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Moritz Ziegler, a Master of Laws student at UWA, has been nominated for the McCusker Centre for Citizenship Outstanding Intern Award after assisting the Piddington Legal Assistance Clinic on a project to improve housing conditions for remote Aboriginal communities.
“As part of a collaboration with Australian Lawyers for Remote Aboriginal Rights, I supported a team of lawyers on a housing survey in the Kimberley region. It was my responsibility to help create a database that highlighted issues with housing conditions in remote Aboriginal communities,” Moritz said.
“Witnessing housing conditions in the Kimberley region was an eye-opening experience. The database highlights issues with housing and will be very helpful for further legal and policy work. Addressing these challenges in remote communities will contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), for example, there are opportunities to improve sanitation, health and well-being, education, and ultimately to reduce inequality (SDG 3, 4, 6 and 10).
“The internship changed my perspective on social challenges and the part that I can play in overcoming these issues. Working with a group of lawyers who dedicated their time and resources to overcoming social problems demonstrated how I can implement theoretical skills acquired in university in a practical context,” he said.
Moritz, an international student, said that he saw the internship as a way to contribute to the community that welcomed him for his study.
“Back in Germany, I worked with children and helped them achieve their sport-related goals. This activity allowed me to connect to my local community and was a counterpart to my law studies. I gained an understanding of how volunteering benefits everyone involved. After arriving in Australia, I was interested in continuing such an activity.”
While the internship helped Moritz achieve his aims of giving back, it also provided opportunities for authentic learning.
“When conducting the housing survey, we interviewed multiple tenants in remote communities. These interviews were highly interesting as they offered unique perspectives on Aboriginal culture.
“Before travelling to the Kimberley Region I was concerned about cultural & communication barriers. However, by demonstrating respect and being polite it was easy to overcome these anticipated barriers, resulting in unique insights and memorable conversations with Aboriginal people,” he said.
Nicholas van Hattem, co-founder of the Piddington Society, said that Moritz had gone above and beyond in his internship, making him a worthy nominee for the Outstanding Intern Award.
“The days in the Kimberley region were long, and the work was tough and emotionally draining, but Moritz always approached his work with a smile and with a positive attitude,” Mr van Hattem said.
“Moritz was always empathetic and understanding in his undertakings with members of the communities who often spoke English as a second or third language. He provided thorough reports on each house that was surveyed with great detail, allowing us to create better reports.
“The surveys he completed will result in improved housing standards for these remote communities and his hard work was much appreciated.”
Moritz also supported legal research and worked on Legal Aid claims, and the rich learning of the experience came with benefits for his future professional life.
“The internship was a great networking opportunity that has led towards employment as a law clerk; it was a great introduction to Australian work ethics, standards and professionalism.
“The internship has been a remarkable experience that was beneficial on many levels, and being nominated for the Outstanding Intern Award is a privilege that I am proud of and thankful for.”
You can read more about housing issues in remote communities, and the Australian Lawyers for Remote Aboriginal Rights (ALRAR) work that Moritz contributed in this story from the ABC’s 7.30 report.