AIME for the Best

New environments can be daunting at first, even one that is based at Curtin University. You have the initial introduction to your colleagues, observing the team in which you will be working in, as your internship begins its 1st day.  However, following this quick initiation it seems as if you are thrown into the deep end.  

 

Hi everyone, my name is Libby and I am interning for AIME at the Curtin University campus. Although we are delving into what could be described as the ‘real world’ on training wheels, taking that first step is very exciting.  

AIME (Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience) is a non-for-profit organisation focused on closing the gap on post-schooling opportunities and outcomes for Australian Indigenous students. The mission of AIME is to reach 10,000 Indigenous children by the year 2018, guiding their transition into university, employment or further education or training. It is heart-warming to know that I will be a part of this journey in some small way.

 

If you would like to know more about this wonderful organisation and how it was brought to life, watch this episode of Australian Story, introducing the CEO of AIME, Jack Manning Bancroft. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mt5RxdQRFR4

The first day...

I get a text the day before stating that my first day was to be held at Murdoch University. Always expect the unexpected, plans change and it is our duty to be adaptive to these changes. 

So what do you know, the plans changed once again and after arriving early to be driven to Murdoch, I was notified that my day was to remain at the Curtin office. I was particularly happy about this as I was able to meet my colleagues who were surprised to see me.

After the introductory things were out of the way, I had to put my creative hat on as I was asked to write a pitch targeted towards the John Curtin Leadership students. At first it was a little difficult not knowing the ins and outs of the organisation or the personal jokes that might make a pitch more appealing. In reflection it was a great learning tool, especially after reading the Communication Coordinator’s pitch which gave more insight into the organisation.

What is really exciting is that in October, AIME WA is holding its biggest fundraising event, KiNDLiNG. Events management is my primary major so I am very grateful for this learning experience. I am particularly interested in the media relations aspect of this event, already having started to design social media tiles and a promotional strategy plan. Mind you, graphic design is not my forte but it was nice to practice the 'skills' learnt in Design Computing. You really don't know what will come in handy until you are out in the workplace. Who knows Information Systems 100 might yet come into play as valuable knowledge. 

What I can say about this internship is that it is very casual, yes I wear a AIME T-shirt and Hoodie. However, the colleagues I work with are very dedicated to this cause and are professional when it comes to getting the work done and seeing change happen. I feel privileged to be an intern for an organisation that is focused on helping children and seeking to close the gap between non-Indigenous and Indigenous Australians. 

I am very excited to see how these 20 days pan out, and more excited to learn about and meet the students that AIME so dearly cares for.  

On to New Beginnings

Reflecting back on my journey at Global Hand Charity, it has definitely been a roller coaster ride. I have had my fair share of ups and downs. Public Relations has its good and bad sides.

Interning for a not for profit organisation that has no Marketing or Public Relations department was a BIG challenge. If there was one thing I would have done differently,I would have created a PR Plan to provide more guidance and reach its goals and objectives.

Learning about how there are individuals living in third world communities that do not have the opportunities to education like Australians do. It did make me realise how lucky I am have the chance to go to school and freedom to choose my career path.

I did go through a period where I felt like my motivation and purpose interning at Global Hand charity was at a lost. Not knowing what I was doing was actually helping the charity or if the work I was completing was indeed PR.

Public Relations is something that organisations should view as a professional service.They do not understand the nature and benefits of what it can do. You can work on any budget or no budget, and get the same results if you approached an advertising or marketing agency.

This was a great opportunity to see how I could apply my theoretical knowledge to the "real world." And it is safe to say I NEED MORE EXPERIENCE. I would love to experience life in public relations consultancy.

To those who are just starting their internship enjoy every moment, even the bad times.


Thank you kindly,

Maria
15508764.

If It's Not Newsworthy Or Interesting, Don't Bother

Writing a press release is something that every Public Relations practitioner knows how to do.

Interning at a not-for-profit organisation that does not have a Marketing or Public Relations department. Writing and distributing press releases became an important part of my journey at Global Hand Charity.


The difference between a good press release and a bad press release is that good press release ALWAYS GET NOTICED. You may get a phone call from the journalist or publication it was sent to, or stumble upon an article that is similar to a press release you sent out.


I would love to say that my press releases got published, but that was not the case. This experience made re-analyse the current situation of charities and not for profits in Perth. October is the month for Telethon and Breast Cancer Awareness Month. So for a small, lesser known charity it was hard to "compete" with these other charities being more prominent in all media publications.

Every day journalists and newspapers are receiving hundreds of press releases. Only the most interesting and newsworthy ones are chosen.even then if there is no space for a quick story, BAD LUCK.

Although it would have been great to have a press release that I wrote get noticed from a journalists, I did receive get advice from a reporter that changed my focus and look at MY WRITING and see how it can improve.


Until next time,

Maria
15508764.

The time has finally come.. where I must act professional!

Hello Everyone!

My name is Ellen and I am currently in my final year of university studying at Curtin. I major in Public relations and Tourism and Event Management of which I am thoroughly enjoying!

Since year 11 at high school I have wanted to study PR and luckily enough as soon as I started learning it I loved it. Everything about it is so interesting to me and the assignments are never boring!

The tourism industry is also of high interest to me hence why I study it, however PR and event management is my passion and I have very much enjoyed starting my PR 393 internship.

I am currently completing my internship at the Western Australian Farmers Federation. A not-for-profit organisation that represents the voice of farmers throughout Western Australia and works towards a more sustainable future for the agricultural industry.

The role given to me for my internship was a PR coordinator, of which I work alongside a small team consisting of a marketing and events manager and a communications officer. The team I work with are very friendly and I’m learning a lot from them, one of them having actually studied at Curtin University and the other at UWA.

With my studies focusing on events management and PR I have been given the tasks of helping with the development of a social media strategy for an upcoming event held by WA Farmers. With developing many social media strategies in past uni assignments this is not something I am incapable of but rather something I really enjoy doing and thrilled to be able to show my manager what I can do.

My first week at WA farmers was scary and exciting, I was worried they would have high expectations of me that I couldn't fulfill. However once I started working on my tasks I realised this is what I love doing and this is what I’m good at! This caused me only to be more excited for the weeks ahead of more learning and experience. I have a lot to learn about the ways of working in PR in a non-profit industry and I’m sure this experience will be most useful for years down the track. This experience means a lot to me and I want to make the most of it!

I hope everyone else is enjoying their internship and I look forward to reading about them!

The Bager's Leaving and I'm Starting

Not really though.

The honey badger (Nick Cummins) is leaving at the end of this season, but I'm not replacing him, even though it is my preferred position on the left wing.

What I am starting is my first day as a partnership intern at Rugby WA.

Just to give you a bit of background, I have been an intern at Rugby WA since the beginning of the Super Rugby season this year as a match day assistant for all Western Force home games. But now, thanks to my excellent superiors I have a wonderful opportunity for more responsibilities and continual learning and growth.

My day started with updating guest lists and name tags for suites, prepping the half-time giveaways and updating the game day folder. Just some easy tasks to get going as it's what I'm used to doing prior to each game as per my match day assistant duties. 

More responsibilities is what I wanted and it's what I got.
A sponsor had requested new pictures for promotional use, so I selected a few for them to use which kept to the imagery guidelines. This was very important, because you can't single out a player, the Western Force is a team of players not a one man team.

One of the pictures I selected for the sponsor.

Then I was able to write up a post for our Facebook and Twitter to remind fans to use a few hashtags in their pictures on gameday to be featured on the big screen and to win a camera. Which I was able to select the winner for just after half-time. 

A fitting winner and they used the correct hashtags!

I can't think of a better place for me to be doing my placement at. Rugby is a game I love, my boss is great, just like everyone else in the office and I know that I will learn heaps.