Arts and Sciences student completes internship in Vanuatu

An Arts and Sciences student from The University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney recently completed her third year behavioral science internship in Vanuatu. Heather Lynn traveled to Vanuatu with Youth Challenge Australia - a not-for-profit organisation that actively engages Australian volunteers in grass roots community development work. While there, Heather participated in a number of community development projects. Her largest task involved the construction of two classrooms and an office for a local school in Tongoa, Vanuatu. “My internship was unique in that it was a 24/7 experience. Our group of 10 volunteers was immersed in local Vanuatu culture, we lived, ate, and slowly began to talk like the locals. “Upon arrival my preconceived ideas about how I would get things done were quickly thrown to the wayside, and I really learnt to work collaboratively with the community rather than “for” the community. “I was fortunate enough to gain hands-on experience and be given a great deal of ownership towards the projects. It was a great opportunity to apply theoretical concepts learnt at University and the experience motivated me further to pursue a career in community development,” said Heather. The School of Arts and Sciences offers Internships for students in the areas of Arts, Behavioural Science, Communications, Media, Theatre Studies and Politics. Recently an Internship Roundtable at the University provided an opportunity for Heather and other interns to report on their experiences. Internship Coordinator and Politics Lecturer, Mr John Rees, said the Roundtable highlighted the extensive variety of internships experienced throughout the year by the students. “Some of the internships included students working at World Youth Day, media internships at Channel Nine and the ABC and international relations internships at World Bank in Sydney. “The interns of 2008 were the first group from the School of Arts and Sciences to be sent into the work places of Sydney and beyond. By all accounts they were all very worthy ambassadors for the University,” said Mr Rees. Media contact: Moira Saunders 02 8204 440