Tegan Espinos – Bachelor of Science (Genetics)
Project Support Intern, Advocacy WA
Tegan Espinos wanted an internship that would allow her to contribute to the community while gaining practical experience beyond the lecture theatre. Through a McCusker Centre for Citizenship internship with Advocacy WA in Bunbury, she found both.
“I was particularly interested in working in a regional area as I wanted to make a genuine impact in the community I was raised in,” she said.
Advocacy WA works to promote inclusion, accessibility and participation for people with disability. As part of the organisation’s Community Projects Team, Tegan contributed to a wide range of activities, from research and community engagement to peer support groups and awareness initiatives.
She began by researching employment outcomes for people with disability, exploring barriers to employment and the policies that contribute to inequality. She then supported workshops, social groups and community events while helping create accessible resources and communications materials.
“My favourite part of the internship was supporting inclusive community events and social groups,” she said. “I had the opportunity to connect directly with community members and help create welcoming spaces where people felt valued, included and connected.”
For Tegan, listening to the lived experiences of people with disability made a significant impression.
“Meeting such inspiring people gave greater purpose to the work I was doing and reinforced the importance of creating a more inclusive community,” she said.
Her supervisor, Community Projects Manager Larissa Beeby, noted Tegan’s ability "to move confidently between research, community engagement, workshop support, communication tasks and direct participant assistance was impressive”.
The experience also changed Tegan’s perspective on accessibility.
“I now find myself constantly noticing whether businesses, community spaces and public facilities are physically accessible,” she said. “It has made me much more aware of the importance of inclusive design.”
The internship strengthened her communication, teamwork and research skills, but she says the biggest lessons were empathy, active listening and understanding how small actions can make a meaningful difference.
“These are skills that can’t be taught in a classroom and will benefit me regardless of where my career takes me,” she said.