So only 2 more weeks to go and university will be over for the semester. For some of the other people in this unit that may mean the end of their internship, but for me its only the beginning really. I have decided to extend my internship until i find a paid position in Public Relations. I am also increasing my work days to 4 days a week from 9am till 4pm. My aim through this is to gain as much knowledge, skills and experience as possible before i enter the 'real world' as some may call it.
As per my last blog post, i haven't gone any further with chasing up the national team to hand over some access to the WA Amnesty branch website. At this point in time it seems impossible for them to hand over the access even if i go out and do the training necessary out of my own expense. As for the reason behind this we are still unsure, but it is extremely frustrating for me and the rest of the staff in the WA office. For along as i am within the Amnesty Organisation i will make this a goal for myself to attain this access for WA in particular.
My new team has settled in really well, the graphics designers are on the ball with things, their work has been amazing. At the moment in conjunction with the rest of the WA office staff i am planning out first major WA staff and volunteer event. We will use this event to network and meet everyone behind the WA Amnesty organisation. Its still in the planning stages but we are all excited and looking forward to a lovely night out!
Originally when it was extremely busy i was thinking about getting another PR assistant to help me out. However, as university is finishing and i am taking up full time position within the organisation i don't see it as a necessity anymore to hire another individual to assist me.
So i hope everyone else has enjoyed their internship, i am enjoying every bit of mine. I look forward to reading more blog posts.
Good luck and see you all in the future!
Take care.
Sandra
Showing posts with label #15842491 #sandracopic #Amesty #PRinternship #curtin #bentley #internship #experience #mediaofficer #communications. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #15842491 #sandracopic #Amesty #PRinternship #curtin #bentley #internship #experience #mediaofficer #communications. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Monday, April 28, 2014
Trouble in paradise.
Hi all,
Since my last post not a lot of new things have been happening in the Amnesty world. Its a pretty quiet month actually, but i thought i will keep you all updated anyways.
Me and my supervisor have been aiming to make some fairly large changes for the WA office and in particular the Media and Communications department.
We felt these changes would benefit us and also the organisation as a whole, however, not everyone seems to feel the same way.
At the moment i have no control and no authority to update anything on the website, we are not sure what the reason is behind this but we are working to find out.
This means that if i or anyone else in the WA office wants something put onto the website we must send it to the National office first and then the interns there upload it.
This frustarted me a lot as i feel like they are getting all the experience and skills necessary and I'm missing out - i feel like all I'm doing is forwarding emails to them.
I being the strong headed person that i am, kicked up a fuss about this.
The reasons behind why i can't upload things onto the website are something i can't go into and there is to many excuses i have received, however, i have decided to do the necessary training out of my own pocket and in my own time to learn how to use the back end system so that hopefully, in the future if i stay with Amnesty i will have the knowledge and skills they want.
Im due to keep meeting with the national team and further debate this issue.
Ill make sure to keep you all posted.
Till next time.
Sandra
Since my last post not a lot of new things have been happening in the Amnesty world. Its a pretty quiet month actually, but i thought i will keep you all updated anyways.
Me and my supervisor have been aiming to make some fairly large changes for the WA office and in particular the Media and Communications department.
We felt these changes would benefit us and also the organisation as a whole, however, not everyone seems to feel the same way.
At the moment i have no control and no authority to update anything on the website, we are not sure what the reason is behind this but we are working to find out.
This means that if i or anyone else in the WA office wants something put onto the website we must send it to the National office first and then the interns there upload it.
This frustarted me a lot as i feel like they are getting all the experience and skills necessary and I'm missing out - i feel like all I'm doing is forwarding emails to them.
I being the strong headed person that i am, kicked up a fuss about this.
The reasons behind why i can't upload things onto the website are something i can't go into and there is to many excuses i have received, however, i have decided to do the necessary training out of my own pocket and in my own time to learn how to use the back end system so that hopefully, in the future if i stay with Amnesty i will have the knowledge and skills they want.
Im due to keep meeting with the national team and further debate this issue.
Ill make sure to keep you all posted.
Till next time.
Sandra
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Time is flying - Its getting super busy!
Its been a while since my last blog post. No fear - I'm back! I have been super busy at my internship with no time for breathing.
There has been literally what feels like a million events happening around WA and in particular to do with refugee rights.
I have been super busy writing media release - sending them of to local newspapers and also doing media training with some of our newest volunteers.
We have had new groups forming in WA and of course for me that means more media training, more media releases, more event planning and a hell of a lot more work. But thats okay I'm not complaining. I LOVE IT!
Since the last time i wrote a blog post - the new graphics designers have been settling in really well and I've been working closely with them to create new flyers for each of the groups. As well as creating promotional materials for all the events that have been hosted.
Im due to meet up with my supervisor this week (tomorrow) for a catch up/meeting. Me and her like to keep each other informed of whats going on within the teams etc.
There has been so much work happening around the media and communications department that i am considering speaking to my supervisor about getting an assistant for me! This is something she mentioned to me before as she wanted me to create a little team.
We have also had a new person take over social media and I'm super excited she has been doing an amazing job and having her in the office next to me makes it so much more convenient if i need her to post something etc.
So overall its been a super busy time at Amnesty and it doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon.
Till next time.
Sandra
There has been literally what feels like a million events happening around WA and in particular to do with refugee rights.
I have been super busy writing media release - sending them of to local newspapers and also doing media training with some of our newest volunteers.
We have had new groups forming in WA and of course for me that means more media training, more media releases, more event planning and a hell of a lot more work. But thats okay I'm not complaining. I LOVE IT!
Since the last time i wrote a blog post - the new graphics designers have been settling in really well and I've been working closely with them to create new flyers for each of the groups. As well as creating promotional materials for all the events that have been hosted.
Im due to meet up with my supervisor this week (tomorrow) for a catch up/meeting. Me and her like to keep each other informed of whats going on within the teams etc.
There has been so much work happening around the media and communications department that i am considering speaking to my supervisor about getting an assistant for me! This is something she mentioned to me before as she wanted me to create a little team.
We have also had a new person take over social media and I'm super excited she has been doing an amazing job and having her in the office next to me makes it so much more convenient if i need her to post something etc.
So overall its been a super busy time at Amnesty and it doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon.
Till next time.
Sandra
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
10 days have passed but it feels like forever!
So the first 10 days of my work experience have passed as I'm only attending the Amnesty WA office every Wednesday. I thought its time for me to talk a little about what i have done so far at Amnesty since i started.
So my first day i basically just got to know everyone and what they do. I was shown around the office and the external area around the City West section including the most important place i had to know the local COFFEE SHOP! I was pretty much free to go home after a couple of hours as Wendy my supervisor was rushed into a meeting.
I was told to familiarise myself with the ebulletin and the Amnesty WA website by the following Wednesday so i have some sort of idea about how the ebulletin works and some idea of the events that were taking place at that point in time. My supervisor also asked me to brainstorm ideas on how we can communicate better with the WA action groups as she and other staff felt that there was a lack of communication.
The second day at Amnesty was exciting. I created my own email address to use for my time there. I then had schedule a call with Samantha who takes care of the ebulletin for us - she is located in Brisbane. It was nice to meet Sam over the phone and she and i spoke a little about my goals for the WA team and what my plans were in terms of getting the media attention we wanted.
I also met Amanda over the phone she is based in the Eastern states and is also in charge of media and communications over there. We discussed our plans on getting the WA Amnesty team some more media attention.
Since then all other days have included my usual daily tasks as listed below:
Other things i have also had to do is interview new applicants for the role of a social media person and two new graphics designers. After the interviews i then discussed this with Wendy my supervisor and told her who my preferences were. She was happy with my decisions and i then made contact with my chosen applicants to arrange an induction.
So my time at Amnesty so far has been exciting and busy. While i have done some PR jobs. I feel as if I'm not completely only a PR officer. This is exciting as its easier for me to ease into the job and i wasn't thrown into the deep end. I can't wait to send out my first media release though - I'm hoping it will be soon!
Until next time.
Sandra
So my first day i basically just got to know everyone and what they do. I was shown around the office and the external area around the City West section including the most important place i had to know the local COFFEE SHOP! I was pretty much free to go home after a couple of hours as Wendy my supervisor was rushed into a meeting.
I was told to familiarise myself with the ebulletin and the Amnesty WA website by the following Wednesday so i have some sort of idea about how the ebulletin works and some idea of the events that were taking place at that point in time. My supervisor also asked me to brainstorm ideas on how we can communicate better with the WA action groups as she and other staff felt that there was a lack of communication.
The second day at Amnesty was exciting. I created my own email address to use for my time there. I then had schedule a call with Samantha who takes care of the ebulletin for us - she is located in Brisbane. It was nice to meet Sam over the phone and she and i spoke a little about my goals for the WA team and what my plans were in terms of getting the media attention we wanted.
I also met Amanda over the phone she is based in the Eastern states and is also in charge of media and communications over there. We discussed our plans on getting the WA Amnesty team some more media attention.
Since then all other days have included my usual daily tasks as listed below:
- Checking emails/replying to emails
- Updating the WA Amnesty website with the new event information
- Sending all new event information to Sam - so it can be put into the monthly ebulletin
- Updating the media log at the end of the day so Amanda can see what i worked on for that day
- Updating Facebook with new event information
- Contacting local action groups to see what there plans are for the month and what events they are planning to host
- Checking in with other office staff on any new news
Other things i have also had to do is interview new applicants for the role of a social media person and two new graphics designers. After the interviews i then discussed this with Wendy my supervisor and told her who my preferences were. She was happy with my decisions and i then made contact with my chosen applicants to arrange an induction.
So my time at Amnesty so far has been exciting and busy. While i have done some PR jobs. I feel as if I'm not completely only a PR officer. This is exciting as its easier for me to ease into the job and i wasn't thrown into the deep end. I can't wait to send out my first media release though - I'm hoping it will be soon!
Until next time.
Sandra
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
My excitement was through the roof!
I remember when i first sent out an email to Amnesty International to ask if they had any internships available. It was my first choice when it came to looking for experience as i am extremely passionate about human rights, being a refugee myself.
I remember when i received a reply i was sitting across from my mum as she received her chemotherapy treatment, and i squealed when i read out to her that they had asked me to come in for an interview. As the day went on i was so nervous because i kept thinking what if i don't get the position? What other organisations really interest me? And not many came to my mind. That's it i had my heart set on Amnesty and that's where i was going to go. No if's and no buts!
On the day of the interview i was so nervous, i had entered the office and while everyone was so friendly i couldn't help but tremble. Then i met Wendy my supervisor and when she told me to not feel nervous for some reason i started to relax.
In the interview i had the previous Regional Communications and Media Officer sitting in as well as the Social Media Officer and Wendy my supervisor. I was asked a lot of questions and by the end of the interview i had it in my head that i did horribly and there was no way i would get the position.
Some time had passed and i still had not heard anything from them. Just as i was about to start looking for other places to apply i received a phone call and it was Wendy she told me that i had received the position as the new Regional Communications and Media Officer.
I was so excited i couldn't stop smiling and i think she sensed that through the phone. I possibly cried a little. Tears of joy of course!
Below i have attached the link to the Amnesty International WA page. I hope you all have a look and some of you may even choose to get involved in one way or another!
http://www.amnesty.org.au/wa
Until next time.
Sandra
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