Raygun pivots from lecture hall to speaker circuit after losing university gig
By
blidek
Whatever your views on Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn’s infamous kangaroo hop at the Paris Olympics, there’s no denying the woman knows how to land on her feet.
In February 2026, Gunn opted for voluntary redundancy from Macquarie University’s Faculty of Arts, telling the Sydney Morning Herald she had seen ‘the writing on the wall.’ She had lectured in the Department of Media, Communication, Creative Arts, Languages and Literature for five years.
Now, the 38-year-old PhD holder has announced her next chapter. On her new website, she describes herself as a ‘speaker, host, conversation starter’ available for events, brand collaborations, and interviews. Topics on offer include resilience, creativity, mental health, and drawing on her experience of going viral while preparing for elite competition.
The website itself is a cheeky nod to her Olympic notoriety; the cursor appears in the shape of Gunn’s infamous kangaroo dance move. Say what you will, she’s leaning into the legend.
More than one woman’s story
Gunn’s departure wasn’t a one-off. Over 40 of her colleagues took similar voluntary packages, part of sweeping cuts at Macquarie. A staggering 31 per cent of units offered in 2025 were removed for 2026, alongside course mergers attributed to low enrolment. Fewer international students prompted Australian universities to look for ways to cut costs, and arts faculties bore the brunt.
Gunn told the Herald, ‘We need to have a serious conversation about higher education in this country,’ adding she was ‘very worried’ for her colleagues. For anyone with grandchildren studying humanities, or who simply values the arts, it’s a conversation worth having.
The reinvention
Gunn is hardly sitting idle. Her website highlights work beyond the lecture theatre, including a keynote at an International Women’s Day event, speaking at an education fundraiser, and participating in a backyard cricket fundraiser for Lifeline. She has also begun offering personalised video messages on the Cameo platform for $68.24 each.
It’s quite the transformation from the woman who received no votes from judges in her three Olympic battles and did not progress past the preliminary round in Paris. In November 2024, she announced she was retiring from competitive breakdancing, though she insists she still dances for fun.
At the time, even Prime Minister Anthony Albanese offered support, saying, ‘Raygun had a crack, good on her. That is in the Australian tradition of people having a go.’
Key takeaways
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Gunn took voluntary redundancy from Macquarie University in February 2026 as part of wider arts department cuts affecting over 40 staff.
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She has launched a professional speaking career covering resilience, mental health, and navigating viral fame.
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Australian universities are slashing humanities courses due to declining international enrolments and funding pressures.
Whether the speaking circuit takes off remains to be seen. But there’s something undeniably Australian about dusting yourself off after a public stumble and getting back to work.
Love her or loathe her, Raygun’s next act is underway. Do you think she’ll find success on the speaker circuit, or has the novelty worn off? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
