Khushi Bhatia, a Master of Business Psychology student at UWA, helped the Ethnic Communities Council of Western Australia (ECCWA) provide accurate information on the Voice referendum, through a McCusker Centre for Citizenship internship.
Work on informing communities about the referendum was a key part of Khushi’s 100-hour internship. Khushi also supported the development of a volunteer policy and a review of internal processes to improve the efficiency of the organisation.
“My involvement with the referendum initiative included direct engagement with Indigenous communities and understanding their concerns,” Khushi said.
“I helped to raise awareness about the referendum, as ECCWA aimed to disseminate accurate information and ensure the community had access to reliable resources, as well as comprehending the importance of their votes.
“I also led social media content creation, organised events, and participated in interviews with news channels to effectively spread awareness and encourage informed decision-making,” she said.
Baily Fernandez, Executive Officer at ECCWA, said that Khushi’s time with ECCWA was marked by “strong leadership and a clear vision for the future”.
“Khushi’s ability to take initiative and continuously improve has been evident in every aspect of her work; she showed a keen willingness to learn and contribute, making significant strides for ECCWA’s media strategies and corporate governance,” he said.
“The impact of Khushi’s efforts is visible not only in our day-to-day operations but also in the lasting improvements she has made for our community - as Khushi moves on to new challenges, she leaves behind a solid record of achievement and a positive influence on our organisation.”
Khushi said that the internship had been an invaluable opportunity to apply the knowledge she had gained through her study so far in a practical and professional context.
“The most rewarding aspect of my internship was the invaluable opportunity it offered to engage with individuals from diverse ethnic communities across Western Australia and beyond, particularly those from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds,” she said.
“Being actively involved in advocating for policy changes at a governmental level has shown me the impact one can make in facilitating positive change for marginalised communities.
“This experience has reinforced my belief in the necessity of inclusive policies and initiatives that cater to the diverse needs of our society; it has motivated me to continue working towards creating a more equitable and inclusive environment where everyone's voice is heard and valued,” she said.
As an international student, Khushi also gained a deeper knowledge of local cultural issues through the internship.
“My internship was an exciting opportunity to immerse myself in a new culture and gain valuable work experience. Initially it was a challenge for me to comprehend the context of some discussions, and to participate fully with my colleagues and supervisor,” Khushi said.
“I communicated this with my supervisor, who recognised the importance of providing me with background information to understand local issues; this was a turning point for me, and helped me build a deeper understanding of Australian culture, improve my work performance, and strengthen my relationships with my supervisor and colleagues.”