Chapter 4

Australian National Internships Program

Director of Program

The Australian National Internships Program provides senior undergraduates with the opportunity to undertake, for academic credit, a designated research project within the workplace. Students may be from any Australian or overseas university, from any discipline (former interns have been students of political science or policy studies, communications or information technology, economics or commerce, law, geography, science, Asian or European studies, development studies, environmental studies, social work, linguistics, sports studies, music).

All placements are in Canberra, for approximately ten weeks; the possibilities are with:

• the Commonwealth Parliament (with a Senator, Member, parliamentary committee or parliamentary department);
• the Australian Public Service (with government departments or statutory authorities, such as the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or Environment Australia);
• the ACT Legislative Assembly and ACT Public Service; or
• non-government peak and community organisations (these range from industry associations such as the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the National Farmers Association or the Motor Trades Association of Australia, to organisations such as the Australian Council for Overseas Aid, CARE Australia or Greening Australia ).

Prerequisites

Students are admitted by a Selection Committee which meets twice a year (November and June). Minimum requirements are that students are in their third year of academic study and that the internship will be officially credited to their degree by their home university.

Students therefore need to consult and obtain permission from their course adviser or a letter of cross-institutional support.

Internship A INTN3004
(18 units)

Semester 1 and Semester 2

Principal Lecturer: Dr Campbell

Syllabus: This course is most suitable for undergraduates and overseas students and others with little knowledge of the Australian political system. Students complete course work on the policy making process during the fifteen week semester and a placement for approximately two and a half days a week over a ten week period, backed by a weekly workshop.

Assessment: A written or oral presentation on the course work; a research report to a maximum of 8,000 words; an oral presentation on the research report; and a reflective essay.

Internship B INTN3005
(12 units)

Semester 1 and Semester 2 and Inter-Semester (Winter)

This course is especially suitable for Honours students or those completing joint degrees. There is no coursework component. Following an orientation program the Internship placement is for ten weeks.

Internship C INTN3006
(18 units)

Semester 1 and Semester 2 and Inter-Semester (Winter)

This course is especially suitable for Honours students or those completing joint degrees, who wish to complete a significant project. There is no coursework component. Following an orientation program the Internship placement is for ten weeks.