Known for its diverse range of industries and booming economy, an internship in Perth gets you closer to your dream career by offering the unique chance to gain industry-specific skills and establish professional connections.
With a diverse range of internship opportunities available in Perth, you can engage with leading organisations and contribute to meaningful projects, all while building the skills and confidence you need to be career ready.
Internships offer a chance for students to gain practical skills and knowledge in their specific field or industry. They are short-term work experience programs where you work alongside professionals to apply your academic learning in real-world scenarios.
The duration of internships can vary from a few weeks to several months, and they can be part-time or full-time.
Many degrees at Perth’s universities require you to enrol in an internship, practical placement or vocational training as part of your course.
First, you should find out whether your course requires an internship. Universities have teams to help you find relevant internships and practical placements, so approach your institution for more information about what’s available.
Most internships and work experience are unpaid working arrangements, meaning the experience you gain is how you are rewarded.
Before you commence this sort of work, make sure you have a clear understanding of what the role involves, and your rights as an intern or as a volunteer on work experience.
If you find yourself doing work that contributes to the ordinary operation of the business, then it may actually be a job – which means you should receive the same benefits as an employee, such as pay and leave entitlements. You can find out more about your work rights as an unpaid worker here.
Finding a paid internship in Perth is possible but it can be challenging due to competition and the fact that most internships are geared towards academic credit.
The salary for a paid internship will depend on the organisation or company.
To find internship programs in Perth, you can search online job search sites or visit Grad Australia.
If you are in a creative industry, you might like to attend an event with Guerrilla Establishment, a not-for-profit organisation providing ongoing education, support and personal development to Perth students, graduates and industry members.
In Australia, students and recent graduates can complete an unpaid internship for up to 26 weeks on a 416: Special Program Visa.
For paid internships in Perth, however, you must obtain a 417: Working Holiday Visa, which permits you to work in Australia for up to one year.
Visa applications are processed online and are very efficient; most visas only take a few weeks to process.
Want to gain free virtual work experience at globally recognised organisations?
As part of StudyPerth's Careers Connect Program, we are offering you free access to virtual work experience programs from leading employers like Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG and PwC to help you become job-ready. No experience is necessary with the no-cost program open to all international students in Perth completing their high school studies or higher education qualifications.
These virtual work experiences are hosted on Forage, a one-of-a-kind platform that allows you to complete these in your own time, and at your own pace.
There are over 70 programs to choose from to help you acquire the relevant skills and experience to succeed in your career journey. In fact, students are likely to be considered for a position at a company after completing their virtual experience program on Forage.
The companies involved span multiple industries, including:
Consulting
Technology
Finance
Law
Human Resources
Business
Social Impact
In this program, you will:
Work through a series of hypothetical tasks designed to simulate the work undertaken as an intern or graduate within your chosen organisation.
Complete work that reflects real day-to-day tasks at leading companies.
Receive curated resources to help students learn relevant industry skills.
This will simulate the real-world experience of starting your career in your desired field.
After completion, you will receive a personalised certificate that can be shared in/as part of:
Your resume (as an Extracurricular Activity, Certificate, or Achievement)
Your LinkedIn profile (under Licenses and Certifications)
Looking to gain an edge on your resume while you complete your studies?
Forage's replicates the work landscape at top organisations including ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, John Holland and Telstra and connects you to these reputable companies.
Know which industry you want to pursue a career in?
Get a head start and find out what it is like to work on projects that mirror the skills and projects of employees in the real world.
