Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority (BGPA) interns Rachel Darwin, Harry Trumble and Gari-Emma Perry presented their McCusker Centre for Citizenship internship projects to about 40 Kings Park staff, volunteers and special guests on 14 November, 2019.
Partnerships, Communications & Marketing manager Rebecca Maddern said each intern brought real passion and skill to their projects.
“The interns’ projects are a great help towards our ambitions to do better at measuring Kings Park’s impact on the Western Australian community,” Ms Maddern said.
“As well as providing us with an overview of the latest research in critical areas like environmental awareness and the connection between human health and nature, the evidence they have uncovered will help us secure future funding.”
Denmark local Ms Darwin, who graduated from the University of WA with a Bachelor of Science and Conservation Biology last year, researched the importance of connecting children to nature and the positive effect it has on their wellbeing.
During his internship, Mr Trumble looked at the BGPA’s environmental policy and assessed the 2019 Kings Park Festival public survey.
The Master of Public Policy graduate “tweaked” the survey questions to emphasise qualitative and social impact feedback.
“Environmental policy needs substantial support from the community to secure its longevity,” he said.
UWA Masters of Public Policy student Ms Perry’s presentation was focused on the social impact of Kings Park as an urban green space; exploring the social disconnection to nature, urbanisation and population growth.
Intern supervisor Ms Maddern said the BGPA had been “delighted” with the calibre of interns form the McCusker Centre for Citizenship.
“The Centre has a very well organised program that makes it easy to administer and ensures a high quality outcome for both our organisation and the interns,” she said.