'As a Bachelor of Arts/ Bachelor of Archaeological Practice student, ANIP provided me with the supportive academic framework through which I could discover and realise my interest in curatorial research for the National Museum of Australia.

Internships are undeniably beneficial. The skills and insight gained through such placements cannot be found within a purely course based degree. Being placed within a real working environment with expectations and outcomes was most beneficial as was talking to my supervisor and the curatorial team, researching for my project within the NMA library and AIATSIS. I also received ongoing training in how to use museum management systems and databases. I was able to travel with my supervisor and scout for potential collections for the museum and gallery exhibition.

My advice to anyone considering ANIP is to be proactive and don’t be afraid to challenge yourself. For me the program challenged my perceived limitations. Before joining ANIP I never imagined, or loosely hoped, to be an intern at the NMA and to conduct research that would contribute to the development of a new gallery within the museum. I took a risk, being an undergraduate student, and pushed myself, and it was well worth it.

The skills I have learned and the experience gained have fashioned ideas about my future career and the rest of my degree. Internships should really be an essential part of a person’s degree - they provide access to skills and real world expectations that cannot be achieved by simply doing coursework. The opportunity to be part of something important or to contribute to an idea or develop new ideas and synthesize these in a manner beneficial to yourself and your placement should not be underestimated.'