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How an Internship Changed My Life
from Issue 91.4
by On Dit
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Internships are important, whether you like them or not, providing you with the opportunity to gain real work experience, exposure to work environments and develop professional skills in your field.
Last year after a mid degree meltdown I decided I needed to pursue an internship and gain some experience before graduating. But I soon found that journalism internships were few and far between, especially in Adelaide, which terrified me.
I found out about CareerTrackers (CT) during a conversation with another student at a morning tea of all things. Over poached eggs (which are gross) they told me all about the program and how it supports Indigenous university students to complete paid internships throughout their degree.
It honestly sounded too good to be true and I jumped at the chance to find out more, registering for the program as soon as they emailed me the link later that week. Fast forward a few weeks later and I’m wandering around Westfield Marion when I get a call from CT welcoming me to the program.
For those that don’t know, CT is an organisation dedicated to supporting pre-professional Indigenous students across Australia by linking them with employers to complete paid, multi-year internships throughout their degree with the aim of securing full-time employment after graduating. The program also provides regular networking events with other CT interns and alumni to broaden your network and meet others in the community. Each student is assigned an advisor who assists them throughout the entire internship process as well as throughout their studies with regular check-ins.
I was soon introduced to my advisor, Patrick, and began preparing to complete an internship in the upcoming summer break. Over tea we discussed potential companies that I could intern with and put together my resume, application and interview gameplan.
TalaraMcHugh
Patrick warned me that journalism specific internships may be hard to come by and that I may have to travel interstate to pursue that avenue if successful in my application. We also discussed interning in related fields such as in the communication teams at a local construction company or Sky City (dodged a bullet there lol).
So when he called me to tell me there was an opportunity to intern with The Advertiser under the mentorship of their Indigenous Affairs reporter (shoutout Doug) I was stoked. CT worked their magic and set up an interview with the editor. The nerves and anxiety kicked into full gear but I pushed through it and scored a summer internship.
my career as a journalist with guidance from my mentor Doug who was also a CT and UoA alumni. While a student, Doug interned at The Advertiser through the CT program and had returned to Adelaide after working across the country as a professional journalist. I was able to learn so much from Doug as an aspiring Indigenous journalist and after years of being the only (to my knowledge) Indigenous student in my journalism classes.
Currently at The Advertiser, Doug and I are the only Indigenous people in the newsroom. As Indigenous people you get used to being the “odd one out” in various situations but it is not something we should accept. Growing up I never saw Indigenous journalists in mainstream media and that needs to change.
CT is all about changing the corporate face of Australia by breaking down barriers preventing Indigenous people from being represented across all levels and in all occupations, industries and workplaces. Indigenous people aren’t always afforded the same opportunities as non-Indigenous people with too many talents going to waste due to the systematic barriers in place which is why I encourage any and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to become part of the CT community and seize the opportunity to take charge of your professional future.
