Alton Wong is studying for a Bachelor of Science degree at UWA, majoring in Computer Science and Cybersecurity. He took on a community-focused internship in Semester 2 with the City of Swan, giving him the opportunity to put his skills into practice while also branching out to support work outside of his area of study.
“I applied for a McCusker Centre for Citizenship internship because I wanted to help out in the community and gain experience in a professional environment,” said Alton.
“Through my internship with the City of Swan, I worked mainly on events, while also assisting with website migration for a site that helps the City engage the community for local area planning.
“I helped with the Avon Descent, the City’s biggest annual event, and the opening of a new BMX track, helping with the setup, pack down and coordination, as well as getting feedback from the community via QR code surveys,” he said.
Alyce Higgins, City of Swan Manager Communications and Engagement, said the City was passionate about supporting students in developing their skills by providing real-life experience.
“The City highly values working with students to provide hands-on experience in a supportive environment, adequately preparing them for the workforce,” Ms Higgins said.
“Inviting students to work with our team is so valuable as not only can they apply their learning in a practical setting, but we also benefit from fresh perspectives and ideas.
“Alton seamlessly joined our team and became a true asset with his commitment to learning which helped us deliver fantastic events and programs to the City of Swan community.”
For Alton, the opportunity to contribute to projects that helped bring the community together was part of an internship experience full of benefits.
“I gained experience in professional interactions and realised that coming into a workplace setting isn’t as scary as I had thought, and I learned about the work local governments undertake to foster community.
“The McCusker Centre internship program makes it easy for students to connect with host organisations, and the seminars during the semester also taught me a lot. The unit coordinator and Centre staff were very friendly and always happy to help, they made it easy to get support or resources whenever needed.”