The USU thanks our great winter interns Pooja and Daniel who explain here why they were inspired to apply for these internships:
Pooja: Why I Applied for Winter Internship 2024
My motivation to apply for the Winter Union Internship with Unions NSW stems from a deep-seated passion for safeguarding the rights of migrant workers and student workers. This passion was ignited by the experiences of a close family member who migrated to Australia with dreams of a better life, only to be exploited and mistreated in her workplace.
I vividly remember the helplessness I felt as a 10-year-old witnessing her struggle as she was being exposed to hazardous chemicals, being paid below minimum wage, and facing discrimination, all while she tirelessly worked to build a future for herself and her children. It was a profound awakening for me, realising the injustices that vulnerable workers like her faced and the urgent need for effective advocacy and protection.
My journey into understanding the pivotal role of unions in protecting worker rights began when I joined the Labor party and became active in university leadership. Working as an Electorate Officer for the Hon. Michelle Rowland MP further solidified my commitment, leading me to becoming a financial member of the United Services Union.
I understood the importance of unions and their need in Australian society the day I joined USU, as I came to realise the benefits I reaped from my membership. From bargaining for EO salary increases to providing free legal advice, I knew unions (especially the USU) was a powerhouse for collective action and kept their members the forefront of their priorities.
Currently, I am in the Student Representative Council at Western Sydney University working towards establishing a Student Union. The Winter Union Internship represented a crucial opportunity for me to not only delve deeper into the daily operations of unions but to learn firsthand how they champion the rights of their members, something the WSU SRC aims to implement into our future student union.
I am driven by the belief that no worker should suffer exploitation or injustice in silence. Through this internship, I aim to equip myself with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively advocate for and protect the rights of all workers, particularly those who, like my family member, come to this country with hope and determination for a better future. To those who are reading this and not yet union members, join your union as unions are always, by your side.
Yours Sincerely,
Pooja J Zinzuwadia
Proud USU Winter Intern 2024
Daniel: Thrilled to be offered a spot
When expressions of interest for the UnionsNSW Winter Internship went out, I left it until the last minute to apply. I found myself hurriedly typing away at 4:00PM on a drizzly Friday afternoon, trying to conjure up some halfway-coherent responses to the questions that lay before me. It came as something of a surprise then that I found myself not only invited to the group interview, but to a follow-up interview with manager Narelle Rich, where I had the opportunity to state my case as to why I deserved gainful employment. It seemed that the candour of my hastily-assembled application had presented well, and I was thrilled to be offered a spot as one of two USU interns for this round of the internship program.
My time at the USU has been nothing short of fascinating. The USU has always been a Union that has had a large presence in my life; I’ve been a financial member since I began working in a covered industry and its campaigns are highly visible fixtures of the progressive political environment in NSW. The value of the internship, in my opinion, lies in its unique ability to expose you to all the different aspects of work that unions do. One day you might be with the organisers at a worksite, the next may be spent with the industrial officers and then you might be working with the communications department on a new outreach campaign.
For an example of this variety, me and my fellow intern Pooja are travelling to Canberra to put into practice a campaign we have been planning and researching over the first two weeks of the internship. This sort of practical experience is something that the USU is well-equipped to provide with their wide coverage and excellent organisational infrastructure across NSW and the ACT.
Therefore, I strongly encourage any other young people reading to apply for the internship. And, when you’re asked where you’d like to work, tell them that the USU is the place for you!
