Providing learning opportunities for Indigenous university students

Here at Eco Logical Australia (ELA) we are passionate about providing learning opportunities for students wanting to pursue their careers in the environmental sector. We partnered with CareerTrackers to provide two final year Indigenous University students with a 12-week summer internship where they worked with experts across a range of disciplines including ecology, impact assessments, mine closure and archaeology. 

The CareerTrackers Program supports pre-professional Indigenous University students by linking them to employers in paid internships. The students then perform their internships with the sponsoring organisations, with the aim of converting from intern into full-time employees upon completion of their University degree. 

When our People and Culture Manager, Sue Nichols attended an industry event in 2018 for International Women’s Day and learnt about the opportunity that the CareerTrackers Program could provide she immediately felt the program aligned with our company values, of diversity, inclusion and career development. 

“The program really ignites our company’s purpose - empowering people to make a difference. It allows young University students to receive a taste of environmental consulting and opens doors for a future career in this dynamic industry,” Sue explains. “I feel quite protective over young people in the workforce, and I get a genuine buzz when I see them grow and become more confident in their work and as a result of this, more confident in all aspects of their life. I’m very proud of them.”

Last year we were lucky enough to have two interns join us, Johnny Kraft, and Drew Kennedy. 

In line with NAIDOC week, we chatted with them about their time at ELA and how their experiences helped them connect with their culture and share the stories of their heritage.

Meet Johnny – Bachelor of Science student

Johnny joined our Adelaide office for a summer internship in 2020. In his final year of a Bachelor of Science degree, Johnny is majoring in Soil Science at the University of Adelaide.

“I joined CareerTrackers to get a head start in my career. It was a great opportunity to learn from professionals in the industry and connect with the Indigenous community.” Johnny’s goals for his internship were to gain experience in ecology, consulting, mine closure and rehabilitation practices and to understand his pathway options after University. 

Johnny presenting his internship goals to our Adelaide office

Johnny was supervised by our Senior Mine Closure Consultant, Layla Howe, who provided him with guidance and support throughout his internship. Layla learnt of Johnny’s passion for soil science and tailored a program that focused on his interests while also introducing him to the different sectors of the industry.

“Johnny fitted right in and everyone made him feel welcome. He joined the ecology team out in the field and completed soil science work, helping with approvals. He also participated in rehabilitation work in Mudgee” commented Layla. 

Johnny (third from right) and Layla (far right) with the team in Adelaide

A highlight for Johnny was completing a bird survey at Razorback, NSW. Johnny explains, “I really enjoyed applying and putting into practice what I had been learning at University. It was a great opportunity to be able to participate and to learn from the experts in this field”. He also enjoyed the work culture at ELA and felt a strong sense of camaraderie within the team. “It was obvious that ELA really look after and value their people, this is important to me.” 

Johnny is now completing his final University credit through a winter intensive GIS course and applying for graduate roles within the environmental science industry.

Johnny out at Razorback completing a bird survey

For Layla, supervising Johnny was a very gratifying experience. “The opportunity to work with an individual at the beginning of their career is very rewarding, they are so eager and enthusiastic to learn! I have had very generous mentors in my career, so this was a way for me to give back to the next generation of environmental scientists.” 

Meet Drew – Bachelor of Archeology student 

Drew Kennedy joined our Sydney office for a summer internship in 2020. She is a Bachelor of Archaeology student majoring in Environmental Earth Science. “I was eager to join the ELA team as their passion for the environment and their respect for the Indigenous community particularly stood out to me.” 

Drew with the Bush Regeneration team

Drew worked alongside our archaeology, ecology and bush regeneration teams on a variety of projects and tasks including writing assessment reports and going into the field for surveys. “It opened my eyes to how work life could be after university,” commented Drew. 

Drew at our Sydney office

Drew agreed that the opportunity to learn from a broad range of experts with a variety of knowledge helped her decide on the area she would like to pursue as a career. “It was incredible to learn about the different aspects of Aboriginal culture and archaeology, especially as an Indigenous person. I’m hoping to specialise in Aboriginal Archaeology, preserving the past and sharing the stories of Indigenous culture is something I am really passionate about.” 

An archaeology dig site that Drew worked on during her internship

“During my internship I was also lucky enough to accompany Mike Green, ELA’s Principal Heritage Advisor and Victorian Heritage Team Leader, to the Annual Leadership Development Institute (LDI) conference in Melbourne as part of the CareerTrackers program. It was such a valuable experience to be able to learn from one of the most senior archaeologists at ELA and a leading expert in the field.”

Drew and Mike Green, attending the Annual Leadership Development Institute (LDI) conference in Melbourne.

Drew’s passion and enthusiasm for the industry landed her a casual position in our Bush Regeneration team last year, with the opportunity to expand her knowledge and grow her career.

Overall, both students thoroughly enjoyed their internships and our team learnt a lot from the process. Here at ELA, we are passionate about providing learning opportunities for the next generation of environmental scientists and sharing our knowledge. We look forward to continuing our relationship with CareerTrackers and welcoming future Indigenous students to the program. 

Interested in applying for CareerTrackers? 

Join a community of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to build a brighter future! Visit www.careertrackers.org.au

Interested in working for ELA? 
Get in touch with:
Sue Nichols, Bec South or Donna Barlow
ELA Recruitment Team
+61 8536 8600
recruitment@ecoaus.com.au
www.ecoaus.com.au