From 9 to 14 September 2012, 100 Indigenous students travelled to Canberra for the Learn Earn Legend! Work Experience in Government Program. The week-long program, which is co-organised by AIEF as part of the AIEF Pathways Program, opens doors to the public service for Indigenous students by placing them in in MPs, Ministers and Senators offices for practical work experience. 16 AIEF scholarship students attended the program and were placed with Parliamentarians such as the Hon Peter Garrett MP and the Hon Julie Collins MP.
Throughout the week, the students were also able to participate in sightseeing activities including a visit to the National Museum of Australia and The War Memorial. Other exciting activities included a visit to the Australian Institute of Sport where students got to meet Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Scott Prince. The students also spent a day with department agencies including the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Australian Federal Police. Six AIEF scholarship students got to visit the Department of Defence and spent some of their time on an over-water obstacle course.
Carlin from AIEFs new Partner School, Ipswich Grammar School, was placed in Education Minister Peter Garretts office and got to spend valuable time with the Minister and learn a lot about his day-to-day work.
I never thought Id get the opportunity to spend a week with Peter Garrett, Carlin said. Im pretty stoked. I come from a town with not that many opportunities. It just opens up a lot more pathways and stuff like this I can get involved with.
