Native Title Student Internship Program

'The Aurora Project'

Country:  Australia (various States)
Date: 

Two intakes:
5-6 weeks from June - July; or
5-6 weeks from Nov - Feb

Funding:In many cases travel costs and accommodation will be covered by the NTRB involved. However, where this is not possible due to resource constraints, internships will be available to those who can self-fund.
Number of places:

The faculty will fund a maximum of five students per year
2 x June - July
3 x Nov - Feb

Applications due:Winter applications close 1 April 2010
Nov - Feb applications close August each year

The Aurora Project Internships Program

The Aurora Project Internships Program is a joint initiative of the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law and the University of New South Wales. The program introduces students to career opportunities in native title and provides assistance to under-resourced and overworked Native Title Representative Body (NTRB) lawyers. 

The April 2005 Report [PDF]  into the professional development needs of NTRB lawyers, in particular appendix 8 (pages 191-95), provides a description of the program and feedback from participants in the summer of 2004/05.

The program is only one element of the Aurora Project, funded by the Federal Government.  For information on the Aurora Project click here.

Location of internships

Internships will be with NTRBs located around Australia. Examples of past placements included NTRBs in Adelaide, Alice Springs, Burketown, Cairns, Darwin, Geraldton, Karratha, Mackay, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

Students were also placed at the Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership in Cairns where they did research into welfare reform, and at the developmental stage of the Lingiari Policy Centre in Sydney.

In addition, two students were placed with the Aurukun community in Cape York, where they conducted legal research into the safeguarding of rivers and waterways.

University course credit

Some law schools give credit for work done during the internships or for a paper arising out of the work done. Applicants should consult the International Programs Officer to discuss credit options.

Examples of tasks and duties

Interns have been asked during previous internships to perform such tasks as:

  • research into:
    • pro forma native title agreements
    • case law
    • the impact of developments in international intellectual and cultural property law and
    • compensation agreements entered into with mining companies
  • drafting of:
    • court affidavits and preparation of other court documents
    • pro forma questions for statements/gathering evidence from witnesses
    • protocols for visitors entering Aboriginal land 
    • taxation advice for Aboriginal corporations
  • other:
    • attending client meetings ‘on country’
    • analysis of witness transcripts
    • assistance in the co-ordination of witness evidence for native title claims

Internship eligibility criteria

Applications are open to all law students who have completed the property law component of their legal studies, are interested in working in native title and meet the following criteria.:

  • a strong academic record;
  • an interest in the area of Native Title
  • cultural awareness and sensitivity
  • willingness to commit to the minimum period of four weeks during the June - July or Nov - Feb break.

Monash Law funding eligibility criteria

In order to obtain funding through the Student Mobility Fund (SMF) you must meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the SMF website.

Application process

Applications need to be made directly to the Aurora Project (see below for faculty funding application details)

Applicants should fill out the application form available at
http://www.auroraproject.com.au/LegalInternships.htm.

You will need to supply the following information with your application form:

  • a covering letter explaining, in bullet point form the reasons for applying for the program, and any Indigenous studies undertaken or experience relating to Indigenous issues that may be relevent 
  • a curriculum vitae
  • all university results

Equity grants

The Student Mobility Fund (SMF) has been developed to provide financial assistance for faculty internship programs to those students who can demonstrate financial hardship.

 

Internship contact information

If you would like further information about this internship please contact the internship program coordinator at placements@auroraproject.com.au or go to http://www.auroraproject.com.au.

Forms

Internship Report Form [PDF]
Student intern profile – Example only [PDF]