Ayaan Kinani is a Master of Business Analytics student at UWA, who recently learnt how his skills could directly benefit organisations working with people with disability.
After recommendations from fellow students, Ayaan applied for a McCusker Centre for Citizenship internship, and was tasked with assisting with the Activ Foundation’s merger with national disability services and senior services provider, genU.
“My internship revealed to me the critical role Activ plays in addressing barriers to inclusion in WA, from housing and employment, to social stigma; I learned how Activ empowers people with disabilities by fostering independence and creating opportunities,” Ayaan said.
“My work supporting the merger focused on improving processes and efficiency – as I see it, every small improvement behind the scenes builds toward a larger impact for those who rely on Activ’s services.”
Ayaan assisted with a range of tasks during his 100-hour internship, with his primary work being the creation of a master file for both organisations, streamlining data and creating dashboards.
“The highlight of the internship was the conversations I had with those around me; they generously shared their experiences, offering insights I can use in the future, and helping me navigate the responsibilities in my role more effectively.”
Grace Crowe, Mergers, Acquisitions and Integration Manager at genU and internship supervisor, said that Ayaan was a welcome addition to the integration team.
“Ayaan led the development of the Masterfile of all our controlled documents across the two organisations that need to be merged. It was a mammoth task with plenty of challenges and Ayaan approached it with professionalism, tenacity and enthusiasm,” Ms Crowe said.
“Ayaan’s contribution has set us up for this integral piece of work and we are very glad to have had his assistance,” Ms Crowe said.
As an international student, the internship was Ayaan’s first experience in a professional office environment in Australia, and one that he whole-heartedly recommends for other students.
“Implementing the concepts I learned in the classroom in a practical setting significantly strengthened my skills, and the experience boosted my confidence in my abilities.
“I had the opportunity to become adaptable and flexible in a professional setting while laying a strong foundation for my career, while the McCusker Centre seminars deepened my understanding of how I can make an impact in society through my actions.”