This conversation was arranged between two academics, John Coveney and Christine Putland, (both of Flinders University, South Australia), who had collaborated on a number of teaching and research projects that had incorporated the work of Carol Bacchi.

John Coveney (JC):

What I wanted to do with this conversation was to talk about the way that we have used Carol Bacchi's research and to consider her contribution to our individual projects and our collective endeavours. Let me start by saying that it was you, Christine, who was responsible for introducing me to Carol Bacchi's books and papers. Could you talk about how you had been introduced to her work, and how and where you used it?

Christine Putland (CP):

Basically I started using it when I was writing my PhD thesis (Putland 2000). I was introduced to Bacchi's work quite late in the piece and I immediately recognised that it was very useful in terms of the particular point I had reached at the time. Let me put that in context: I was working in the field of public policy, informed by disciplines with a particular understanding of the world. My interest in study emerged out of my work practice rather than vice versa and I didn't have a background in studying social sciences. In fact my undergraduate experience was in the humanities.