POLS311 - Parliamentary Internship

Year

Credit points

Campus offering

Prerequisites

Unit rationale, description and aim

This unit offers a select group of students a unique first-hand experience working with a Member of the Victorian, New South Wales or Queensland Parliament (MP) to complete an original piece of research on a contemporary public policy issue. Students will be mentored by an MP, researchers at the Parliamentary Library or internship program, and (in Victoria by academics at a range of Victorian universities) during their internship which features regular seminars, workshops, and events at the State Parliament. The aim of the internship is to equip students with higher-level research skills and an advanced awareness of the political workings of Parliament and policy-making in a state context.

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

LO1 - Apply disciplinary knowledge in the context of the State Parliament (GA4, GA5)

LO1 - Demonstrate professional and analytical skills relevant to consultancy and research services (GA3, GA7, GA8)

LO2 - Exhibit high levels of interpersonal skills, developed through interactions with various staff and Members of Parliament (GA1, GA9).

Graduate attributes

GA1 - demonstrate respect for the dignity of each individual and for human diversity 

GA3 - apply ethical perspectives in informed decision making

GA4 - think critically and reflectively 

GA5 - demonstrate values, knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession 

GA7 - work both autonomously and collaboratively 

GA8 - locate, organise, analyse, synthesise and evaluate information 

GA9 - demonstrate effective communication in oral and written English language and visual media 

Content

Topics will include: 

• State Parliamentary System
• State Political Parties
• State Political Institutions
• Advocacy and Policy-Making
• Political Science Research Methodologies
• Research Ethics

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

Attendance Mode: 12 week off-campus internship and directed learning through the state parliament internship program.

Victorian Mode: 12-week program 

This unit offers two formal ways of learning and teaching. First, students will attend a series of seminars and workshops at the Victorian Parliament. During these seminars and workshops, students will be introduced to key concepts and ideas which will inform their internship. Additionally, the seminars and workshops will cover the research methodologies and ethics they will need to complete their research project. Second, students will be paired with a Member of the Victorian Parliament (MP) who will mentor them and work with them on their research projects. It is expected that students will work with the MP and their staff during the course of their internship.

NSW Mode: 12-week program, students work in the designated office for one day per week. This amounts to 80-100 hours across the program. 

This unit offers two formal ways of learning and teaching. First, students will attend a series of induction seminars and workshops at the NSW Parliament. During these seminars and workshops, students will be introduced to key concepts and ideas which will inform their internship. Second, students will be paired with a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC); parliamentary committees or the Procedural Research Office who will mentor them and work with them on their research projects. It is expected that students will work with the designated staff member during the course of their internship.

Queensland Mode: 12-week program 

The Queensland Parliamentary Research Internship (QPRI) program is based around a research project conducted for a Member of Parliament This unit offers two formal ways of learning and teaching. First, students will attend a series of induction seminars and report-writing workshops delivered by the secretary of a parliamentary committee or delegate. During these seminars and workshops, students will be introduced to key concepts and ideas which will inform their internship. Second, students will be paired with a Member of Parliament (MP). It is expected that students will work with the designated staff member during the course of their internship.

Assessment strategy and rationale

The assessment tasks for this unit are designed to enable students to work closely with a Member of Parliament to research and complete a report on a contemporary public policy issue. Each MP will allocate their student a topic which they wish to learn more about and will discuss it with them. With the aid of academics and staff at the Victorian Parliamentary Library or parliamentary internship program in NSW or QLD, students will then undertake research on this topic, culminating in a polished piece of research that will be stored in the Victorian Parliamentary Library or held by the Member of Parliament. Students may also have the opportunity to present their findings in an oral presentation. Finally, students will write a reflective essay on their entire experience working at the Victorian/NSW Parliament or an essay on parliamentary processes (QLD). The weightings of the assessments align with the requirements of the parliamentary internship program. Students undertaking research will follow ACU taught ethics guidelines.

Overview of assessments

Representative texts and references

P. Strangio and B. Costar (eds), The Victorian Premiers 1856-2006, Federation Press, Melbourne 2006. 

R. Smith, A. Vromen and I. Cook (eds), Contemporary Politics in Australia: Theories, Practices and Issues, Cambridge University Press, London 2012. 

G. Taylor (ed), The Constitution of Victoria, Federation Press, Melbourne 2006. 

D. Woodward, J. Summers and A. Parkin (eds), Government, Politics, Power and Policy in Australia, 10th edition Pearson, Sydney 2010.