Beth Lyon
Last year I graduated from the University of the Sunshine Coast with a Bachelor in Animal Ecology with a minor in Environmental Health and Coastal and Marine Environments. After graduating I was left with the overwhelming feeling that it was time to use the qualifications, I had spent the last three years studying for to start my career. Doing my daily job searching an ad came up for an internship opportunity at the Sunshine Coast Council in the sustainability sector. At first, I skipped past this ad as I immediately thought it wasn’t directly related to my degree and I was highly unlikely to be successful. Looking back on the last 12 weeks I am so grateful to my past self for stepping out of my comfort zone and applying.
From the beginning of this journey, I have been welcomed and supported from all staff and my supervisor has encouraged and supported me to perform at a high standard. I was hired to work on a waste management plan for the Nambour Showgrounds and develop any supplementary documents that associate to it. Although waste wasn’t my specialty before this internship, I used my passion for wildlife to relate how waste management effects our coastal and marine environments and the organisms that live within it. This experience has taught me a multitude of professional skills including benchmarking, consultation, community outreach and the fundamentals of working in a corporate environment. I have consulted with key stakeholders that are both internal and external to the company which is a skill that I never learnt or demonstrated throughout my degree. It additionally allowed me to further develop some critical skills including effective communication and delivery, report writing and identifying key policies and legislation. On a personal level this experience has been extremely beneficial, it has increased my confidence immensely and taught me to step out of my comfort zone to create opportunities where they may not have been present before. Ultimately this internship presented me with a transition from education to applying these skills in a professional environment.
The My Summer Workplace Internship is ultimately an opportunity for University students and graduates to gain professional experience and industry placement. From my time here, I can only say positive things about the work environment and values that this organisation has offered and I one day hope that I can work for this organisation again. My best piece of advice for anyone considering applying for a position is to step out of your comfort zone and give it a try.
Emma Dolan
I am in my final year of a Master of Museum Studies at the University of Queensland. During my time at council, I worked with the Cultural Heritage Services team at Bankfoot House and Landsborough Historical Museum. I applied for the internship hoping for more hands-on experience in the workplace, particularly as I was unable to get a lot of practical experience during my university experience due to online learning.
During my time with the Cultural Heritage Services team, I was able to get more experience with many essential skills in the cultural heritage sector. I worked at two very different museums at a historic house museum and a regional historical museum. I assisted in the setup of two exhibitions at Bankfoot House’s Mary Grigor Centre, the Christmas exhibition and the Women of Bankfoot House exhibition. I also had the opportunity to work with a conservator and a museum development officer at Landsborough Historical Museum.
The Cultural Heritage Services team was very supportive throughout the internship, helping me to get the most out of the internship. They helped me gain experience in areas I hadn’t been able to work on before and were always willing to answer any questions I had.
The My Summer Workplace internship was an invaluable experience. I gained new skills and new connections through the internship and I will be in a much better position when I graduate because of my opportunity at the council.
Hayley Rowan
I have a Master of History as well as a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education. After twenty years working in front of a classroom, I decided it was time for a change and embark on a career in the museum and heritage sector.
The opportunity to apply for the internship was presented while I was working as a casual employee in the cultural heritage sector, as a way for me to gain more hands-on experience in a museum environment. Through-out the internship, I have had the opportunity to engage with industry professionals including a conservator and museum development officer, as well as harness the expertise of my supervisor and ‘buddy’ to expand my understanding and knowledge. A vast array of experiences was provided including:
• Writing an Exemption Certificate and an Interpretive Plan for a community museum.
• Understanding and utilising Conservation Management Plans, Preservation Needs Assessment, Significant Assessment and Paint Analysis documentation to guide heritage decision making processes.
• Designing museum exhibition layouts using the latest software apps.
• Working with museum volunteers to understand their collection and contribute to enhancing community interaction with the collection.
• Installing an exhibition.
It was incredibly rewarding to put my research and writing skills to the test, as well as bring across my transferrable skills as a teacher. Working in cultural heritage also challenge my own pre-conceived ideas of what constitutes heritage and affirmed already held beliefs on engaging the community in being a part of the storytelling of their own history. The breadth of knowledge the SCC cultural heritage team possesses meant I knew I was learning from industry leaders, and they were extremely giving with their time and energy, always willing to answer any questions I had (even the silly ones!).
Engaging as a MSW Intern is one of the best things I have done. Internships are not just for young university graduates; they are open to everyone and are a great opportunity to start a new career path. The knowledge and experience I gained during my time with SCC have given me the confidence to continue my journey in the cultural heritage sector and proves you can teach an old dog new tricks!
James Hegedus
Before commencing my final year of my civil engineering degree, I was searching for professional practice because I was adamant about getting experience of what the professional industry was going to be like. After coming across the ‘My Summer Workplace’ program and reading what it involved, I instantly was interested in the opportunity. I initially hadn’t thought of completing an internship at a council, however, upon researching, I was overwhelmed with the diversity of opportunities and prospects to try things I never have before. Upon receiving the position, I was very excited to embark on the 12-week journey within the project delivery sector to understand what the real-world industry looks like.
Upon my arrival on the first day, I was met with so many smiling faces and I was overwhelmed with how many people gave their time to give me advice and make me feel welcome. During my short time working in council, I have gained knowledge and transferable skills that have far surpassed my expectations. Although my internship was project delivery and project finalisation based, I was pleased to be involved with the civil projects and project inspector side of things which allowed me to visit current project sites and experience opportunities that weren’t necessarily in my area of work at the council. The main highlights of my time within council would have to be the various site visits I undertook and being able to shadow the project inspectors and understand and learn what they do on a day-to-day basis. The ability to be able to go out on site and comprehend real world project situations first-hand was very helpful and relatable to my university degree. I have also been able to make several industry connections which I will be able to stay in contact with for the rest of my professional career.
The main role I was involved in was finalising the projects after completion. I mainly focused on Bus Stops, Pathway and Fencing projects throughout the 10 Council Regions. I would complete a finalisation checklist and send it to capital works finalisation for approval. I learnt that this is a vital part of every project and must be completed correctly. I was surprised by the amount of freedom and trust my team gave me to complete my day-to-day tasks. I utilised Excel every day, and now I feel very confident in my ability. Throughout this internship I also learnt my personal strengths and weaknesses which I was able to improve over the course of the 12-weeks. The skills I have learnt in my time here have complemented my university studies and provided me with significant corporate exposure.
I have learnt a lot in these past 12-weeks, and I didn't expect to gain such a deep understanding. My chosen career path of engineering has been cemented over these past few months and I have the whole Project Delivery team to thank for making my time at the council one of the best experiences I’ve had.
Mali Davis
I am currently in my fourth year of a double Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Journalism at the University of Queensland.
I was very excited to be given the opportunity to work within the communications branch in the Office of the Mayor and CEO, during the summer as a part of the My Summer Workplace Program.
The team were wonderful and very welcoming. They trusted me to have a go at as many different jobs and portfolios within the branch as possible during my internship.
The work was a perfect chance to employ my combination of two degrees, and I learnt so much in a short period of time.
During my time in the Communications Branch, I wrote media releases, responded to media enquires, worked on the 2022 State of Our Region project, monitored council’s social media channels and liaised with a variety of project teams to communicate their brilliant work to the public.
It was a fantastic opportunity to work within a Local Government organisation and gain invaluable industry experience.
I am very grateful for my time in the My Summer Workplace program and would recommend it to anyone interested in gaining industry experience in their chosen field.