Parliamentary Internship Program

PARLIAMENTARY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Page: 18082

Mr RICHARD TORBAY (Northern Tablelands—Speaker) [6.34 p.m.]: Today I wish to bring to the attention of the House a very successful joint program between the University of New England [UNE] and the New South Wales Parliament. The Parliamentary Rural and Regional Student Internship Program is being piloted for high-calibre UNE students and is a first for rural and regional New South Wales. I have two of these young interns, Andrew Bekkema, a Bachelor of Business and Law student, and Nicholas Flood, a Master of Business Research student, in the Chamber today and we welcome them to the New South Wales Parliament. The program is funded under a UNE Higher Education Equity Support Program offering students a "hands on" experience in the political and electorate arenas.

One of the main goals is to breach the gap between regional and metropolitan universities. Regional universities offer many advantages and opportunities for students. However, until now, students seeking a real boost for a career in politics through an internship program have been obliged to enrol at metropolitan universities. Until this year, metropolitan universities exclusively provided New South Wales political internships. With the creation of this new Rural and Regional Student Internship Program the UNE has become the flag-bearer for work experience in politics in regional New South Wales. It is the first of its type for a rural university and offers an excellent opportunity for country students wishing to pursue a career in politics.

The program requires the students to work at least 130 hours in an MP's office over a six-month period. During this period they are introduced to electoral and parliamentary procedures as well as being required to take on research projects on regional and State issues. We are currently two months into the program and it is proving to be a great success. Andrew and Nick have responded with great enthusiasm and professionalism and I sincerely hope that this experience will firm up their aim to enter the political sphere, at whatever level. As I understand it, their experience in my busy office has not deterred them and has, in fact, sharpened their ambition. Their positive response and commitment to the program underlines the need for more of these opportunities to be available to students from regional universities.

One of the main benefits is access to a behind-the-scenes experience of how politics is conducted on a daily basis. That provides quite a different perspective from what can be learned through textbooks. As all members of the House would agree, there are many degrees of separation between the academic concept of politics and the day-to-day engagement and time demands on politicians. Part of my role in the program involves acting as a mentor for the two interns. They have travelled with me around the electorate and have attended meetings to address local issues and other events. Recently they gained an insight into the way health services are delivered in country areas at the opening of the new multipurpose health service hospitals at Warialda and Bingara. They learned about the strong community involvement in these projects, the complex political process followed to deliver the new hospitals and the gathering of the community and its political representatives to celebrate their success. It also gave them an awareness of the need for increased and improved health services in rural New South Wales.

My office, like that of many members, is always busy and the students have experienced firsthand the range and scope of matters that come to the desk of a member of Parliament. They also appreciate the crucial value of a well-functioning electorate office, so essential for members in managing the volume of issues, requests and events they encounter on a daily basis. In a large country electorate like the Northern Tablelands I am very often on the road for long periods and rely on my office staff and others to keep me briefed and to follow up issues on my behalf. I have impressed on both interns that the basis of good management is a general without an army is a general of nothing.

Next year the UNE is looking to expand the program into other rural and regional electorates. It is hoping to establish 10 internship placements across the State with regional MPs acting as mentors. This is a positive initiative. I urge members of all political persuasions representing regional electorates to consider signing up, becoming involved in the program and introducing the next generation of politicians to the challenges and rewards of representing regional communities in Parliament. I take this opportunity to congratulate both Andrew and Nick on the professionalism that they have shown while working in my office. I know it will be encouraging to them in whatever aspect of life they wish to pursue in the future—hopefully, in politics.

Mrs KARYN PALUZZANO (Penrith—Parliamentary Secretary) [6.39 p.m.]: I thank the member for Northern Tablelands for outlining the internships being offered at the University of New England. As a former teacher and university lecturer I am aware of the value of continuing education and of engaging young people in the education process. The University of Technology, Sydney also offers an internship. Beth Mulock—members might recognise that surname—the granddaughter of a former Deputy Premier and Attorney General, is conducting research on my behalf in the Connected Classrooms Program and spent today with the Department of Education and Training.

I am sure that Nicholas Flood and Andrew Bekkema, who conduct research in the office of the member for Northern Tablelands, understand the enormity and complexity of the tasks confronting Independent local members. Beth Mulock understands the complexities of a targeted government electorate 50 kilometres away from the central business district—an area that is somewhat outside the Sydney focus. Beth is having a great time in my office. I hope that more universities undertake this valuable internship program. I am sure that Nicholas and Andrew will benefit from the program. Many members informally offer student internships, as I have done in the past. It is wonderful that both the University of New England and the University of Technology, Sydney conduct a formalised program through the education office in Parliament. I commend the program and the students.