Why did you want to do an internship at the McCabe Centre?
As I began my legal studies in 2025, I also completed a volunteer placement at Cancer Council Victoria. During this time, I was struck by how the law can be used to regulate harmful industries such as tobacco, and has been a useful tool in lowering rates of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).
In my undergraduate degree, I studied international politics and was drawn to the McCabe Centre’s global approach to using law to prevent and manage these diseases. I was particularly interested in their work in influencing policy and legislative change domestically and overseas.
What kind of things did you do during your internship?
During my internship, I had the opportunity to participate in both practical work in attending the McCabe Centre’s tobacco control workshop, as well as in research and other theoretical tasks.
The workshop was a highlight of my time at the McCabe Centre, as I was able to watch in real time as people from across the region shared expertise and grew their skills in facilitating tobacco control through law.
I also completed a variety of research tasks focused on cancer prevention, including researching the impact of gender on access to cancer prevention services and care and updates in law relating to NCDs I also updated several sources on the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Through these tasks, I learned a lot about the practical implementation of policies targeting risk factors for NCDs.
What was the most interesting or surprising thing you learned?
As I was working on a task regarding the World Trade Organization’s Technical Barriers to Trade committee meeting, I was surprised by the kinds of difficulties states face in implementing preventative measures for NCDs, such as warning labels on alcohol and unhealthy foods. I was particularly interested to see how the dynamics between different states impact their ability to implement positive change.
What do you hope to do in the future?
In the future, I’m eager to continue gaining experience in different areas of law, with a focus on using law to implement tangible change.
My time at the McCabe Centre has demonstrated to me the value of international collaboration, and I hope to work in the international sphere later in my career.
How do you think an internship will help you with your future study/work paths?
This internship has given me a practical insight into the use of law to facilitate political change, as well as developing my skills in research, writing and communication. I hope that throughout the rest of my career, I’m able to implement these skills in whichever field I work in. Throughout my time at the McCabe Centre, I have also had the opportunity to develop my professional skills and have really enjoyed working alongside the welcoming and skillful team.