Interns awarded for outstanding research

8 August 2022

Watch highlights from the graduation ceremony for our 12 parliamentary interns in 2022.

Twelve university students have shared a unique and life-changing experience as interns for members of the Victorian Parliament.

The 2022 cohort graduated in Queen’s Hall at Parliament House to wide acclaim on Monday.

Each intern completed a 6000-word evidence-based research report on a range of topics, including justice, youth, environment, health, business and gender.

‘The internship experience is like nothing else in our degrees,'

Kyahl Anderson, University of Melbourne.

Kyahl Anderson spoke on behalf of his political science peers from Monash University and the University of Melbourne.

'There is a sense of responsibility that comes with the task of researching a topic that people really care about,' he said.

'Our report has been commissioned because people out there in our society want to see solutions to the problems.'

Kyahl was one of four joint winners of the Presiding Officers' Prize for their outstanding reports.

The Victorian Parliamentary Internship Program is highly competitive and since 1990 more than 1300 university students have taken part.

Legislative Council Clerk Andrew Young shared his first-hand thoughts on the value of the internship program.

Legislative Council Clerk Andrew Young was one of the original interns and made mention of the various reports that have resulted in public policy change.

'A number of reports have added clarity and weight at the right moment to a range of issues which later became the subject of legislation in the Parliament,' he said.

Each intern received a participation award presented by Monash University’s Dr Zareh Ghazarian on behalf of the academic supervisors from both participating universities.

Monash University’s Dr Zareh Ghazarian presented participation awards to each of the 12 participants.

In 2022 a further four interns have been jointly awarded the Presiding Officers’ Prize for their outstanding efforts:

  • Naylin Al, the University of Melbourne for the report he wrote for Benambra MP Bill Tilley on lowering Victoria’s probationary licencing age to 17
  • Emma Ward, Monash University for the research she compiled for Footscray MP Katie Hall on a green future for Melbourne’s industrial inner west
  • Kyahl Anderson, the University of Melbourne for his work for Western Victorian MP Andy Meddick on the human harms of kangaroo killing
  • Lachlan Watson, Monash University for his report for Clarinda MP Meng Heang Tak on improving access to the Victorian justice system for multicultural communities.
Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Natalie Suleyman and Legislative Council Clerk Andrew Young with award-winning report writers Lachlan Watson and Emma Ward.

Throughout the three-month program participants have been provided with background and practical information on political structures and processes, public policy research and reporting.

'All the reports contribute to a wonderful body of research held by the Parliamentary Library, and they help to inform policy makers,' Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Natalie Suleyman said.

Department of Parliamentary Services Secretary Trish Burrows delivered a speech at the graduation ceremony.

High praise was also given to the many people who support the work of the interns.

'The great success of the parliamentary internship program is a result of many things, but particularly the enthusiasm of our interns, the dedication of the universities involved, and the considerable efforts of our parliamentary staff,' Department of Parliamentary Services Secretary Trish Burrows said.

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