News

Lyndelle Lawrence
Public relations editorial intern
Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia

Four Avondale College students will receive not only academic credit but also pay as part of a new professional internship program that begins next year.

The internships will offer at least eight hours of paid work a week over nine to 12 months. Wages will be at a student market rate and hours will be flexible. Currently, only students majoring in accounting, communication and marketing can apply.

"It's an opportunity to put what we learn in class into a practical perspective," says Jessica Ward, a final-year Bachelor of Arts (communication) student who is the first to benefit from the program. She works 12 hours a week in the Brand and Communications Department of Sanitarium Health Food Company. "[The work here] fits in well with my classes," she adds.

The program is an initiative of Bruna Tawake and Don Dickins, both lecturers at Avondale, and Korey Dowling, the employment promotions officer for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific. His department is funding the internships and offering them in conjunction with Adventist Media Network (AMN) and Sanitarium. Only four are available-one in accounting, communication and marketing at Sanitarium and one in communication at the media network.

"Paid internships help us build relationships with students right from the start," says Korey. "We can interact with them while they're learning-and learning on the job is one of the most valuable experiences." The aim is to employ students over the long term. "Completing an internship is not a guarantee of employment, and students are under no obligation to accept an offer, but it will provide a point of difference," says Korey.

According to Bruna, who is also the communication professional internship coordinator at Avondale, the internships will help students gain practical experience, develop strong portfolios and make important connections in the industry. "They will have a resume and will have been successful at a job interview well before they graduate," she says.

Eligible students must apply for an internship by Friday, June 12. Contact Bruna or Don for application forms.

Caption: Jessica Ward is completing a paid internship at Sanitarium Health Food Company as part of her communication course. Four Avondale College students will receive similar opportunities each year from 2010.
Credit: Keryn Walsh