Shruti Vaghasiya, a UWA Biomedical Science student, undertook an internship over the summer facilitated by the McCusker Centre for Citizenship at UWA with Denmark Futures, working to address social isolation for older people in the Great Southern town of Denmark.
“The internship opened my eyes to the unique strengths of small communities; despite having limited resources compared to metropolitan areas, Denmark has created effective support networks for senior residents,” Shruti said.
“I was able to contribute to this work, collecting data which will help local organisations better understand community needs, and developing interventions to directly help seniors stay connected.
“Highlights of the experience included participating in Denmark events, like a local art exhibition and the community soup kitchen. It was great to see firsthand how tight-knit the community is and how they support each other.”
Amber Launay is Project Coordinator with Denmark Futures and was Shruti’s internship supervisor.
“Shruti’s efforts assisted us in gathering important evidence of successful programs and interventions to reduce social isolation and will contribute to improving outcomes for Denmark residents through Denmark Future’s work in the community,” Ms Launay said.
Shruti said the opportunity to experience regional WA and make a meaningful contribution to Denmark Futures’ work will also benefit her professional growth.
“I have improved my understanding of community development, project management, working with diverse stakeholders and the complex nature of social isolation. Working with a small regional organisation showed me how community organisations need to be creative to make the most of limited resources,” she said.
“I would absolutely recommend the McCusker Centre internship program for UWA students. It provides real-world experience in community development and the chance to make a meaningful impact.”