FIrst week in Department for Communities!

Hi people!!

I’ve just completed 2 days of placement in the Department for Communities (DFC), under the Community Relations Unit (CRU) this week. I would say that I was lucky enough to have the chance to meet the Minister of Community Service, Child Protection and Seniors and Volunteering on the first day of my internship! I attended a small event of the launch of Seniors Cost of Living Rebate in the early morning of Monday together with my supervisor – Allan. Even though it was just a quick and simple event, I’ve got the chance to see the whole progress of the event.

After the event, Allan and I made our way back to Dumas House, and by then I started my first day as an intern under CRU. A lot of dramas have been going on during the first half day. I was first unable to log in as a staff to the system of DFC using the username and password provided by the IT department. After a few phone calls to the IT department, I’ve made myself logged into the system. However, due to some technical problems, I was then unable to change my password, which I was required to do so to be officially signed in as a staff. After a number of phone calls, FINALLY, I made it! But I was signed in as a staff under the Department of Child Protection rather then DFC. My first half day in DFC has just gone like that after fixing those problems. I was assigned to write up a story for the intranet about the launch in the morning immediately after I was successfully logged into the system. Well, the first task was easy and straightforward. So, I make it as the warm up exercise for the rest of my days in DFC.

Here comes the second day for the placement, I was assigned to assist my partner, another intern, on scratching database to construct a directory. It was an easy task. But everything became so horrible after spending my whole day in front of the small screen and putting in 100 per cent of concentration. After long hours of looking at the screen, I was given the chance to attend the CRU meeting, as well as a chance for my eyes to have some rest. I didn’t contribute much during the meeting since it was only my second day in the department and had just a little clue on all the underway projects. Well, my second day in DFC ended with some stuffing jobs- putting documents and posters into hundreds of envelopes to be delivered to numerous organisations about the coming Seniors Week.

It was busy yet fun working as an intern in DFC! Everyone started to treat me like family, especially Allan! We share our snacks, jokes during work and even walk to the bus stop together every evening after work! Working as a PR intern is so different from studying as a PR student in Uni (more fun at work of course). Hope the others are doing fine like I do, having fun like I do! Good luck people!