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Internship Program

The overall aim of the Internship Program is to facilitate individual professional development by building career experiences and opportunities in the sector, and to strengthen the capacity of Indigenous sector organisations by attracting and retaining talented Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.  We pride ourselves on having a transformational impact on the organisations we support and on the career aspirations of our internship alumni. Apply now!

As you can understand, Aurora is deeply committed to our public health responsibilities to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission to our Interns, to the staff at our Host organisations, and the communities in which you are all based. At Aurora we have adopted a vigilant approach that responds to a number of variables within our operating environment. Aurora will undertake a risk assessment for each placement and seek to mitigate this with consideration of the characteristics of the intern, the host-organisation and the placement. Where risk cannot be appropriately mitigated, we will work with you to explore alternate arrangements to accommodate an internship placement.

  • About the Internship Program

    Now in its 14th year of operation, the Aurora Internship Program has contributed to capacity building for Indigenous and Indigenous-sector organisations by placing over 2,700 talented and passionate interns.  

  • For students and graduates

    Internships are offered to students and graduates with a background in law, anthropology and some social sciences. Academically strong and with a keen interest in native title, land rights, social justice, policy development, all with an Indigenous focus, interns offer under-resourced Host organisations assistance and support.

  • For Host organisations

    Since the inception of the Aurora Internship Program, 15 NTRBs (formerly 17), 12 PBCs and over 200 other Aurora Host organisations Australia-wide who work in the broader Indigenous sector, have hosted Aurora interns, namely: (Click on the following links to see a full list of host organisations).  Note that we also place Indigenous interns outside of the sector so long as the placements are relevant to candidates’ study and career aspirations.

  • Outcomes

    Internship Program - making a difference

    • Around 7,000 applicants (including 444 Indigenous)
    • Over 3,150 internships arranged have provided over 630,000 hours of additional capacity
    • Over 200 Aurora Hosts working in the Indigenous sector, including 117(54%) Indigenous organisations
    • Approx. $13 million of cost savings and productivity gains. 
    • 881 internship alumni (35%) employed in the sector since inception

    • 319 Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander interns placed to date 

  • Working in the Indigenous sector

    Paid placements

    Part-time, locum (2 to 11 mths) and full-time paid placement opportunities can be available through Aurora, usually as a direct outcome of an unpaid placement. You should check the job network for employment opportunities.

    If you are interested in paid opportunities, we encourage you to apply for an internship first and if you progress to the interview stage, we can mention your interest in an ongoing paid placement, which may eventuate following on from your unpaid internship.