Two Master of Information Technology students from UWA recently joined the Department of Health’s South Metropolitan Health Service (the Service) as interns, working together on a project to support employee health outcomes.
Liz Huangfu and Sheldon Ying both applied for the McCusker Centre for Citizenship’s internship program for the opportunity to gain practical experience and use their skills to contribute to the community.
Both students worked on different aspects of the Pre-Employment Health Assessment project, which aims to increase efficiency and automation and reduce administrative burden, and help the service promote employee health.
“The internship heightened my awareness of the social responsibilities inherent in being a software developer within the public sector,” Sheldon said.
“I have come to appreciate the critical importance of integrating technical solutions with ethical considerations, especially when managing data that can directly impact patients' lives.”
Liz said that the experience had given her a better understanding of how she could apply her expertise to contribute to the community.
“This experience highlighted the critical role of user-centric design in creating effective and meaningful software solutions. Unlike academic learning, which often focuses on theoretical knowledge, working on real-world projects emphasised the necessity of empathising with users and prioritising their experience,” she said.
“I also gained an appreciation of value of collaboration. Working closely with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and expertise areas taught me the importance of teamwork in achieving successful project outcomes.”
Suki Loe is Nurse Director Informatics with the South Metropolitan Health Service, and supervisor for both students’ internships.
“Liz and Sheldon have been able to apply their skill and knowledge to assist with the digitisation of a manual workflow which enable our staff have visibility to the process at any stage. Their hard work and creativity have not only achieved great results but have also set as a prototype for future projects,” Mr Loe said.
Sheldon, who is a UWA UniMentor and a StudyPerth international student ambassador, said that alongside his volunteering, the internship had helped build connections and a sense of community in Perth, while providing valuable professional experience.
“This internship has enhanced my practical skills in software development, problem-solving, and system integration, as well as my ability to work in an interdisciplinary team, which is crucial for future professional success,” he said.
Both students recommended the internship program for other UWA students.
“I was able to apply my professional knowledge to solve practical problems, engaging in meaningful projects that contributed to the community, and allowing me to see first-hand the impact of active citizenship,” Liz said.