Information

What is an internship?

An internship is a temporary learning experience hosted by a company. The nature of the internship position is determined by the educational background, qualifications, and experiences of the intern. It’s important to note that an internship is not a form of employment, but rather a vital educational component within the intern’s academic journey.

Internships are conducted voluntarily, with the primary emphasis on training and skill enhancement for the intern. To meet the criteria of an appropriate unpaid internship, it’s recommended to refer to the Fair Work Ombudsman website, where specific characteristics are outlined:

  1. What is the nature and purpose of the arrangement? It should focus on a learning experience where the arrangement involves meaningful learning, training and skill development.
  2. How long is the arrangement for? The internship should be on a temporary basis and not for an extended period.
  3. How significant is the arrangement to the business? The role of an intern should not be integral tasks for the operation of the business. The intern may do some productive tasks as part of their learning experience, training or skill development.
  4. What are the person’s obligations?
    • the role is primarily observational and,
    • the expectation or requirement to perform such activities is incidental to that learning experience and not primarily for the operational benefit of the business or organisation.
  5. Who benefits from the arrangement? The main benefit from a genuine unpaid work arrangement should flow to the person undertaking the role. If the business or organisation is gaining a significant benefit from the intern’s work, an employment relationship is more likely to exist.

Internships Down Under maintains best practices and quality standards to ensure a worthwhile internship experience.

We strongly encourage all host companies to closely adhere to the guidelines provided by the Fair Work Ombudsman for a successful and educational voluntary internship.

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Important Information

Insurance

Internships Down Under mandates that every intern possesses their own insurance policy, covering personal liability expenses up to AUD $2 million. Additionally, we highly recommend international applicants to hold medical, travel, and accident insurance.

Visa

All applicants must be permanent Australian residents or eligible for the 417 or 462 Visa. Other suitable visa options can also be considered.

Fees

There is no fee charged to the host company for our service. However, companies are encouraged to cover the intern’s weekly travel expenses or consider offering a stipend.

Duration

The intern chooses their start date, duration, and number of hours per week. While full-time placements are commonly requested, we also accommodate part-time internships to meet specific requirements. We do not operate on set start dates, allowing interns to commence their placements on virtually any Monday throughout the year.

Fields & Industries

Our internship placements span a wide array of fields and industries including Marketing, Event Management, Tourism, Finance, Communication, Logistics, Public Relations, Human Resources, Graphic/Web Design, Information Technology, Engineering, Nursing, Hospitality, Education, Fashion, Online Marketing, Physiotherapy, Architecture, Media, Social Work, Administration, and many more.

University Requirements

Many interns may have university requirements to fulfill. Some of these involve graduation assignments that may require the intern’s full attention for a maximum of two days per week.

Who are the interns?

  • Aged between 18-30 years
  • Comprising both local and international applicants
  • Encompassing school leavers, current course enrolees, or recent graduates
  • Either native English speakers or possess advanced English proficiency
  • Motivated to gain further training in their chosen field

Expectations

As a host company, we request the following expectations be met:

  • Develop a training plan and prepare training objectives for the duration of the internship prior to the intern’s arrival
  • Complete the induction checklist with the intern upon their arrival
  • Provide a structured, supportive, and beneficial experience
  • Offer relevant skills and training aligned with the intern’s learning expectations
  • Treat the interns and the internship program with respect
  • Continuously supervise and monitor the intern’s progress
  • Provide the intern with their dedicated office space
  • Complete a monthly training monitor

Please contact us for any further information, or to initiate the process of hosting an intern, please complete the host company application form. We look forward to facilitating a mutually rewarding internship experience for both host companies and interns.

Apply to Host an Intern