Eight University of Western Australia (UWA) students and recent graduates were named as recipients of the 2025 McCusker Centre for Citizenship Outstanding Intern Award today, recognising their contributions to projects in the not-for-profit, community, local government and public sectors.
The 2025 Award recipients were selected from a record field of 142 nominees and were presented with certificates at UWA by the Honourable Malcolm McCusker AC CVO KC CitWA and Judge Denis Reynolds AM, Professor Tim Colmer, UWA Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, and Professor Guy Littlefair, UWA Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience.
2025 McCusker Centre for Citizenship Outstanding Intern Award recipients:
- Cynthia Chen, Master of Information Technology, interned with The Kids Research Institute Australia
- Danial Shamsuddin, Master of Bioinformatics, interned with the Lions Eye Institute
- Farah Warnakulasuriya, Master of Information Technology, interned with Patches Australia
- Gibran Alvaro, Bachelor of Commerce, interned with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
- Paula Plandez, Bachelor of Arts, interned with the Town of Port Hedland
- Phoebe Pether, Bachelor of Modern Languages and Bachelor of Biomedical Science, interned with the City of South Perth
- Tom MacKay, Bachelor of Commerce, interned with the Road Safety Commission
- Wenxin Guan, Master of Business Psychology, interned with MercyCare
Cynthia Chen, who graduated with a Master of Information Technology degree in July this year, interned with The Kids Research Institute Australia, developing an AI-powered chatbot tool to enable more efficient malaria research, and now works part-time for the Institute as a software developer.
“This recognition has encouraged me to continue exploring how information technology can be applied in public health and for social good,” she said.
Tom MacKay also graduated this year, with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, after an impactful internship helping the Road Safety Commission (the Commission) develop their Road Smart KickStart road safety education program for WA secondary schools.
“Tom exceeded our expectations for an intern,” said Simone Steele, Director, Education and Behaviour Change at the Commission.
“He approached every challenge with enthusiasm, and students in trials of the program at Narembeen and Kulin District High Schools found him approachable and engaging.”
Tom said that he’d gained a broader understanding of work done behind the scenes by the Commission to keep WA roads safe for all users.
“I’m really grateful to have been part of this process. Seeing the Road Smart KickStart program fully rolled out has been great to follow and rewarding after my work with the pilot for the program,” he said.
Originally from Geraldton, Tom said his internship experience, which was Perth-based but included visits to regional communities, was a significant source of confidence that helped him secure a graduate role in the banking sector, and then to move into a new role in Narrogin.
Michelle Scott OAM, McCusker Chair in Citizenship and Director of the Centre, said that the efforts of all nominees reflected the Centre’s purpose of engaging with social issues and making active contributions to address them and enrich the community.
“Almost 5,000 UWA students have been able to give back through our internship program, dedicating more than 500,000 hours so far to projects that benefit this community,” Ms Scott said.
“These internships are overwhelmingly a positive experience for everyone involved – 97% of students and supervisors say they would recommend the program. The Outstanding Intern Award recognises students who have gone above and beyond in their efforts, and we are thrilled that so many supervisors nominated their interns this year.”
Image: Gibran Alvaro, the Honourable Malcolm McCusker AC CVO KC CitWA, Tom Mackay, Judge Denis Reynolds AM, and Farah Farah Warnakulasuriya