Handbook

The Australian Human Rights Institute (the "Institute") at the University of New South Wales breaks silos between academic research and real-world problems to progress human rights. It delivers multidisciplinary, applied research, empowering communities and educating the next generation of human rights leaders.

As part of its education and public engagement activities, the Institute works with a Student Editor each term to find new and innovative ways to highlight research and human rights issues not always covered in mainstream media.

You’ll be working with academics, advocates and experts to create content for the Institute’s website and digital publications on human rights issues. These take the form of commentary pieces/op-eds, explainers and social media campaigns to help inform debate and add context to the news of the day.

Program and Supervision

You will assist in commissioning and curating content for the Institute’s website, as well as assisting in the development of social media campaigns on human rights issues. The Student Editor will be required to write an article (around 800 words) to be published on the Institute’s website and/or newsletter.

You will gain skills in editing and proofing, writing, and commissioning and forming relationships with other human rights organisations, academics and members of the legal profession. Students work under the supervision of the Communications Manager during the internship.

Interns are required to attend at the Institute for the equivalent of one day each week over the session, and to undertake additional work at occasional events on a flexible basis arranged individually with each intern.

At the end of the course, students should:

• Have developed an appreciation for the professional and personal responsibilities associated with the publishing editorial.
• Undertake self-management by completing activities, such as editing articles and liaising with contributors, associated with the position to a high standard and within deadlines.
• Demonstrate effective oral communication skills by successfully liaising with contributors in a persuasive and appropriate manner to meet deadlines.
• Improve written communication skills by completing an article/blog appropriate to the theme of the human rights.
• Communicate effectively, in speaking and in writing.