L O C A L G O V E R N M E N T I N T E R N S H I P S

The  McCusker Centre forCitizenship at The University ofWestern Australia is the first of itskind in Australia. The Centre was established inOctober 2015 with a generousendowment  from the McCuskerCharitable Foundation. Since its award-winning internshipprogram was launched, the Centrehas forged partnerships with morethan 250 not-for-profit, communityand government organisations,including the public sector. The Centre's contribution to thecommunity reaches beyondgreater metropolitan Perth toregional, national, andinternational communities.

OUR VISIONTo foster caring, connected and socially-engaged citizens who actively contributeto the wellbeing of their communities.

OUR PURPOSETo create and foster community-mindedthinkers and leaders. To inspire students and the UWAcommunity, and the broader WesternAustralian community to become active,life-long contributors to our local, regionaland global communities – and in theprocess, encourage and support others todo likewise. To promote awareness about challengingsocial issues in our communities - and thecontribution citizens can make inaddressing them.

During her internship, UWAMasters of InternationalDevelopment studentRebecca Hicks completed areview of the City ofGosnells' libraries'programs and services foryoung people. Her final research reportrecommended practicalways that the library couldengage with and supportyouth – particularly thosewho might be at a greaterrisk and vulnerable in thecommunity. "The internship widenedmy professional interest inworking for localgovernment as a way tobenefit the community,"she said. Library and HeritageServices Acting ManagerMaxine Ahrens, whosupervised Rebecca, saidshe highlighted gaps incurrent service provision,identified the service youngpeople wanted to receiveand suggested a range ofnew services.

Student intern Randi Beck continued the next stage ofRebecca Hicks’ project. The UWA Law and Society Major completed a researchreport on programs and services that the ThornlieLibrary could implement to connect and engage moreeffectively with young people in the local community. Randi suggested changes that could be made at thelibrary including new programs and activities thatcould be introduced to attract young people to visitthe library and have a positive experience. Youth Librarian and intern supervisor LeanneFitzgerald said Randi’s report would be used to makebudget requests to improve the library’s facilities andservices. “Randi's research into youth behaviour will help staffand visitors better understand the teens who visit ourlibraries. We hope this will lead to better sharing of thecommunity space,” Ms Fitzgerald said.

"This experience has made me more passionateabout diversionary strategies for youth justice and

in particular early intervention and prevention."

REBECCA HICKS

RANDI BECKCity of Gosnells

City of Gosnells

"The McCusker Centre forCitizenship made it easy toengage an intern and thequality of intern providedwas excellent and a great

match for ourorganisation."

“I hope that my report leads to a positive changeto tackle this issue and that recognises thefactors that lead to antisocial behaviour."

Regional Early Education and Development(REED) works closely with local councils,

shires and community organisations to ensurethe best quality early childhood education

and care services are provided for Wheatbeltchildren, families and communities.

Madelene Booth completed a number ofresearch projects and grant applications forthe Wheatbelt region during her internship. The UWA Biomedical Science studentresearched the Child Care Subsidy andprepared a document outlining the barriersthat Indigenous and farming families faced inapplying for the subsidy through Centrelink.  Madelene researched and drafted a grantapplication for a mobile service to assistWheatbelt families with their Centrelinkapplications.She also drafted an arts grant application,with the idea of commissioning Indigenousartists to paint murals and lead art classes atfive community centres throughout theWheatbelt region. Madelene then contacted agriculturalsuppliers to request they donate farmmachinery toys to the centres. “When you can see the impact you can make,it opens your eyes that you are actually veryimportant to society and you can make a realchange,” she said.

MADELENE BOOTHRegional Early Education and Development

“Madelene identified challenges andbarriers Aboriginal and rural families

encounter in accessing government systemsand her solutions have potential to

contribute to real change.”REED General Manager Kylie Helgesen

At the Shire of Gingin, internFranklin Powers wrote a researchreport that identified new businessmanagement models for localcommunity group and clubfacilities. The UWA Bachelor of Commercestudent researched three localorganisations as case studies tocomplete the report. Shire of Gingin CommunityDevelopment & ServicesCoordinator Jodie Mortadza saidthe report provided examples ofbusiness management models thatmay support the organisations’“sustainability in the currenteconomic environment”. “As a very small shire withsignificant resourcing constraintsand lots of areas of need, thisinternship has meant that we havebeen able to undertake a projectthat we knew was important butdid not have the capacity tocomplete,” Ms Mortadza said. The report may be of interest toother WA local governments andtheir community organisations.

FRANKLIN POWERSShire of Gingin

UWA Bachelor ofCommerce student JoelOffereins workedalongside the Marketingand CommunicationsOfficer  at LocalGovernment ProfessionalsWA to strengthen theexperience of its members. Joel undertook a review ofthe existing website andidentified key gaps andchanges required. He also worked onenhancing its social mediaplatforms to ensuremembers received up-to-date information. “As a small not-for-profitorganisation, the workthat Joel did meant thatwe are able to proactivelylook at better ways toservice our members whoare all hardworkingprofessionals servicingtheir communities in theirlocal governments,”LocalGovernment ProfessionalsCEO Candy Choo said.

"We were so impressedwith Joel that, later on

in the year when we hada vacancy, we offeredhim the position and

he’s been an excellentemployee to have overthe past six months."

Internships are offered four times a year; summer andwinter as an intensive, and in semesters 1 and 2. Please contact our Internships Team to discuss.

JOEL OFFEREINSLocal Government Professionals WA

08 6448 7553mccuskercentre.uwa.edu.auinternships@mccuskercentre.uwa.edu.au

JASMINE LAINGCity of Stirling

UWA Bachelor of Science student Jasmine Laing assessedemployment and community engagement opportunitiesfor culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) migrantsand refugees at the Mirrabooka Welcome Hub. Jasmine wrote a series of reports that documented theCity of Stirling’s current community engagement servicesand outlined best-practice models to improve refugeeemployment opportunities. “Jasmine set a high precedent with her professional butflexible attitude, hard work and very high skill inperforming many various tasks,” Welcome Hubs ProjectLead Samira Husic said.

"The most rewarding aspect of my internshipwas to be contributing directly to society, and

seeing the effects in action."

The Centre partners with 250+ local,regional and national organisations.