More than 650 organizations have now partnered with the McCusker Centre for Citizenship (the Centre) since its internship program began in 2016, and Path of Hope was one of three organizations acknowledged today for their ongoing commitment to the Centre’s internship program.
Joining the program as a partner organization in 2022, Path of Hope has now hosted 63 student interns, providing them with the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to work advocating for a world without domestic and family violence and corporal punishment of children.
Path of Hope founding and current Chairman, Rebecca Tolstoy AM, and the Honorable Judi Moylan AO were presented with a certificate recognizing the organization’s outstanding contribution by the Honorable Malcolm McCusker AC CVO KC and His Honour Judge Denis Reynolds.
“Interns have done outstanding work in roles covering social and policy research, IT and data analysis, events and marketing, and more,” Ms Tolstoy said.
“Our partnership with the McCusker Centre for Citizenship at UWA has been a remarkable opportunity to nurture the next generation of socially conscious leaders. When leadership is so well delivered on the front lines, as we see from the McCusker supervisors, it reflects the strong and inspiring leadership of the McCusker Centre itself – from its founders, the Honorable Malcolm McCusker AC CVO KC and Mrs Tonya McCusker AM, and its Advisory Committee, to Michelle Scott OAM, McCusker Chair in Citizenship at UWA,” she said.
Brigitte Brink, majoring in Law and Society in her Bachelor of Arts study, interned with Path of Hope and stayed on as Internship Program Manager and Coordinator, as well as continuing to undertake legal research for the organization.
“My internship with Path of Hope was a huge steppingstone in my professional life. As a second-year law student I didn’t expect to gain this level of experience or networking so early in my studies. It helped me build meaningful relationships with people across the not-for-profit and legal sectors and gave me clarity about the kind of impact I want to make through my future career,” she said.
Michelle Scott OAM, McCusker Chair of Citizenship at UWA, said that she was extremely grateful to Path of Hope for providing students with the chance to apply what they are learning at university in professional settings, and to see how they can make a practical contribution in an area of great need.
“We have now had almost 5,000 UWA students undertake internships through our program, and 97 percent say they would recommend it to their peers. The growth and impact of the program has been possible because partner organizations, like Path of Hope, fully support our students,” Ms Scott said.
In addition to Path of Hope, the Commissioner for Children and Young People WA and disability services social enterprise, Intelife, were acknowledged at the event.
Image: Rebecca Tolstoy AM, and the Honorable Judi Moylan AO (centre-left and centre-right) accept a certificate of appreciation, presented by the Honorable Malcolm McCusker AC CVO KC CitWA, Judge Denis Reynolds AM, Professor Guy Littlefair, UWA Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience, and Professor Tim Colmer, UWA Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor (left to right).
Source: McCusker Centre for Citizenship