I’m Mia, a final-year Law and Physics student at UTS, and interned with Eleanor at the USU for two weeks as part of the Union Summer program.

I applied for Union Summer because I’ve been very involved in activism at uni, so the idea of continuing on to a corporate law career where the priority is solely on meeting billables and making profit seemed increasingly unappealing. Coming from working in the student union at UTS, I hoped that I could find another professional environment that offered meaningful, progressive work in line with my values.

One of the things I valued most about my internship at the USU was the chance to shadow a wide range of people and gain a broad understanding of both the challenges and rewards of working in the union. Two experiences stood out in particular: attending the Industrial Relations Commission with Joel and shadowing Valentina in early childhood education centres.

Shadowing Joel in the IRC gave me a greater understanding of the combined legal and interpersonal aspects of the industrial officer role. Although the matter before the Commission centred on legal interpretations of ‘harsh, unreasonable or unjust’ and considered mitigating factors for serious misconduct, it also relied heavily on strong interpersonal skills and clear communication with the member, the Commissioner, and the respondent. This experience truly showed me the profound impact the USU can have on its members’ lives and wellbeing, and the responsibility to act fairly, transparently, and in the best interests of both the union as a whole and its members.

I also felt this responsibility acutely while shadowing Valentina in early childhood education centres across Cumberland City Council. Workers in these centres shared the many challenges that they face, such as shamefully low pay, poor ratios between staff and children, minimal (and unpaid) breaks, burnout and a lack of societal recognition of their role as educators rather than babysitters. Despite how sad it was to hear these challenges, Valentina’s commitment to listening to staff, recognising the unfairness and injustice of their working conditions, and empowering them to believe that a fairer system is possible made me feel hopeful and inspired.

Something that surprised me during my time at the USU—although it now seems obvious—was just how essential recruitment and membership retention are. This stood in stark contrast to my experience at the student union, where membership was automatic for every enrolled student. At the USU, I’ve seen firsthand that organising campaigns and negotiating better conditions are only part of the work. Just as important is the ongoing effort to make strong impressions on members and non‑members, showcase the union’s achievements, and keep people engaged, informed, and empowered to drive change in their workplaces.

This is vital work that I hadn’t previously recognised, and I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to shadow such passionate and committed organisers at the USU.

Overall, I am finishing my internship at the USU with a passion for trade unionism and a renewed hope for a career in pragmatic and meaningful systemic and individual advocacy. Union Summer was a fantastic experience, and I hope to be back in the trade union environment soon!