Aurora and TPG Telecom launch new Indigenous intern fund

The Aurora Education Foundation (Aurora), a leading Indigenous education not-for-profit, and TPG Telecom have partnered to launch an Intern Support Fund to help Indigenous interns excel in the workplace.

The Fund – which has been launched with a $100,000 donation from TPG Telecom – has been established to provide access to critical resources and supports to help Indigenous interns thrive. Many internship candidates experience financial challenges when it comes to accessing the necessary resources for success in a corporate setting – from professional attire to technology and corporate coaching.  The Fund will help supply these vital resources to interns that need them, enhancing their chances for success during their internships and future careers.

The Fund will form part of Aurora’s existing Internship Program, which has had a transformational impact on interns, host organisations and the community. Over the past decade, more than 900 jobs have been created in Indigenous-sector organisations and 700 alumni have been employed after their internships. Since its inception, more than 3,400 internships have been coordinated, with 95 per cent of interns saying the experience was pivotal to their future career.

Aurora’s CEO, Wiradjuri woman Leila Smith, said this new Fund was a pivotal step in developing the next generation of Indigenous leaders: “Providing a platform for practical and tailored support into employment pathways means more Indigenous students can advance their careers on their own terms and strengthen the Indigenous sector while doing so.

“We welcome the commitment of organisations like TPG Telecom, who recognise the importance of creating equitable opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. I look forward to seeing the impact of this Fund over the coming year.”

Vanessa Hicks, Group Executive People Experience, TPG Telecom said “We’re incredibly proud to support Aurora and the critical work it does to create employment opportunities for Indigenous communities. Providing pathways to shape a more equal and diverse workforce will help us all build meaningful relationships and support vibrant, connected communities.”

The Aurora Internship Program provides full-time or part-time paid internships over four to six weeks for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, who are hosted at organisations working to support Indigenous communities.

Over the next five years, with the support of the Indigenous Intern Support Fund, Aurora plans to offer internship opportunities to a further 500 university students.

ENDS

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Jillian McKee, jillian@suada.com.au or Naomi Brooker, naomi@suada.com.au.

About Aurora

The Aurora Education Foundation is an Indigenous organisation that supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to realise their full education and employment potential – whether it is completing Year 12 or achieving a DPhil from Oxford. Through interconnected pathways, we walk with students from high school through to university and the workplace, redefining Indigenous educational and employment success.