CANBERRA — With the development and humanitarian sectors continually evolving, students seeking a career in the sector need to be better prepared to make use of the opportunities available. In association with the Master of Development Studies program at the University of Melbourne, the Humanitarian Advisory Group is seeking to do just that.
The students in the course come from diverse backgrounds, in Australia and internationally, with equally diverse goals and expectations for a career following the completion of their degree. But generally, they are new to the sector. By co-facilitating industry engagement events — including a professional practice seminar series, workshops, and other career events — the Humanitarian Advisory Group is enabling these students to engage with and learn from development practitioners who can provide, guidance, support, and a real understanding of workforce demands in the sector.
Devex spoke with Pip Henty, a researcher with the Humanitarian Advisory Group, who discussed the key questions development students ask at their events and shared her advice.
1. Is unpaid work really the best way to enter the development and humanitarian sector?
About the author
Lisa Cornishlisa_cornish
Lisa Cornish is a Devex Reporter based in Canberra, where she focuses on the Australian aid community. Lisa formerly worked with News Corp Australia as a data journalist for the national network and was published throughout Australia in major metropolitan and regional newspapers, including the Daily Telegraph in Melbourne, Herald Sun in Melbourne, Courier-Mail in Brisbane, and online through news.com.au. Lisa additionally consults with Australian government providing data analytics, reporting and visualization services. Lisa was awarded the 2014 Journalist of the Year by the New South Wales Institute of Surveyors.
