Zonta House Refuge Association has been recognised for making a significant contribution to the McCusker Centre for Citizenship’s unique internship program for UWA students.
With more than 500 partner organisations participating in the program since 2016, Zonta House was one of three organisations celebrated for their commitment to UWA student interns at the McCusker Centre for Citizenship’s end-of-year event today.
Ella Kent, Communications and Engagement Officer with Zonta House and internship host, received a certificate of appreciation on behalf of the organisation at the ceremony from McCusker Charitable Foundation directors the Honourable Malcolm McCusker AC CVO KC Chair of the McCusker Charitable Foundation and His Honour Judge Denis Reynolds, and Professor Tim Colmer, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor at UWA.
“Zonta House has been extremely fortunate to host 26 interns to date across a variety of roles in our organisation,” said Kelda Opperman, Zonta House CEO.
“The McCusker Centre for Citizenship team are excellent at matching students to workplaces and supporting interns and host organisations; every single intern with us has made a valuable contribution in our continued aim to deliver high quality services and responses to Victim/Survivors of Family and Domestic Violence.
“We are confident that interns graduate as social champions who are passionate about how they can support and contribute to ending family and domestic violence in whatever and wherever their future holds. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the Centre into the future,” Ms Opperman said.
Along with Zonta House, Consumer Credit Legal Service and the Department of Communities were recognised for their consistent involvement in the program and their commitment to giving UWA students opportunities to gain experience in professional settings while making a meaningful contribution to projects that have a positive social impact.
Since starting with a handful of internships in 2016, the McCusker Centre for Citizenship internship program has facilitated more than 3,600 internships with hosts in the not-for-profit and community, local government and public sectors.
Michelle Scott OAM, McCusker Chair of Citizenship at UWA, said that industry partnerships gave students a unique practical learning experience that also built up their motivation and capacity to act as responsible and caring citizens.
“Our partner organisations give students opportunities to put what they are learning at university into practise in a way that benefits the community, and 97% of students as well as their supervisors say they would recommend the program as a worthwhile experience,” Ms Scott said.
“Zonta House staff have been an enriching and insightful part of a meaningful university degree for our students, and we are grateful to have their support for this unique program.”