Something to take back with me.

Its my final week. Finishing off this Friday.

So far, it has been one of the most eye-opening and fruitful job placement I’ve experienced before. This placement has surpassed my expectation and most certainly the PR 393 unit’s requirement of 20 days. How I wish that I can continue here and work beyond that which was we have to fulfil to get through this unit. Unfortunately, I still have classes and growing workload of assessments to work on for my other 3 units. So I guess its goodbye, for now! We’ll have to see.

As a PR professional, being part of a NFP/NGO has been an experience that I seriously urge each one of you to be part of at least once in your working life! It is really worth a try. The whole nature of it is certainly not as challenging or pressurized in terms of just making profit but because it generates a feeling that makes you “want to do more for the people or cause the organization serve” – well at least this is the case for me. For instance, age care, Red Cross, WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) or even PETA.

Anyways, over my 7 week period at Alzheimer’s Australia (2 weeks of full time and 5 weeks of twice a week) definitely been a learning experience that has broaden my views on PR for an NFP/NGO. My invaluable working experience has also revealed the lifestyle of working in Australia. It is appealing to me as well. It has definitely added as one of my options for my future plans after I graduate.

I can’t cover most of the things that I did but I’ll just point out some updates on the various key highlights for my remaining weeks just to give some insights on the things I’ve learnt.

Pitching stories to media outlet.

I’m guessing some of us have had a couple of opportunities in this area, or perhaps none at all when it comes to calling up news outlets and pitching news to them. This is one of my first experience here in Australia. And guess what, by the next week after pitching they were running the news for us. It was a great feeling. We targeted a few community newspapers such as the Southern Gazette, Canning Times and others. The West too approached us to do some interview feature coverage with some of the families. It all balls down to strategic media management, knowing when and where to send through your news hoping the outlet will publish it. I remember we had to customize each news base on the rationale of the news towards each local community – varies across the suburbs. Some of the stories were different that required us to write separate news for each of them individually.

Technical aspects in PR + networking.

Its all part of the package. Over the weeks, my role was slowly transitioned to take on more technical side of PR that I’d never thought I can or am capable of. Videography and Photography. First was just documenting videos for a choir practice and even a photographer for two major events – Transforming Lives Symposium and the Tea Dance 2009! It was one of the most life changing experience. I got to meet a lot of people, including the Governor of WA himself! Such a privilege. Being a photographer is also one of the easier ways to start with to be at an event. Its because you get to capture all the different things which is in my opinion, a more complete understanding of the event and the people, and meaning of each event. I know it gets pretty philosophical. But it’s true!

Informing Supervisor.

Having such a rich experience already, I’d also had my fair share of humbling moments. Remember when I wrote a blog entry about the facebook pages I helped setup? Well, there was once when I updated some info the night before work and immediately the next day was called to my supervisor’s office. He very politely asked me to check with him first the next time before anything goes onto the page. It’s all about accountability. We always have to acknowledge those above us and check with them. I know we are capable of producing great things for the organization but as I’ve mentioned before, we are still students anyway. J

Check out our facebook page. Become a fan, visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alzheimers-Australia-WA/119152718486?ref=ts

NOTE: Remember also to watch the Memory Walk Promo Video!

I’m now into my final week. More involved than ever. Feeling like I was ready to just take on the working life and be with Alzheimer’s Australia from now on, but first things first – Uni! My final week included writing an entry for the upcoming newsletter and edited the look of our monthly newsletter. I’d also set up a youtube channel for our organization. Here, http://www.youtube.com/user/alzheimerswa

This Friday will be my last day. Perhaps one day I will come back to this great (understatement) organization, serving the community and ultimately dedicated for the betterment of the lives of people living with dementia!

Final words.

I trust that each of us will have at least something to bring back with us during this 20 days or more of working experience. Whether it be paid placement or just that self-funded ones there will be still that priceless experience that one can get through working. Although it may seem that some are better than the other, or a comparison of how lucrative it be but still what matters is the unique experience that each of us go through that makes us different and what makes this world go round! Till next time (or not). Hope you are enjoying your respective placements.

Tata.