Meet Aurora Intern Ebonie Cortez

Ebonie Cortez is a proud Whajuk Noongar woman studying a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) at Curtin University. After receiving an email about the Aurora Internship Program from one of the University’s Centre of Aboriginal Studies’ Aboriginal Support Officers in 2022, she decided to apply for an internship. She has since completed three internships in occupational therapy through Aurora.

Ebonie completed her first internship with Key Assets Foster Care. While she was there, she worked closely with the Aboriginal Liaison Officer and visited CarersWA for the release of its new Indigenous-designed merchandise. Her last two internships were completed with Telethon Kids Institute (Clinikids). Ebonie worked with children of varying ages as an occupational therapist in training, and to create a collection of Indigenous resources for other occupational therapists, clinical psychologists and speech pathologists to use in the future. At the end of her internship with Clinikids, Ebonie also donated some Aboriginal children’s books and sensory packs incorporating nature into play for practitioners to use in their sessions.

“I have developed so many new skills from completing internships with Aurora. I have built on my communication skills working with different people. I have built on my knowledge of the Occupational Therapy process, interventions, and assessments, which has also helped me in my university studies. Most importantly for me, the Internship Program has helped me to step out of my shell and develop more confidence.”

Since completing her internships with Aurora, Ebonie has become more certain about her ambition of becoming a well-rounded occupational therapist and hopes to bring a fresh Indigenous perspective to healthcare in WA. We wish her the best of luck in her future studies and can’t wait to see what she does next.

Aurora prioritises supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and graduates to secure funded internships that are relevant to the candidate’s study or career aspirations. Indigenous interns will be provided with a weekly stipend of $900 (pro rata for part-time internships) and up to $3,800 (incl. GST) to cover the cost of travel and accommodation.

Applications for the Aurora Internship Program Winter Round are open now. Click here to apply!