Isabella Ovalle Quiroga is studying a double major in Communication and Media Studies and Marketing, and put her skills into practice supporting the work of not-for-profit, Youth Focus, through a 100-hour summer internship with the McCusker Centre for Citizenship.
“My role was a great fit, as I was able create content that aligned with the Youth Focus brand essence and style, while learning about the mental health sector,” Isabella said.
“My biggest project was creating an animation to complement the 2024 Annual Report. I summed up approximately 50 pages of information in the report in an animated video less than three minutes long. I was new to animation, so this was a fun challenge that I was able to meet.
“The internship gave me insights into the health sector in WA, as well as how not-for-profit organisations work internally. Youth Focus need to connect with a variety of groups within the broader community, like LGBTQ young people, and First Nations people, and my graphic design work was important for helping engage with different demographics,” she said.
Jill Downard, Youth Focus Chief Marketing Officer, said that Isabella had come into her internship ready to understand the organisation’s work.
“It was fantastic to have Isabella in the team, working on such a diverse range of projects. Her creativity and ability to learn from different people across Youth Focus meant that she was able to help us develop a range of content to engage our audiences,” Ms Downard said.
Isabella recommended the internship experience for UWA students, no matter what they were studying.
“Even if you get a role that’s not exactly the same as your area of study, you should do it. Initially I was unsure about working with Youth Focus because I didn’t have prior knowledge of the mental health sector, but I ended up learning so much.”