Native Title Student Internship Program

'The Aurora Project'

The Aurora Project Internships Program

The native title internship program introduces students to career opportunities in native title and at the same time provides assistance to under-resourced and overworked Native Title Representative Body (NTRB) lawyers. 

The April 2005 Report [PDF]  into the professional development needs of NTRB lawyers, in particular appendix 8 (pages 191-95), provides a description of the program and feedback from participants in the summer of 2004/05.

The Aurora Project

Location of internships

Internships will be with NTRBs located around Australia. Examples of past placements included NTRBs in Adelaide, Alice Springs, Burketown, Cairns, Darwin, Geraldton, Karratha, Mackay, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

Students were also placed at the Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership in Cairns where they did research into welfare reform, and at the developmental stage of the Lingiari Policy Centre in Sydney.

In addition, two students were placed with the Aurukun community in Cape York, where they conducted legal research into the safeguarding of rivers and waterways.

University course credit

Some law schools give credit for work done during the internships or for a paper arising out of the work done. Applicants should consult the International Programs Officer to discuss credit options.

Examples of tasks and duties

Interns have been asked during previous internships to perform such tasks as:

• research into:
  • pro forma native title agreements
  • case law
  • the impact of developments in international intellectual and cultural property law and
  • compensation agreements entered into with mining companies
• drafting of:
  • court affidavits and preparation of other court documents
  • pro forma questions for statements/gathering evidence from witnesses
  • protocols for visitors entering Aboriginal land 
  • taxation advice for Aboriginal corporations
• other:
  • attending client meetings ‘on country’
  • analysis of witness transcripts
  • assistance in the co-ordination of witness evidence for native title claims

Internship eligibility criteria

Applications are open to all law students who have completed the property law component of their legal studies, are interested in working in native title and meet the following criteria.:

• a strong academic record;
• an interest in the area of Native Title
• cultural awareness and sensitivity
• willingness to commit to the minimum period of four weeks during the June - July or Nov - Feb break.

Monash Law funding eligibility criteria

In order to receive funding through the Monash Law Student Travel Fund (STF) you must meet following eligibility criteria:

• be enrolled full time in the Bachelor of Laws, any Bachelor of Laws double degree, LLM(LP) or JD program at Monash University and have at least one unit of your law degree to complete through Monash Law School following the conclusion of the internship program
• at the time of the internship have completed at least one full time equivalent year of law with a minimum credit (60%) average across your law studies.
• have the ability to complete the internship without compromising law studies or examination periods
• be available on return to commit to marketing and promotional activities, including future use of profiles and reports in marketing material (subject to negotiation with the Faculty Marketing Manager)
• Have not previously received faculty funding through the STF for more than one other faculty managed internship (students are eligible for STF funding for a maximum of two faculty managed internships for the duration of their law studies at Monash. Students can apply for additional internships but they will not be eligible to receive funding through the STF.)

Application process

Winter applications have now closed

2007/08 summer applications are open from Monday, 6 August until Friday 31 August 2007

Applications need to be made directly to the Aurora Project (see below for faculty funding application details)

Applicants should fill out the application form available at
www.auroraproject.com.au/Internship_apply.htm

You will need to supply the following information with your application form:

• a covering letter explaining, in bullet point form the reasons for applying for the program, and any Indigenous studies undertaken or experience relating to Indigenous issues that may be relevent 
• a curriculum vitae
• all university results

Faculty of Law STF funding application process

Five faculty STF travel grants of $500 each are available annually for this internship program. Two grants will be offered over winter and three over summer (may change depending on the number and quality of applicants). Applications are awarded on a merit basis.
Once you have received confirmation of your internship place from the Aurora Project Native Title Student Internship Program, you must submit a Monash Law Native Title funding application form [PDF] together with a confirmation of your place to the faculty International Programs Officer located in the Sudent Services office on Level 1 of the law building, Clayton Campus.

Equity grants

Student Travel Fund (STF) Equity Grants have been developed to provide financial assistance for faculty internship programs to those students who can demonstrate financial hardship.

If you require more information on the faculty funding process for this internship please contact Kerryn Morey, International Programs Officer  located in the Student Services office on Level 1 of the Law building, Tel +61 3 9905 3311

Internship contact information

If you would like further information about this internship please contact the internship program coordinator at placements@auroraproject.com.au or go to http://www.auroraproject.com.au/Legal_Interns.htm

Forms

Monash Law Native Title funding application form [PDF]
Equity Grant application form [PDF]
Internship Report Form [PDF]
Student intern profile – Example only [PDF]