ABC Open is a new initiative from national news network, ABC. It is completely based on the idea of community user generated material, which as a social media fan, I obviously love.

The site breaks down the huge expanse which is Australia into regions and gives everyone, even if they’re in the most remote areas, a chance to express themselves through copy, images, videos or sound bites. There are already numerous projects underway including the brilliant ‘Portrait of a Stranger’ photo project and the ‘One Small Window’ video project.

I love how many people have already gotten involved and how user friendly the site it. This is surely the future when it comes to the combination of journalism and user generated content and I’m sure other news organisations will follow suit very soon.

I have now got a job working at the Goldfields Oasis, the amazing recreation centre here in Kalgoorlie, as their new membership and marketing coordinator. I thought finding a marketing job here would be hard, but it seems like fate stepping in and I luckily got the job just three weeks after we got here!

I’m loving it so far, everyone is so nice and the centre has a fantastic atmosphere. I’m learning so much and really being able to put my stamp on things here as it’s a brand new role. I’m very lucky and really excited about what’s to come.

In addition, I have been asked to speak at the Enhancing Visitor Experiences (EVE) Forum on Wednesday 23 April at the Hannans Club in Kalgoorlie. I’ll be doing the social media presentation and explaining how it can have a big impact on the tourism industry. I’ll be doing this alongside some of the best creative professionals from across Western Australia including Claire Savage, owner of Savagely Creative and Dee Smith from EVE.

I’m really excited as I used to do workshops and seminars quite regularly when I was with Wolfstar, but it will be my first time in Australia! I’m currently researching some Australian examples to bring my presentation to life and finding some really great stuff.

Fingers crossed it will go well and everyone will find the presentation helpful and interesting! Watch this space!

Although I’ve been working in social media for more than two years, I’ve experienced it in a totally new way over the past four weeks.

Previously, it was all about creating social media campaigns for clients - from public sector community projects to global campaigns for big brands. However, once I moved to the other side of the world, I realised just how much social media can be your lifeline back to friends and family.

Facebook has stopped being a way to simply read people’s status updates and pass some time, but is now a window into what my friend’s are up to. I find myself commenting a lot more and being genuinely interested in what’s going on back home. When my mum joined Facebook yesterday to look at some of our pictures, I knew it had taken on a whole new meaning.

We got a Flip camera for Christmas and have since made  a couple of videos of Kalgoorlie. The video on our You Tube channel received 90 hits in just two weeks! Now I’m sure my family are responsible for more than half of these, but still, it just goes to show how much the connection means to people at home too.

Skype takes the phone call to another level. Just being able to see someone’s face when you talk to them makes all the difference. It’s not quite the cuddle I’d like, but it’s close. Plus, seeing my Nana and Grandad trying to figure out the webcam and how to use Skype is comedy gold!

I always knew the importance of social media to brands, but am only just realising it’s true importance to me.

My other half is enjoying work and I’m currently looking for a job. As we’re in such a small town, there aren’t really any PR agencies here, but there seem to be a few in-house opportunities - so fingers crossed!

Starting a new life is strange. Scary but very exciting. We are moving into our apartment on Friday so we’ll feel much more settled once we get in there, buy a few house bits and get some of our UK stuff shipped over.

We’re already planning a few trips - want to make the most of being in beautiful Western Australia. Hopefully we’ll be spending a few weekends in Esperance, home to some of the most gorgeous beaches in WA and then a couple of (long) road trips to Perth.

I’m carrying on with my swimming at the local leisure centre, Oasis, and also get a cheeky go on the water slide when I’m there!

Trying to keep up to speed with the world of social media, but it’s hard with only a dongle for internet access and a very basic mobile!

After three weeks I think we’re doing pretty well, so watch this space for news on me getting a job, our little trips and how we’re settling into Aussie life!

However, I’m so excited about the new chapter in my life. As of January, I’ll be moving to Australia with my other half! All very scary but can’t wait for a new adventure.

Hopefully I’ll pick up some freelance work and continue my career in PR. My blogs and tweets may become more “girlfriend of a geologist living in a mining town” focused, but I’ll try to keep my finger on the PR pulse.

I’m sure we’ll fit in over there - my love of a good BBQ, drinking and sunshine should help, aswell as my penchant for massively stereotyping countries!

News broke this week that Kate Moss’ October collection for Topshop will be her last. Cue rumours about her being dropped for being too old, Sir Phillip Green’s daughter Chloe taking centre stage etc.

I think this is a good decision. When Kate Moss unveiled her first collection for Topshop in 2007 I can remember the hype and excitment around it. People qued outside Topshop’s flagship store and I remember being giddy with lust over a floasty green dress from her range.

However, three years later I feel Kate has kind of lost her appeal. She’s much older than the majority of Topshop’s customer base, and she just doesn’t have the kudos anymore - regardless of how sucessful she still is as a model.

It’ll be interesting to see who Topshops’ new collaboration, if any, will be with. The brand has a lot to contend with now rival high street retailer H&M has collaborated with Karl Lagerfield , Stella McArtney, and most recently, Alber Elbaz from Lanvin.

It’s online strategy has been just as innovative. From the very personal video response to the scandal in one of ASDA’s stores to the parenting online community, ASDA is blazing a trail for other retailers.

It’s latest foray is the George Style Blog. The blog features helpful hints and tips about how to dress for your shape, celeb fashion and new products and lines in-store. I think this has been pitched at just the right level. By not trying to be too high fashion, the blog has managed to keep the down-to-earth, yet fashionable and value for money brand identify. The blog is fresh, colourful and interesting.

I like the way they blog engages with people by asking them to submit their own photographs of their George outfits. The fact it’s CRM linked to ensure people can buy the things they see means it makes good business sense too.

There’s so much potential here for things like creating an iPhone app, creating more varied content such as catwalk videos or behind the scenes photo galleries or guest posts from fashion bloggers ala Topshop. Exciting stuff!

Last week I was lucky enough to be invited along to Harvey Nichols in Leeds to sample what Thursday nights have to offer. One of my best friends, Zoe, is getting married on Saturday, so it seemed a perfect excuse for some girlie pampering!

We started the evening with a manicure at the Nails &Champagne bar. The girls from Nails Inc were brilliant and so friendly. After finally deciding on a gorgeous dark fuchsia for my nails, we were free to sip champagne while our nails dried – very ladies who lunch! Zoe then went for her pre-wedding make-up trial with the team at Trish McEvoy. The lady there was so helpful and really knew her stuff, Zoe looked absolutely amazing… so much so she decided to invest in EVERY item she had been shown!

All primped, painted and made-over, we headed outside to the Espresso Bar. It’s such a gorgeous setting, right in the middle of the Victoria Quarter. Harvey Nichols do a “tea for a tenner” option which is amazing value including a main course, side dish and a yummy cocktail. I had the trout and new potatoes – it was delicious! The portions aren’t massive but just right for a simple early evening meal. The cocktails were fab too and acted as a nice intro for our bottle of proseco… well, we were celebrating the wedding after all!

We had an amazing time and I’d recommend a Thursday night at Harvey Nicks to anyone! What a great way to treat yourself for less… and celebrate Friday-eve!

High street hero H&M has become the latest in a string of fashion retailers to launch its official iPhone app. The new app lets users browse items in H&M stores right now, as well as finding your nearest outlet, and keeping tabs on fashion news.

You can also personalise the settings by making a wish-list of things you want to buy and link up to Facebook. Cool touch is if you shake your iPhone when using the app, a 20% discount pops up - pretty cool!

This is the latest tactic in the companies move into social media. I think the way H&M integrate its comms package is brilliant. Love its advertising, they have a fab social media newsroom covering their Twitter, Facebook and You Tube, and now a neat little app.

Just one request, please make it available on Android so I can play!

However, I stumbled across a video fro Twenty8Twelve (Sienna and Savanna Miller’s label) today… and my god it’s boring! It’s not particuarly well shot, the music is insane and the country manor feel they’re trying to create just doesn’;t resonate.

By all means, add to the offering with videos, pod casts etc.. but make them watchable!