This is Archana, a third year Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) student who is the President of Students for Refugees UWA, Secretary of the UWA Welfare Department and Marketing Officer for Artists Against Poverty UWA.
“Growing up, I always had a strong connection with community, a deep sense of gratitude for the privileged life I lead and an urge to give back,” she says.
Last year, Archana undertook a The McCusker Centre for Citizenship at UWA internship at the Health Consumers' Council - WA to research the use of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Traditional Healing practices within government and non-government services around Australia.
Archana’s internship supervisor and Aboriginal Engagement Coordinator, Tania Harris, noted Archana’s commitment and dedication to the internship role.
“Traditional Healing is a complex and broad topic, generally based outside of Government policies and frameworks. Archana very intuitively followed her own sources, contacted organisations and compiled an exceptional report,” she noted.
Archana says the internship allowed her to learn more about the important role of Traditional Healing practices in supporting Indigenous health outcomes.
“We will be able to use this resource to share with the community to explain more clearly [Indigenous peoples’] rights when seeking and requesting Traditional Healing from the system,” said Ms Harris.
The internship showed Archana that there are many ways through which she can contribute to society and inspired her to continue her volunteer work at UWA.
“The McCusker internship has strengthened my belief in the ability of citizens — especially young people — to create social change. I feel more compelled than I did previously to see volunteering as an integral part of my role as a citizen,” she says.
“My experience has encouraged me to expand my volunteering, advocacy and activism work at university, which I have done by volunteering with organisations like Teach Learn Grow and taking up executive roles at Students for Refugees, the UWA Welfare Department and Artists Against Poverty UWA.”
The internship has also helped Archana gain an awareness of the broad range of careers and organisations that focus on meaningful work, strengthening her goal to follow a career path tied to social impact.
On what motivates her to give back to the community, Archana says she is “constantly inspired by the passion and dedication of other volunteers, as well as the social impact organisations and community members I have worked with in the past.”
This story was created as part of the UWA Students #HumansofUWA project. View the original post here.