Students@Work connecting students to meaningful work experience

The Students@Work Internship program was introduced in 2017 and matches University of Melbourne students with meaningful professional work opportunities across the University to develop their skills and work experience.

Having an impact on students and the University community 

The program is designed so that the students contribute their experiences, perspectives and new skills and knowledges, like skills with new technologies, back into the core operations of the University. Their voice is valued in these programs and their insights can help inform work that impacts students.

The internships help set students up for success in their professional lives after university. They get firsthand insight and experience within professional roles, helping them learn about future careers they might pursue and develop their skills for this future.

Yasindu Athauda, a former Students@Work intern who completed his internship within the Melbourne Accelerator Program in 2022 and is now part of the Strategy and Operations Graduate Program at SEEK, had a fantastic experience with the program which has helped lay the groundwork for launching his professional career.

‘For students looking to take that first step into the workforce, this program can be a real differentiator. It not only builds confidence and capability but also allows you to make an impact within the University community and beyond’ Yasindu said.

Broad roles to build confidence

The Students@Work internship structure of ‘work streams’ is designed to place students into function based roles which are deliberately broad.

The roles help students make informed decisions about their future and career direction. Some students even find it beneficial to understand where they do or don’t want to go in their careers which helps them refine or change their majors, or even degrees.

‘The dynamic environment helped me gain clarity around the types of roles and environments I enjoy working in.’ - Yasindu.

Learning at every step of the internship

Every part of the internship provides a learning experience for students. The program recently updated their application process to be more like the application processes used across industry. There’s a key selection criteria component, video interview and often a task they need to do, which is based on activities they would do in the internship.

This all helps the program to make better suited matches with students and University managers and gives students real world experience, examples and feedback on how to apply for jobs in the future.

Students are also supported with activities, drop-in’s and workshops designed by career specialists during the application process and have professional development structured into their internship to help build in-demand skills like communication, teamwork and interpersonal skills.

‘The advice and mentorship I received from my managers also helped in making the transition to full-time work smoother and less daunting. The application process was also my first exposure to a rigorous assessment process - familiarising myself with the format and different types of interviews was incredibly useful in building my confidence for future job applications. ’- Yasindu.

Opportunities for students who haven’t had work experience before 

The Students@Work internship program is a competitive program, but one of their objectives is to make sure that students who haven’t had work experience before are able to get these opportunities. Students with the most experience are not necessarily the ideal candidate and grades and qualifications are not part of the criteria.

Building community and being recognised for their work 

Another focus of the program is to create social connection, so that students can network, get to know and support each other and create a welcoming community. The community is student led which has helped it flourish, with students really engaging within the community and sharing a sense of responsibility for it. Interns can volunteer to become a Leadership Committee member to run this community and develop their people leadership skills.

The paid internship recognises the importance of intern contributions and provides financial support to students. They can also be accredited with a Melbourne Plus community engagement credential and apply to have the internship recognised within their studies.

‘These experiences helped me better understand how to operate in a professional environment, manage my time effectively, and contribute meaningfully as part of a team—skills that continue to serve me in every role I’ve taken on since.’ - Yasindu.

Other opportunities and ways to learn more 

If the internship isn’t suitable for hiring managers’ needs, or they have more immediate needs, Students@Work also offers a service to place students in casual work across the University.

If you are a current University of Melbourne student who is interested in becoming an intern you can keep up to date with the program by signing up to the mailing list. University managers can recruit interns or casuals by visiting the S@W SharePoint site.