Global experiences

I was lucky enough to be afforded the opportunity to attend the Washington Internship Institute in Fall 2018. This experience allowed me to complete an internship and study in Washington D.C simultaneously. My chosen internship placement was at the World Affairs Council-Washington D.C which is a non-profit and non-partisan organization dedicated to facilitating collaboration throughout the global education and international affairs community by hosting an array of educational events. My internship centred around working closely with the CEO & President to organise prestigious events at venues such as the Pakistan and Afghanistan Embassies. During these events, there were opportunities to network with some of the United States’ most elite professionals such as lawyers, politicians and journalists. One of the subjects I took as part of my study was Global Women’s Leadership Development which allowed me to expand my perspective on global women’s issues. 

As for the D.C. lifestyle, I can hands down say that moving abroad for five months was the most life-changing and eye-opening experience of my life. It is one experience to travel with family and friends but it is a completely different experience to travel on your own. My time in D.C. was beyond amazing from the life-long friends I made to the never-ending list of tourist attractions there are to see, it is a city that quickly captures your heart. Whilst completing my internship, I was able to travel to places such as New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. I was even lucky enough to be welcomed into my friend’s family in San Francisco for Thanksgiving which is an experience I will never forget. If you are looking to study abroad but also want something professional and prestigious to add to your resume, applying for the Washington Internship Program is a must do – you will not regret it!

My experience with the Washington Internship Institute was the most memorable, exciting, challenging, and motivating element of my Bachelor of Journalism degree so far. Spending five months in the world’s centre of Western politics and reporting on the tumultuous year that was 2016 taught me more about being a reporter than I ever knew before. Studying and working internationally seemed daunting before I left Australia, but the streamlined and simple process of securing a placement, combined with the assistance the WII staff give each individual student in the program really makes you feel at ease. 

I interned at the Daily Caller News Foundation – a political news website – in the heat of the 2016 Presidential Election. This meant that I always had work to do in the office – there was hardly a dull day – and that the work to do was professionally satisfying. The program itself offers students a tonne of opportunities to go out and see the beautiful city of D.C. Some highlights for me was going to a baseball game, visiting the National Archives and Newseum, and the many nights of drinks and food hosted by the WII team. I’d recommend this program to anyone interested in politics.

In September 2016, I travelled to Thessaloniki, Greece to intern with an anti- human trafficking organisation, The A21 Campaign. My primary role at A21 involved working in a shelter for female victims of human trafficking, who had been exploited sexually or into slave labour. The women living at the shelter were from various parts of Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East. My internship also required me to co-write the Greek contribution to the 2017 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, which will be released early next year. This report is compiled and published yearly by the US Department of State and is vital in tracking and understanding human trafficking globally. Through this internship I was also able to attend Greek refugee camps and help to educate the refugees about the risks of human trafficking. The three months I spent in Greece were life changing. Through this experience I have gained perspective, knowledge, and a fierce drive to continue in the fight against human trafficking.

Working at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP), Switzerland was a truly incredible experience. GCSP provides high-level training courses for current professionals, hosts important multilateral discussions, and is a dynamic hub for research and innovation. As GCSP is home to numerous experts and is frequented by active professionals from government, NGOs, and academic institutions, fantastic networking opportunities are available. During my internship I engaged with leading professionals and academics, from political advisors, to Ambassadors, to Professors of International Law.

Staying in Geneva also provided me with the opportunity to improve my French language skills and learn about the Swiss culture. My internship with GCSP has intensified my passion for International Relations and, by allowing me to immerse myself in this field, has crystallised my plans for my future career.

I was an intern with the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The Wilson Center is a non-partisan think tank, which devotes itself to engaging intellectuals in thoughtful, productive and unexplored debate. As a scholar intern, I divided my working week between two senior scholars.

Overall the Washington Program greatly enhanced my student experience. Academically, I have been able to develop writing, research, and analytical skills, which are all crucial for any graduate position. Additionally, for professional growth, working in Washington D.C. was unprecedented. Washington D.C. is a dynamic place, hosting a large concentration of influential policy makers, academics and legislators, therefore any event provided the perfect opportunity to network and foster working relationships from leading experts in various fields, which are invaluable for future career connections.

I spent three months in Washington D.C. as part of the Washington Internship Institute, where I interned and studied part time. I worked for the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, a non-profit that aims to eradicate child abduction, sexual abuse, and exploitation around the world. In my role as a research intern I was assigned to a project where I researched national and international laws and legislative deficiencies surrounding child sexual abuse. I particularly focussed on the Australia/Pacific and African regions. The internship developed my interest in human rights and helped me realise that I want to pursue a career in policy when I graduate next year. 

D.C itself is a city full of history and culture, there is just so much to do and explore! I spent my weekends visiting museums, monuments and art galleries and was also able to travel interstate to New York City and Boston. One of the subjects I took was a U.S Politics and Policy class which I felt really developed my world view and helped me gain a better understanding of issues in world politics today. To be in the heart of the nation’s capital, especially during the 2016 Presidential Election, will be something I will never forget. The WII program is fantastic because you live and study with other interns from all over the world, so you can expand your professional networks and make lifelong friends. This was a once in a lifetime experience that I couldn’t recommend highly enough to Bond students who want to study and work abroad during their degree.

I worked at the Austrade office in Paris for three months. This was one of the most challenging and eye-opening experiences of my whole degree. The Austrade office is in the Australian Embassy which is in a fantastic location, complete with stunning Eiffel tower views. The team is small and I was the only intern. This meant that I was able to work closely with all ‘Austraders’, including the Senior Trade Commissioner, and was able to make a valuable contribution to the team. Everyone in the office speaks both French and English which provided a great opportunity to practice my language skills. Working at the Embassy meant that I also got an insight into the work of the Defence, DFAT and Consular Departments. 

Being based in Paris meant that there was no shortage of activities to do after work or on weekends. I tried to make as many weekend trips as possible to see the rest of Europe, but some of my favourite weekends were spent exploring different arrondissements in Paris to get a sense of their individual personalities.

I would highly recommend this internship to anyone with an interest in international relations.

During my time at Kang & Company, I had the pleasure of working with various legal practitioners over a 2 week internship. Despite the professional environment, the legal practitioners created a learning space that allowed me to ask questions and learn more about the unique issues that each client presented. The internship allowed me to observe various areas of immigration, criminal and family law. I was fortunate to gain an understanding about initial client interviews, preparation for hearings/court, drafting affidavits, client billing, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and many others. Further, I was able to attend hearings at the Immigration Board of Canada and observe the legal practitioners in action (pictured below).    

I can testify that the internship at Kang & Company was a valuable experience and I would recommend it to any Canadian student studying at Bond! 

I commenced a six-month internship with King & Wood Mallesons’ Shanghai office in February 2018 with the support of a New Colombo Plan Scholarship. This internship has undoubtedly enhanced my professional and personal development whilst strengthening my aspiration to develop Australia’s legal dialogue with the Asia-Pacific. Working in the Corporate and Securities Department, with a focus on agribusiness, blockchain, mergers and acquisitions, my role focused on commercial matter management. Key responsibilities included preparing briefs for counsel, drafting agreements, maintaining correspondence with clients, and legal research. Highlights of my internship include presenting blockchain presentations to universities and advising LexisNexis on its acquisition of a Chinese internet provider. The internship also provided me with a stellar environment to practice Mandarin.

Interning with King & Wood Mallesons has inspired me to develop the necessary skills and education to evolve alongside the Asian Century, and indeed be a part of its growth. Importantly this experience, coupled with the excitement and confronts of living in Shanghai, has allowed me to master the cultural and economic challenges of living in a foreign country. I have explored one of the world’s most dynamic and fast-paced cities, eaten the best Chinese food (notably dumplings), and made life-long friends. I cannot recommend an overseas internship highly enough.