Barring Djinang internship program

About the program

This Barring Djinang initiative is designed to connect Victorian public sector agencies with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander university students looking for paid work experience.

The summer program runs for 12 weeks between November 2022 and February 2023.

The Commission will be the central point of contact for the program and will help you find an intern based on your needs.

We work with CareerTrackers to match you with interns that fit your needs and their interests.

How the program works

CareerTrackers will:

• match you with appropriate candidates
• promote internship opportunities to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students
• provide work readiness training to students, pre-internship
• match interns with a Student Advisor for support
• help interns create a professional development plan and set goals
• provide professional development training and workshops following the internship
• host interns at the 3-day Leadership Development Institute conference (in person or online pending on the latest directives from the Minister for Health).

You will:

• review student CVs and conduct an interview(s) with your candidate(s)
• onboard your intern as an employee of your organisation
• allocate a buddy and mentor to provide support
• set clear expectations and work goals
• engage your intern in meaningful work
• set up regular check-ins and provide regular feedback
• complete a performance evaluation at the end of the internship
• be available to your intern when they need you
• attend program events or professional development workshops as required.

Before your intern starts we will provide:

• a manager briefing session
• a program guide including the intern’s learning and development schedule
• Aboriginal cultural awareness training.

During the program we will:

• run weekly virtual networking events
• run professional development workshops
• check-in with you and your intern regularly
• host welcome and end of program events for interns and managers.

Program costs

Program costs include the intern salary and the annual program fee, per intern.

Intern salary costs

Interns are employed at VPS grade 2.1.1 or equivalent for a 12-week summer internship placement:

• $12,793 plus overheads (effective 1 June 2022) per intern for summer placement
• an optional 4-week winter internship placement at an additional $4,264 plus overheads (effective 1 June 2022).

Annual program fee

The annual program fee per intern is $10,500 (including GST).

This includes:

• Aboriginal cultural awareness training for your intern’s manager
• welcome event and end of program event
• weekly one-hour virtual networking and professional development events for interns led by the VPSC
• Leadership Development Institute sessions/conference led by CareerTrackers for interns
• program day event attendance including professional development and training.

Key dates

The summer program runs for 12 weeks between November 2022 and February 2023.

• Submit your expression of interest by 5pm 16 September 2022
• Shortlist and start interviews by 21 October 2022
• Onboard your intern by 4 November 2022
• Internship period 22 November 2022 to 11 February 2023

Contact us

If you have any questions you can get in touch at aboriginal.employment@vpsc.vic.gov.au or on 0409 524 686.

Find out more about our program partner at CareerTrackers.