The Department of Communities has been recognised for making a significant contribution to the McCusker Centre for Citizenship’s unique internship program for UWA students.
With more than 500 partner organisations participating in the program since 2016, the Department was one of three organisations celebrated for their commitment to UWA student interns at the McCusker Centre for Citizenship’s recent end-of-year event.
Berni Lukaitis, Principal Consultant, Pathway Programs, received a certificate of appreciation on behalf of the Department at the ceremony from McCusker Charitable Foundation directors the Honourable Malcolm McCusker AC CVO KC Chair of the McCusker Charitable Foundation and His Honour Judge Denis Reynolds, and Professor Tim Colmer, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor at UWA.
“Communities’ partnership with the Centre began in 2018 and we have provided opportunities to 81 interns since then,” said Ms Lukaitis.
“The department recognises the citizenship focus of McCusker internships and has provided many opportunities for students to bring fresh thinking to complex problems impacting the communities we serve. Interns are exposed to the broad range of roles that exist within a large organisation such as Communities and the experience may ignite an interest in pursuing a future career with us.”
Examples of contributions by interns with Communities in the past year include:
- Smart Energy for Social Housing Project developing key planning activities.
- Research and report on Public Sector Volunteering nationally and internationally.
- Design and draft proposal on Person Centred Service Delivery.
- Contribute to development and review of strategic Housing policy.
- Research and review for Disability Justice Service.
Along with the Department, Consumer Credit Legal Service and Zonta House Refuge Association were recognised for their consistent involvement in the program and their commitment to giving UWA students opportunities to gain experience in professional settings while making a meaningful contribution to projects that have a positive social impact.
Since starting with a handful of internships in 2016, the McCusker Centre for Citizenship internship program has facilitated more than 3,600 internships with hosts in the not-for-profit and community, local government and public sectors.
Michelle Scott OAM, McCusker Chair of Citizenship at UWA, said that industry partnerships gave students a unique practical learning experience that also built up their motivation and capacity to act as responsible and caring citizens.
“Our partner organisations give students opportunities to put what they are learning at university into practise in a way that benefits the community, and 97% of students as well as their supervisors say they would recommend the program as a worthwhile experience,” Ms Scott said.
“We are very pleased to partner with the Department of Communities to provide students with the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the broader community through our unique internship program.”
Image: Professor Tim Colmer, Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor UWA, His Honour Judge Denis Reynolds, The Hounourable Malcolm McCusker AC CVO KC CitWA, and Berni Lukaitis, Principal Consultant, Pathways Programs, Department of Communities at a McCusker Centre for Citizenship event on 10 October 2024 at the University of Western Australia.