LOCAL GOVERNMENT INTERNSHIPS
Achievement	Target Date	Progress	Description	Further Information

ACHIEVEMENT: The City of Melbourne regularly offers Internship positions that allows each Councillor to choose to mentor someone undertaking an internship as part of a course of study.

TARGET DATE: June 2003

PROGRESS: Some.

DESCRIPTION: Permit young people to undertake internships with local government councillor willing to act as mentors. Duties would be to assist with policy creation and implementation, attend council meetings, support meetings and assist councillors in their constituent duties. One purpose would be to educate younger members into the role of government; educate them on local govt processes; of dealing with constituents (creating and maintaining voter appeal). The internship could last for a semester or more, involve a set number of hours per week and result in a formal certification that could be recognised by potential employers.

I have been approached to be a mentor for a Melbourne University public policy intern during 2003 and am currently [January 2003] seeking clarification from the City of Melbourne on the arrangements that need to be made.

I have sought advice on how the City of Melbourne can implement a program of internships for the coming year. Interns currently work within the bureaucracy, but rarely directly with Councillors.

FURTHER INFORMATION: