This past year, I’ve had the chance to intern at ATN Universities, and the practical experience I’ve gained has taught me so much more than a classroom ever could.
Commencing the final year of my bachelor’s degree meant that I had to make choices about the industry I wanted to work in. I was initially drawn to ATN because of its mission to shape policy outcomes and foster equity and inclusion within the higher education sector. These are values that align strongly with my own, and I was excited to learn from the ATN team.
I hit the ground running at the start of my internship, as ATN was preparing for its National Symposium on GenAI Graduate Skills and Employability. This gave me a behind-the-scenes look at how events come together, as well as the role that media and communications play before, during and after such events. The symposium gave me the valuable opportunity to hear from industry experts about AI literacy, and their insights proved to be immeasurable both as a student and as an emerging professional.
Alongside this, I also had the opportunity to contribute to ATN’s advocacy efforts leading up to the 2025 Federal Election. This included a series of podcasts with industry experts discussing the most pressing issues for the new government. I had the chance to identify and research these experts, as well as contribute to the drafting of the podcast episodes. Building on my outreach and professional communication skills, I was also tasked with researching candidates for our Under the Microscope interview series each month. This taught me how to meaningfully engage with various stakeholders, while simultaneously giving me greater insight into the incredible research that our universities do.
This internship has been invaluable in sharpening the skills I’ve learnt throughout my degree, and it has greatly inspired confidence in my ability to contribute to the industry. Throughout the year, I developed skills across various platforms, including honing my Canva and Adobe Creative Suite skills, as well as refining my writing through our newsletters, feature stories, media releases and social media content.
The confidence I have built thus far has largely been shaped by my mentor, Ryan, who has been an amazing teacher throughout the year, and whose leadership and feedback have accelerated my professional growth. This was further enhanced by the wonderful ATN team, who haven’t hesitated to lend an ear when I’ve needed it, whether for work challenges or casual conversations. I’ve felt so welcomed by the team over the last year, and I’m truly sad to leave.
I’m grateful to ATN for giving me this invaluable opportunity, and I’m certain that the next intern will have as amazing of a time as I did.
