culture, and Shourjya embraced it wholeheartedly.
This semester, Shourjya made the intentional decision to step back from FIFO rotations so he could be more available to UniHall residents. Whether it’s offering advice on navigating studies, sharing insights about the mining industry, or simply being someone to talk to, he’s committed to leaving UniHall stronger than he found it.
Recently, Shourjya has been building a significant interest in podcasting and vlogging, launching his page “Your Rational Lens.” Through conversations with people who have influenced his time at UWA, he’s exploring stories of growth, identity, and the power of community. He hopes to expand this platform further, using it to amplify voices and perspectives that inspire him.
One of Shourjya’s core beliefs is that you may be born somewhere, but you can create your identity somewhere else. This concept is profoundly reflected in his own journey from India to Perth, from engineering student to community leader. In his capacities as both Duty RA and Floor RA at University Hall, Shourjya has shown great community leadership by assisting residents and fostering a secure, welcoming, and cohesive living environment. He encourages every UniHall resident to embrace discomfort, try new things, and talk to people from different cultures. UniHall, he says, is a “low‑risk, high‑reward environment” where you can truly connect with others and shape your own version of self.
A quote he often returns to is:
“What is yours, no one can take from you, and what is not yours was never yours to begin with.”
It’s a reminder to stay grounded, trust the process, and pursue the opportunities that align with who you want to become.