Castan Centre Global Internship Program

Applications for the 2012 Internship Program have closed. Find out more about the 2012 Global Interns here. Details about the 2013 Global Internship Program will be released in Semester 1, 2012.

The Global Internship Program provides Monash Law students with the opportunity to travel to some of the world's leading human rights institutions and forums to work for six weeks to seven months. Interns are selected in second semester each year, and most internships run over the summer break, or in first semester. Global Interns are provided with financial assistance from the Castan Centre Global Internship Fund.

The Global Internship Program is not the only way to get funding to volunteer overseas.  Monash Law students can apply for Student Mobility Fund money for internships that they have arranged themselves.  The Student Mobility Fund also supports other Law Faculty internships.

2012 Global Internship Program

Internships will be offered at:

 

2012 Global Internship Information Seminar

The 2012 Castan Centre Global Internship Information Seminar will be held on Wednesday 27 July in lecture theatre L5, Law Faculty, Monash University Clayton Campus at 1pm. Come hear about past interns' experiences and find out more about the 2012 program.

2012 Program Key Dates

  • 27 July 2011 - Applications open for the 2012 Global Internship Program, and Information Seminar
  • 15 August 2011 - Applications close at 5pm *** new deadline
  • 26 August 2011 - By COB,  ALL applicants notified about whether they do or do not have an interview.
  • 29 August - 2 September 2011 - Interviews (dates subject to change)
  • 23 September 2011 - Applicants informed of outcome 
  • 6 October 2011 - Cross cultural training program for 2012 Global Interns 8:30am - 2pm

New for 2012

This year the Centre will be offering one internship which does not require students to have at least one unit left in their course to complete upon finishing the internship. The Plan Australia internship will be open to all students, including those who have completed all the units of their respective law degree. Students applying for the Plan Australia internship must still fulfill the rest of the eligibility criteria.

Please note this change ONLY applies to the Plan Australia internship. To be eligible for the other Global Internships, students must still have at least one unit remaining to complete in their degree upon finishing the internship.

Funding

Interns will receive funding from the Castan Centre Global Internship Fund to cover part of their living and travel costs during their internship. Exact amounts will be listed once the 2012 internship placements are confirmed.

Funding for the internships is calculated based on the cost of living for each host city, return airfares from Melbourne, travel insurance premiums and duration of each placement.

Global Interns are provided with financial assistance by Daniel and Danielle Besen, Sylvia & Michael Kantor, the Dara Foundation, the Nordia Foundation, the Monash Law Faculty's Student Mobility Fund, the Monash University Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education) and MyriaD Consultants, which conducts the cross-cultural training.

Without this funding, we would not be able to provide students this unique opportunity to gain first hand practical experience in human rights law.

Eligibility

All internships except Oxfam Australia will be open to all Monash Law degree by coursework students (LLB, any JD or any LLM) whether full-time or part-time.  The Oxfam Australia internships will only be open to Monash Law students undertaking an LLB or any full-time JD  course.  All students must fulfil the eligibility criteria.

For the full list of eligibility criteria, please click here.  Please note, some internships have additional eligilibity requirements that students must satisfy - the additional criteria are set out on the information page for each internship (see links above).

To be eligible, students must be able to intern for the full time period required by the internship (note the length of each internship is different).  Students must also be willing to write a report on their internship as well as submit a personal profile to the Castan Centre for use on its website.  Interns must also be willing to regularly contribute to the Global Inerns blog and other social media forum utilising photos, video and/or text to document their experiences during and following the completion of the internship.

Application Process

Students can apply for up to 3 internships.  

How to apply: Students can submit applications either electronically or in hard copy.

Electronically: Students can apply by sending their full application (including all documents listed below) via email to Andre Dao, Castan Centre Project Officer, at andre.dao@monash.edu.   Please contact the Castan Centre if you do not receive a confirmation of receipt email within a few days of applying electronically.

Hard Copy:  Hard copy applications (including all documents listed below) can be submitted to Cathy Meredith at the Student Services desk, Building 12.  Students submitting hard copy applications must provide 2 full copies of their application. Please be aware that the Student Services desk may close early on Fridays.

Applications should include:

  • Completed Global Internship Program Application form;
  • Brief cover letter (no longer than 600 words in length) setting out your reasons for applying for the internship/s and showing a proven interest in the work and mission of each organisation you are applying for. We recommend you provide a separate heading for each internship you apply for. The letter must be a minimum size 12 font and double spaced. Students applying for more than one internship can add an additional 200 words for each additional internship;
  • Curriculum Vitae. Please include the name of two referees on your CV - writen references are NOT required; and
  • Current academic transcript (official transcripts are not necessary, a print out from WES is fine but please be sure your transcript fits within the printable margins of the page).  Postgraduate students must provide copies of their undergraduate transcripts in addition to their current academic transcript (official transcripts are not necessary, photocopies are acceptable).

Selected candidates will be invited for an interview with Castan Centre staff. Part of the interview process will involve a brief writing exercise - students will not need to prepare for the writing exercise.

Frequently Asked Questions

List of FAQs. If you have a question which is not included on the FAQ list, please contact the following people as appropriate:

Program and Application Information
Andre Dao
Project Officer
Castan Centre for Human Rights Law
andre.dao@monash.edu
03 9905 3318

SMF Queries
Cathy Meredith
International Programs Officer
Student Services Level 1
Faculty of Law Building 12
Clayton Campus
cathy.meredith@monash.edu
03 9905 3311

2011 Global Interns
2010 Global Interns
2009 Global Interns
2008 Global Interns
2007 Global Interns
2006 Global Interns
Other Past Castan Centre Interns