Local University students are being encouraged to join the over 1300 interns who have gone through the Victorian Parliament’s Parliamentary internship program.
Applications for the 34th year of the program will need to be submitted before the cut-off date of February 9.
The program is a 12-week placement for students in their third year of political science studies at a participating university. Interns are matched with a Member of Parliament to create a 6,000-word research report providing valuable information about policy or matters relating to the electorate.
28 years ago, local Nationals MP Gaelle Broad graduated from the program and credits her time in the program as when she found her ‘spark’ for politics. Broad is urging local and interested students to apply.
Last year, Broad was partnered with Pascal Samfat from the Australian Catholic University. Samfat took the opportunity to research how regional towns were impacted by the 2022 Victorian floods. Pascal’s research report was titled – We Cannot Go Through This Again: Climate Change Resilient Recommendation for Flood Mitigation in Echuca and Rochester. During the program, Pascal attended public hearings, met locals in flood-affected towns, and examined 875 public submissions.
Broad says Pascal’s ambition was contagious.
“It was great to celebrate Pascal’s success at the graduation ceremony with his mum Sharon and Aunty Dana,” Broad said.
The program has now hosted more than 1300 interns.
