Parliamentary Internship

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

Total of 340 hours

Students must be undertaking a Major in Politics and International Studies and will have completed 25 points at Level 1 in Politics and International Studies, and 37.5 points at Level 2 in Politics and International Studies.

Enrolment in the BA or GD-ARTS Graduate Diploma in Arts (Politics & International Studies).

An application process applies.

Permission from the Internships coordinator is required prior to enrolling in an internship subject.

Students are required to apply for an internship placement in the semester prior to enrolment.

Application form: http://ssps.unimelb.edu.au/internship-application-form

Students will be notified about the outcome of their application after the release of the results of the semester preceding the internship semester.

Levels 1 & 2 Politics and International Studies

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

In this subject students will have active experience working for a Member of the Victorian Parliament (MP) in the settings of Parliament, the Parliamentary Library, Parliamentary Offices and electorate offices. Each student will complete a research project for a Member of Parliament on a topic of concern and interest to the MP. Academic supervision and support is provided by the School. Students have the benefit of developing their research and interpersonal skills while learning about the representative role of MPs and Parliament and their tasks of policy making and enacting legislation. Students are matched with MPs and do not make contact independently.

On completion of this subject students should:

• Apply disciplinary knowledge in the context of the work of the Victorian Parliament and a Member of Parliament;

• have well-developed analytical, research and report-writing skills;

• have practical and professional skills and ethics enabling the provision of future consultancy-type research services;

• have high-level interpersonal, written and oral skills developed through interaction in various contexts and with a range of people including Members of Parliament.

• A research report of 6000 words (80%) due during the examination period.
• A reflective essay of 2000 words (20%) due during the examination period.

Hurdle Requirement: A progress report is due mid-semester. Students must attend all seminars in order to pass this subject. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject. Regular participation in seminars is required.

Note: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per working day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students will only be permitted to take one Politics and International Studies Internship as part of a BA or the GD-ARTS.

This subject has a quota of 15 students per semester.

Applications are made online through the School of Social and Political Sciences in the semester prior to the one in which the internship is to occur. The application due date is the last day of the examination period in the semester prior to indended enrolment.

Application form: http://ssps.unimelb.edu.au/internship-application-form

POLS30001 Parliamentary Internship is not available as a Breadth subject.

In 2016, POLS30001 Parliamentary Internship will be offered in Semester 1 only.