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GOLD Walkley Award winning journalist Joanne McCarthy has used her graduation ceremony to voice concerns over The University of Newcastle signing a contract with Transfield Services.
Ms McCarthy received an honourary Doctorate of Letters on Friday and gave the occasional address.
She praised her parents and spoke of how fear and empathy had been her "companions" as she worked on the Newcastle Herald's Shine The Light campaign, investigating child sex abuse in the Catholic Church.
"I'm proud to accept this honorary doctorate today because it's the University of Newcastle saying it values work that recognises we have rights in this most fortunate of countries," Ms McCarthy said.
"But as individuals we also have responsibilities, the greatest of which is to ensure the rights of the most vulnerable, those without power.
"Which is why I can't accept this honour without voicing my strong objection to the university signing a contract with Transfield Services, to manage its facilities for the next five years.
"While children and young people are living in circumstance of intentional deprivation by government decree in detention centres and Manus Island and Nauru managed by Transfield, it cannot and should not be business as usual."
The comments prompted a standing ovation from much of the audience and several academic staff on stage.
The University of Newcastle recently awarded Transfield an $88 million five year facilities management and maintenance services contract for its multiple campuses.
The company is also involved in the management of detention centres in Manus Island and Nauru, where human rights abuses are alleged to have occurred.
Ms McCarthy's mother Barbara said her daughter had always been a natural leader and destined to be a journalist.
"We've seen her tired and upset by what she's been writing about," Ms McCarthy said.
"She's worked so hard over the past eight years and now she's received an accolade she deserves."
