Gargi Ruhil, a Bachelor of Commerce student at UWA, recently supported disability not-for-profit Explorability Inc to promote their services and broader messages about disability, as a Marketing and Social Media Intern, through the McCusker Centre for Citizenship.
“Through my internship, I helped Explorability increase their reach to people in need of support coordination and advocacy services, as well as providing information for the general public about disability,” Gargi said.
“I developed and executed a social media plan, which included posts designed to provide facts and also clarity around common myths relating to disability.
“Previously I had limited knowledge of the disability sector and the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) – working with Explorability provided me with a better understanding of disabilities and the unique needs people have,” she said.
Gargi said that working to support Explorability, who provide advocacy services and support coordination services for people with disability, had been a rewarding experience that provided her with a sense of purpose and a desire to continue helping others.
Kelsie De Haan, Team Leader at Explorability, said that Gargi had learned quickly in her internship role, reflecting contemporary knowledge and practice around working with people with disability.
“As a small not-for-profit organisation, we have limited resources to dedicate to marketing and social media, so Gargi’s work was a great help in establishing and implementing a sustainable social media plan,” Ms De Haan said.
“Gargi’s enthusiasm for the role was evident in her work, which had an immediate impact on our social media reach, and she considered ways to make social media content and marketing materials accessible for people with disability.
“Gargi’s passion and dedication for all tasks, from updating website design to attending community engagement events, was noticed and appreciated by the whole team,” she said.
Gargi said that in addition to learning about disability and the disability services sector, the internship was an insightful introduction to Australian work environments.
“As an international student, this was my first experience being part of a workplace in Australia, and I gained a lot of valuable information about teamwork and Australian work ethics, which I will be able to apply to my future endeavours.”
Gargi said she recommended the internship unit to other UWA students.
“This is a perfect opportunity to enhance your professional experience while contributing to the betterment of society. During the course of this unit I learned about the concept of being an ‘active citizen’, that you don’t need to do any large or heroic act, even small contributions can help, and I can contribute by using my expertise in a field where it can make a difference.”