Ruben Tokona is a UWA Master of Environmental Science student, specialising in Environmental Economics. He recently interned with the WA Local Government Association (WALGA) through the McCusker Centre for Citizenship (the Centre), gaining valuable professional experience while making a meaningful contribution to healthy and resilient WA communities.
An international student from Fiji, Ruben is studying at UWA on an Australia Awards Scholarship sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and applied for the Centre’s internship program so he could use his skills and knowledge to make a positive contribution for the local community.
Through his internship Ruben contributed 100 hours to the Creating Resilient Urban Forests project, collecting and analysing data from Local Governments to determine the resilience of different tree species to future climate change projections.
“I developed a species’ resilience scoring approach that, with further refinement, can be a valuable tool for assessing and enhancing urban forests — an important step towards creating sustainable urban forests for Perth and across WA,” Ruben said.
“The most challenging aspect of my internship was independently managing a project from inception – collecting, collating and integrating data and ensuring all components were delivered within the timeframe. The experience significantly strengthened my problem-solving skills, confidence and overall professional development.
“Key highlights of the internship were presenting my project outcomes to the Local Government Urban Forest Working Group, and to professionals from the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, and WALGA. Having the opportunity to share insights that may contribute to future climate change planning and urban greening strategies was truly fulfilling.”
Melanie Davies, Urban Forest Program Facilitator at WALGA, said that Ruben had brought impressive initiative and new ideas to his internship role.
“Ruben showed initiative in liaising with Local Governments to maximise participation in the project and create a well-considered, evidence-based approach to the resilience scoring system. He was a professional and friendly team member and managed his time well to deliver the project within the allocated period,” Ms Davies said.
“The project has provided valuable information on the resilience of tree species used in Local Government planting programs, and established a resilience scoring system that can be adjusted to investigate different scenarios of interest.” Ms Davies said.
For Ruben, the internship created a deeper appreciation of the critical role of data analysis and stakeholder communications to inform urban planning and was “instrumental” in building his confidence in a professional setting.
“I highly recommend a McCusker Centre for Citizenship internship for other students. It provides a unique opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge in a professional setting while receiving mentorship and support. The experience bridges the gap between academic learning and real-world impact, making it an excellent stepping stone for professional growth.”