Ahead of the last semester of her UWA Bachelor of Commerce degree, Libby Martin undertook a winter break internship with the Department of the Premier and Cabinet (DPC) through the McCusker Centre for Citizenship.
“I’m majoring in Business Law with a minor in Korean Language. I had room for an elective unit and wanted to gain hands-on work experience that would be both professionally beneficial and socially meaningful,” said Libby, speaking about why she applied for the McCusker Centre’s program.
“My internship was with DPC’s Constitutional Centre of WA, and the experience confirmed my passion for combining my legal and business skills with community-focused work. I’m leaving the placement more confident, more skilled and more motivated to continue working in roles that create positive change,” she said.
“At the Constitutional Centre I created a comprehensive contact directory, authored a Community Engagement Recommendations Report, designed infographic posters for use with schools, and developed a social media strategy, which I was able to present directly to the Assistant Director General, which was a proud moment for me.
“It was a challenge learning how to present complex civic engagement ideas in accessible materials, but rewarding seeing my work have an immediate and tangible impact and knowing the resources I created will continue to be used to improve civic engagement across WA.”
Throughout the internship, Libby worked under the guidance of Bethra Courtney, DPC Project Officer and past McCusker Centre for Citizenship intern, and Kelly Prime, Constitutional Centre of WA Manager.
“Libby’s bright and positive personality made a lasting impression on our team,” said Ms Prime.
“It became clear very early in the placement that Libby was going to exceed our expectations, with the work she produced delivered to a high standard and consistently ahead of deadlines. She produced a professionally written and referenced 3500-word report with sound recommendations that will directly support our strategic planning and direction.
“As our team works across a variety of areas, Libby was challenged to engage in a variety of work which was new to her. Her positive attitude allowed Libby to blend seamlessly into the team during her time with us, approaching every task with enthusiasm and a commitment to learning.”
Libby said the internship had opened her eyes to how much work happens behind the scenes to build trust between communities and government institutions.
“I learned that civic engagement is not just about voting or political campaigns, it’s also about relationships, communication and creating inclusive pathways for participation. Work I did during my internship will benefit schools, community groups and multicultural and Aboriginal communities by increasing access to civic knowledge and engagement opportunities,” she said.
“I gained experience working in a mission-drive organisation as well as practical skills that are transferable to my future career in law and business. The internship was a chance to step outside the classroom, contribute to the community and grow personally and professionally.
“The whole experience was incredibly rewarding, and being recognised with an Outstanding Internship Award nomination was an honour, I’m grateful for the support of my supervisor and the team, who created an environment where I could contribute meaningfully.”