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1 INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

2 IMPACT Communications Australia Company Profile IMPACT Communications Australia is a public relations agency that creates bold campaigns based on client and consumer insights implemented via our media connections. Established in 1999, IMPACT prides itself on providing results-oriented campaigns and being accountable to its clients. We have an award-winning approach and have received: 1 x Sabre Asia Pacific Award 18 x Public Relations Institute of Australia, State Awards for Excellence 7 x Public Relations Institute of Australia, Golden Target Awards 1 x Platinum PR Award (USA) 2 x Asia Pacific PR Awards 1 x Banking & Finance Magazine Award IMPACT offers a wide range of services such as media relations, social media management, blogger relations, event management, crisis communications, media training, key message workshops, media perception audits, editorial, design and print production. We operate two practice groups; reputational PR and consumer PR. Our Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) team specialises in food, health, beauty and lifestyle goods. Our reputational management PR team specialises in property, banking and finance; HR, education and training; IT, technology and environmental clients. Horticulture Australia Australian Pears Chestnuts Australia Papaya Australia Passionfruit Australia Australian Pineapples Custard Apples Turf Australia AvoFresh Nestle Ambition Bullhorn SHL Hilti Australian National Maritime Museum THINK Education Group Billy Blue College of Design CATC Design School Australian National College of Beauty (ANCB) Australasian College of Natural Therapies (ACNT) Southern School of Natural Therapies (SSNT) Janssen Newman Institute (JNI) Unisys Holy Family Services UnitingCare CYPF At IMPACT we place a high value on professionalism and believe in the importance of industry connections. We are a member of the Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) and its Registered Consultancy Group (RCG). We believe in ethical PR practices and adhere to the PRIA and RCG Codes of Conduct. IMPACT represents the ECCO International PR Network in Australia and New Zealand. ECCO ( is a top 20 global PR group with 35 consultancies in 40 countries and over 700 staff worldwide. 2 P age

3 To connect with IMPACT like, follow us For more information on our company visit or call us on P age

4 IMPACT Communications Australia Internship Program IMPACT Communications Australia firmly believes in the value of mentoring talented young PR students to invest in the future of our industry. Our internship program offers students an opportunity to gain professional work experience to enhance their career opportunities upon graduation. Each year IMPACT sources a minimum of four interns (one per quarter) from tertiary institutions for the program. supported environment. At the beginning of the program each intern is provided with a learning contract, outlining the skills and experiences they will gain. Each intern is then assigned a senior IMPACT employee as a mentor to provide feedback and ongoing support with their professional development. Students also have the opportunity to learn from highly respected practitioners, including Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) NSW Board Member, Nicole Webb; PRIA Fellow, Allison Lee; and PRIA member and Golden Target judge, Frances Dwyer. Throughout the internship, students will have the opportunity to gain firsthand experience in a variety of PR activities. These may include: Media/social media analysis and benchmarking Social media outreach, including blogger outreach, Twitter and Facebook management Identifying key media targets and building media lists Assisting with event organisation, attending media events (dependent on availability) Media liaison and story pitching Writing and preparing media releases and other media materials Participating in brainstorms and the development of campaign strategies/pitches Assisting in the development of campaign evaluation report Developing design briefs for media materials, including infographics Should timing allow, students also have the opportunity to attend IMPACT-organised training sessions including our half yearly and annual company conferences. Interns are also welcome to attend our in-house Pilates class each Thursday if their schedule permits. At the conclusion of their internship each student will receive feedback on their performance in person and through an evaluation report. The report will provide feedback on each activity graduation. many talented young professionals. Our Group Account Director, Frances Dwyer first came to us as an Intern 10 years ago and another five Interns have started their PR careers with IMPACT. IMPACT intern, Joanna Lee, from University of Technology Sydney, recently undertook a twelve week internship to gain insight into life at a PR agency and B2B communications. 4 P age

5 nterning at IMPACT I feel more comfortable tackling PR tasks and have a broader understanding of what a PR agency does. It was exciting to put into practice the theories I have learned at university, apply industry knowledge and experience to my assessments. My time at IMPACT has been an enjoyable and valuable one! On average, the duration of an internship is between hours. However, internships may vary depending on the timeframe agreed on by IMPACT, the student and his/her course requirements. For more information, or to discuss our internship program, please contact Maria Cordova on or maria@impactcommunications.com.au 5 P age

6 IMPACT Communications Australia Internship Policy IMPACT Communications Australia firmly believes in the value of mentoring talented young PR students to invest in the future of our industry. Our internship program offers students an opportunity to gain professional work experience and is founded on the guidelines set out by the Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA). Each year IMPACT sources a minimum of four interns (one per quarter) from tertiary institutions for the program. Eligibility Unpaid internships are only available to students who are currently studying and/or completing work placement as part of their course work. To be eligible to be considered as an intern at IMPACT, applicants must: Be a tertiary communications student/required to complete work placement Australian/New Zealand citizen or hold visa Strong academic record i.e. credit average or above/tafe equivalent Suitable references On the occasion students do not meet the above criteria, they may apply for a maximum two week period of work experience. Work experience or short periods of workplace observation are not internships. These work placements are designed to allow students to observe consultants to learn about the practical aspects of a career in PR. During work experience placement students will be given junior office work. Selection process Review of application (resume and references) Acknowledgement of application and response to student: Inform student than unfortunately we do not have a position available at this time interview. Initial phone interview Shortlist applicants and interview them face-to-face Successful applicants will commence internship on agreed date Internship program the placement when interns will receive an induction into the agency. 6 P age

7 Step one: induction During this step interns will also: Be introduced to relevant staff and team members Be provided with details of relevant codes, rules, procedures and practices Be informed about where to access support if they are concerned about work or with how they are being treated at work Interns accepted by IMPACT will also have an agreed learning contract outlining the professional experiences they will gain for the period of their placement. The learning contract aims to provide a well-rounded experience of agency life and take into account Each intern is then assigned a senior IMPACT employee as a mentor to provide feedback and ongoing support with their professional development. The mentor will also be responsible for the first day induction of the intern. Students who participate in the IMPACT internship program will also be provided with a confidentiality agreement. Interns must return a signed copy of the confidentiality agreement to IMPACT prior to starting their placement. Step two: supervision and mentoring The second step focuses on supervision and mentoring. IMPACT will ensure that there is a dedicated consultant to act as a supervisor and mentor who will provide ongoing support, competencies, professional behaviour, and interpersonal skills. Any significant performance-related or supervisory issues which emerge during an internship will be discussed with the intern supervisor. If the intern has concerns about their placement (e.g. issues of appropriate work tasks or support) he/she should discuss with his/her mentor, and if need be, the academic supervisor. Step three: evaluation The final step is an evaluation at the end of their placement. Each student will receive feedback on their performance in person and through an evaluation report. The report will provide feedback on each activity outlined in the learning Duration of an internship On average, the duration of an internship is between hours. However, internships may vary depending on the timeframe agreed on by IMPACT, the student and his/her course requirements. Tasks and duties ve is to provide students with an educational placement where they will gain firsthand experience in real-world PR. All tasks undertaken by students will be PRbased and will not include administrative work. Tasks may include: Media/social media analysis and benchmarking Social media outreach, including blogger outreach, Twitter and Facebook management 7 P age

8 Identifying key media targets and building media lists Assisting with event organisation, attending media events (dependent on availability) Media liaison and story pitching Writing and preparing media releases and other media materials Participating in brainstorms and the development of campaign strategies/pitches Assisting in the development of campaign evaluation report Developing design briefs for media materials, including infographics esponsibilities and good practice Ensure that the intern receives meaningful, professional development opportunities involving a range of relevant tasks and activities Ensure interns will not solely do administrative duties Formally set out the activities to be undertaken and identify clearly associated deliverables and learning goals Provide adequate induction and orientation training Appoint a suitably qualified member to act as supervisor and mentor, who will maintain regular contact with the intern during the placement and provide thoughtful, focussed discussion Complete an evaluation documentation that provides formal performance and accomplishments To provide the student with a safe working environment abiding by all occupational health and safety regulation To treat intern with the respect Intern esponsibilities and good practice Manage the entire process from pre-placement planning and preparation, through to assignment work and the internship evaluation To arrange the necessary insurance cover via their tertiary institution Unless otherwise stated or agreed, the student is responsible for all costs during the course of the internship Dress and behave in an appropriate manner Attend the placement on the agreed time basis and advise your mentor at the earliest opportunity if unable to attend on any given day(s) Immediately reporting any accident or injury to IMPACT and to their academic supervisor Abide by IMPACT company policies and procedures Keep confidential the information to which you are privy to during the internship Students must provide IMPACT with a written confirmation of their insurance cover prior to the start date as we will not accept uninsured interns. Conflict resolution Should any issues arise during the placement, IMPACT is entitled to conclude the placement. In the event that conflict arises, IMPACT will aim to resolve the issue before concluding the placement by: Firstly, raise the issue with the student in accordance with our HR policy and procedure Secondly, raise the issue with the academic adviser Lastly, it will result in immediate termination of placement 8 P age

9 notice. For more information, or to discuss our internship program, please contact Maria Cordova on or 9 P age

10 IMPACT Communications Australia Intern Learning Contract The following learning contract outlines the tasks and responsibilities of the intern as well as Name address Phone number University/ College address Internship period (dates) Commencement: Completion: commitment To provide an opportunity for the student to learn about PR in a practical setting Provide student with a variety of experiences To provide constructive Nominate at least one contact person from whom the student can seek feedback To be honest and consultative Student commitment To be punctual, reliable and committed To be enthusiastic and willing to learn all tasks To show initiative and be proactive To accept constructive criticism from workplace colleagues and supervisors To attempt to create client-ready work To give IMPACT your full attention To maintain commercial-in-confidences 10 P age

11 During your internship, IMPACT will provide you with the opportunity to undertake the following tasks when available. PR Activity Write a media release Participate in brainstorms and the development of campaign strategies Identify key media targets and build a media list Media and social media analysis Event organisation (depending on the availability of the intern and scheduling of the event) Draft a social media conversation and content calendar Timekeeping Taking a brief Reports General office skills Professional roles Other Learning Objective The student will learn how to compile an informative, enticing and well-written media release. Activities will include writing a media release for a client and receiving feedback from a consultant. The student will gain an understanding of the importance of brainstorms and how to formulate a PR campaign from concept to strategy. The student will also be asked for input regarding PR practices. Activities may include participating in a brainstorm and researching information for the development of the campaign. To identify relevant publications and key members of the media to pitch stories for campaigns. Activities may include building and updating media lists using media database, Influencing. To analyse topics and identify trends in the media. Activities may include constant media monitoring, gathering qualitative and quantitative data from media and social media platforms; and analysing gathered data. The student will gain an understanding of the different stages and elements of organising an event. Activities may include researching appropriate venues, catering, and entertainment for the event; compiling a guest list for the event, putting together gift bags and volunteering at the event. The student will learn how to develop a client content calendar for a social media platform. Activity may include developing a Facebook or Twitter content calendar. To understand the significance of timekeeping within an software to record daily tasks, export reports and update client budgets. The student will learn the importance of taking an effective brief and how it can affect the success of a project. Activities may include being briefed by assigned mentor and observing a client brief. The student will learn about the significance of reporting in relation to the Barcelona principles and the different types of reports in PR. Activities may include contributing to weekly client reports, evaluation reports, contact reports as well as reporting back to the assigned mentor. The student will be able to learn how to liaise with different personnel within a professional environment. Activities may include liaising with clients, suppliers, members of the public and media over the phone and via . The student will learn about the structure of an agency and the various professional roles that exist through observation. In particular, the student will learn about the role of an account executive. Activities may include attending client meetings, internal meetings, and learning about the different tasks involved in account management. (Student nominated) 11 P age

12 Signatures Consultant: Date: Student: Date: 12 P age