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Internship Program

As an Assistant Organiser at the Alliance you will be mentored by a Community Organiser to organise for the common good of international students. The current agenda includes social isolation, work rights, regulating education providers, housing and evictions, welfare and issues relating to international student’s wellbeing. The Alliance has been supporting the creation of Oz International Student Hub, created by international student leaders from different backgrounds to provide a welcome, support and justice.

Your experience will vary widely and you will work in a team with the other interns of diverse cultural backgrounds and with others members in the Alliance network. You will learn about strategy, politics and put into practice the power of community organising.

If you care about power and inequality, human rights and social justice, come and learn how to build and exercise cooperative power.

Interns are tasked with expanding and deepening the relationships, listening and power of the Sydney Alliance. The Alliance internship is unique and will push you in your understanding of relational power, leadership, self-interest and action. You will be asked to put into practice what we reflect and learn in trainings.

You will complete a range of activities that may include administration, research, recruitment, organising, public speaking, writing, media, campaigning, small group facilitation, assembly preparation and execution and research-action meetings with academics, experts, government institutions, private sector and civil society organisations.

For the duration of the internship, you will be encouraged to contribute to discussions and put yourself forward as other leaders in the Sydney Alliance would - except where organisers have explicitly asked you to observe. In those situations, interns are encouraged to think about raising questions and comments in rigorous evaluation of what they have just observed.

Once oriented, interns are expected to contribute independently and need less guidance as the internship progresses, you will be required to be actively participate and engage in your own community. The interns group will be guided through reflections for the first weeks of the placement.

You will be supervised by a Community Organiser and will consult closely with colleagues about different projects.  Interns will be exposed to a wide range of leaders from various faith, union and community sector backgrounds and will be active in neighbourhoods across different parts of Sydney.

Placement responsibilities and expectations:

  • Punctual to all agreed meetings

  • Wear professional dress at all Sydney Alliance meetings

  • Email report activities and hours once a fortnight to the Community Organiser

  • Activities will be completed in a timely manner.  Where issues arise, the intern will speak first with the Organiser or the appropriate staff member

  • Placements are in charge of their own workload, and communicating effectively when they are at or near their capacities. Placements should be aware of deadlines and be active planners and action takers

  • Readings are to be completed before reflection meetings

  • Placements will, in conjunction with Sydney Alliance staff and team leaders, be proactive in advancing the work of the Sydney Alliance in the empowerment of international students

At the end of the internship, placements will:

  • Be competent at relational meetings

  • Be competent at facilitating listening campaigns and online meetings

  • Be able to speak publicly about their story

  • Be able to manage a small team of volunteers

  • Have made a significant contribution to the power and leadership of Sydney Alliance

  • Have developed professional relationships with fellow interns, volunteer leaders and staff and leaders across Sydney

  • Understand mid-range community organising theory and practice and be skilled in explaining how it connects to social work theory and practice

  • Made a significant difference in the future of international education in Australia

  • Graduate and be an alumnus of the Sydney Alliance Internship program

Campaigns and projects you may be involved in:

Compulsory Activities:

  • Interns Induction

  • Sydney Alliance Council Meeting

  • Sydney Alliance Leaders retreat

  • Foundations Training: 2-day training, find out more here.

  • Group Meetings: Initially weekly, then fortnightly check-ins with your supervising Community Organiser

  • Colleagues: Reflection meetings with other interns

  • Taste of organising: Each intern will be asked to demonstrate participation in a team, effort or initiative related to one of the Alliance’s issue areas

  • Graduation: Interns work as a team to organise their own graduation as an “action” supported by Sydney Alliance and Sydney Community Forum

Examples of reflection group readings (readings to be sent):

  • Roots for Radicals, Chapter 1: World as it is, World as it should be. Ed Chambers

  • Roots for Radicals Chapter 2: The Relational meeting. Ed Chambers

  • What is Public Narrative? Marshall Ganz

  • Origins of Organising, Luke Bretherton

  • Tactics, Saul Alinksy

  • Assembling in Solidarity, Austen Ivereigh

Can I participate in this internship as an international student or temporary worker visa?

Yes. The Sydney Alliance has designed this voluntary leadership and education experience within the frameworks of all visa categories. You will be supported by Sydney Alliance’s public liability insurance while acting as a volunteer for the Alliance. The Sydney Alliance is an extremely well recognised civil society organisation working for the common good of all Sydneysiders.

Next Steps:

Please contact us to find out more information or find out about other ways to join us