What is our Placement and Internship Program?
Students will work collaboratively with each other and Military and Emergency Services Health Australia staff to contribute to new and ongoing research to support Australian military members, emergency service personnel and their families. There will be opportunities for students to not only work with our beneficiaries but contribute autonomously to research in this field with the support of fellow researchers by conceptualising, designing and actioning research projects. This placement program has been specifically crafted for students who are considering pursuing future study in research through Masters or PhD programs, and who are interested in projects around the mental health and wellbeing of military and emergency services personnel and their families.
Students will also have the opportunity to engage with real industry partners, including leaders within the Defence Force and Emergency Services of South Australia. Additionally, local MPs often visit our research institute to discuss possible projects within their electorates. Students are expected and supported to make the most of these opportunities by sitting in on industry meetings, networking with these field leaders, and contributing to meeting proceedings.
If you would like to know more about the Military and Emergency Services Health Australia Placement and Internship Program, please contact our Senior Research Officer, Ms Holly Bowen-Salter, [email protected] or call on (08) 7002 0880.
What is expected of you?
Students are expected to gain the following skills, knowledge, and experience:
- Analysis of information from different sources
- Attention to detail
- Communicating results
- Contributing to team meetings
- Critical analysis
- Critical thinking
- Data collection
- Finding information off the internet
- Planning and scheduling
- Problem-solving
- Report writing
- Searching for information
- Taking notes
- Time management
- Teamwork
- Working autonomously
They are also expected to gain interdisciplinary communication skills, networking skills and abilities, and project management skills. Students who display ownership, leadership, and independence around projects of their own conception will be encouraged to pursue the project to completion/publication. The Military and Emergency Services Health Australia team will support the students in this endeavour if they choose to follow this path.
Students key tasks/roles will be varied across a number of projects. Ideally, students will work with the placement supervisor to structure the placement hours around projects that most interest the student themselves, and around the priority areas of the research institute. However, the key responsibilities will most likely include (though are not limited to):
- Engaging in secondary research evidence synthesis
- Engaging in primary research design
- Contributing to human research ethics applications
- Contributing to grant applications
- Engaging in academic writing
- Engaging in academic systematic searching
- Engaging in & contributing to team meetings & planning discussions
- Leading and managing a research project
Should professional development opportunities arise (e.g. workshops, conferences, etc) during the course of the placement timeframe which are not hosted by Military and Emergency Services Health Australia, the supervisor will endeavour to ensure the student/s have the chance to attend.
Supervision
Military and Emergency Services Health Australia hosts a range of students, from undergraduate placement and internship students through to postgraduate Doctorial students, offering supervision and training courses for all students who fall under our banner. MESHA has supervised honours, masters, and PhD level candidates from all of South Australia’s Universities, including the University of South Australia, Flinders University, and the University of Adelaide.
If you are a student seeking potential supervision for an honours, masters, or PhD courses, please contact Holly Bowen-Salter: [email protected] to ensure that this program meets the requirements of your university.
