News Archive

UWA students have contributed more than 31,000 hours of community service in the first two years of the McCusker Centre for Citizenship internship program.

Medicine student Nic Mattock completed his McCusker Centre for Citizenship internship with PATCHES Paediatrics last year.

He split his 100-hour internship over six months, mostly in the city, where he worked with two other students, on a different program, to start putting together a database on children with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder. He also travelled to the Kimberley with Dr James Fitzpatrick, who leads PATCHES Paediatrics and was conducting outreach clinics.

Nic said coming out to a remote area showed him the difference a diagnosis could make.

“FASD needs a specialist diagnosis, you need a paediatrician to come do it,” Nic said.

“You don’t need to be medically inclined to appreciate the social change the PATCHES team can produce with such limited time and resources — simply bringing the service to the people changes the paradigm of healthcare for these communities.”

Students have taken up McCusker Centre for Citizenship opportunities locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. Two students are currently finishing their internships in New York working with Global Citizen, and Law student, Gabrielle Sumich will travel to London this month to undertake the inaugural McCusker Centre for Citizenship internship with Justice UK.

In just two years, the McCusker Centre for Citizenship has placed 300 students with 250 not-for-profit, community and government organisations to undertake hands-on community work in areas such as homelessness, Indigenous health and mental health.

The internships give students the opportunity to contribute to the community while earning academic credit at the same time.

Applications will open on 6 November for the eighth round of McCusker Centre for Citizenship internships. All postgraduate, undergraduate and international students are eligible to apply and the internships can be undertaken for credit or not-for-credit.

You can find more information about the internship program on the McCusker Centre for Citizenship website here .

Media references

Ailsa Mannell (Communications Advisor) (+61) 6488 7491