For UWA Master of Commerce student John Mathew, the turning point in his studies didn’t happen in a classroom, but while working in Carnarvon. During his internship with the Shire of Carnarvon, he was responding to real community concerns and applying public health legislation in situations where the outcome mattered immediately.
Now in his final semester at UWA, John describes his path as shaped by a mix of global experience and local insight. Having lived and worked across Dubai, Bangalore and Perth, he had already seen how organisations operate. His experience with the McCusker Centre for Citizenship added a closer understanding of accountability and what that looks like in practice.
Working alongside the Environmental Health team, John was involved in compliance inspections and complaint investigations under the Public Health Act 2016. The work required him to assess risks, respond to reports from residents, and ensure health standards were being upheld across the local community.
This wasn’t observational work. Within weeks, John was actively contributing.
“By the second week, John’s confidence had increased to a point where he was actively involved with cases,” said Senior Environmental Health Officer Michael Cooke. “By the end of the internship, he was a valuable contributor to the variety of issues we deal with every day.”
In practice, that included everything from supporting food safety inspections to assisting with time-sensitive public health responses. One of the more critical moments came when the team was responding to a potentially serious environmental health notification.
“John played a key role in an urgent case relating to a potentially lethal amoeba,” Michael said. “His calm and level-headed approach was central to getting a desirable result in a timely manner.”
For John, situations like this reinforced the difference between theory and application.
“The classroom gives you the framework,” he said. “But it’s only when you’re applying legislation to an actual complaint from an actual person that you understand what the work really involves.”
Adjusting to that level of responsibility was not without its challenges. Working in a regional setting meant quickly building an understanding of local context, community expectations and regulatory requirements — often while managing live cases.
John approached this by listening closely, asking questions, and applying what he learned in real time. His supervisor noted that even early on, he was actively engaging with complex issues.
“By the end of the first week, John was already asking advanced questions and suggesting solutions,” Michael said. “That’s not something you typically expect at internship level.”
Beyond the immediate work, the experience has shaped how John sees his future. His interest has shifted towards roles where organisational systems, regulation and public accountability intersect — particularly in the public sector.
“Carnarvon showed me what public sector work really looks like,” he said. “It’s where decisions and processes directly affect people’s lives.”
That focus continues to develop, with John contributing to the McCusker Centre for Citizenship Student Advisory Committee.
“Sitting on the Student Advisory Committee made me think differently about work,” he said. “It wasn’t just about progression anymore. It was about who institutions serve, and what it means to contribute to something beyond your own organisation.” Reflecting on the experience, John is clear about the value of stepping into real environments early.
“If you have the chance to do work like this, take it,” he said. “It changes how you think about your skills — and where they can actually make a difference.”