Mikaela Innocent was a participant of the Development Studies Professional Practicum (DSPP), in 2024. Mikaela is studying at Murdoch University .
Q: Why did you decide to undertake the ACICIS internship program?
I was really keen to get some real world experience in the development space and knew that living in Indonesia for 6 weeks would be such a great way to grow personally and professionally. I thought it would be a great way to spend my uni break whilst gaining course credits for my degree.
Q: Did you receive a New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant? Do you think the NCP is an important initiative? If yes, why?
Yes, I received the grant. I think it’s such a great initiative as it eased the burden of costs of the travel. Without the grant myself and many others may not have been able to participate in the program, hence the grant helped facilitate an unparalleled cross cultural learning experience.
Q: Where did you live in Indonesia (Kos, homestay, hotel, rental etc.)? Any tips for prospective students on finding accommodation?
For the first two weeks in Indonesia I stayed in the accommodation arranged by ACICIS which was a great way to further connect with other students. For the remainder of my stay I stayed in a home stay I found on booking.com. I would definitely recommend waiting until you’re in Indonesia to book your accommodation so you can have a feel of what the area is like!
Q: How have you found the academic components of this program – i.e. the language classes/seminars?
The language classes were my favourite part of the academic program! Despite the length of the lessons initially seeming daunting and realising I had classes on Saturdays… they were so much fun! We had such a supportive classroom environment where I felt comfortable to practice and make mistakes. The classes were so engaging with great teachers and I learnt so much. The seminars were interesting, professional and always had thought provoking elements.
Q: What organisation are you interning with? (Explain your role and responsibilities)
I interned with UCP Roda Untuk Kemanusiaan (UCPRUK). They are a non- for profit organisation whom specialise in the provision and modification processes of adaptive wheelchairs. Through education and advocacy work they promote adaptive wheelchairs as they believe mobility is the key to empowerment and independence for persons with disabilities. Whilst interning with UCPRUK I was privileged enough to be able to gain an understanding about their work, visit communities such as a family support group for families with persons with disabilities in Wonsobo and even attend a National conference in Bali!
Q: How have you found the work culture of your host organisation? How is it different to work experience in Australia?
I loved the work culture of my host organisation. From the first day they were so warm and welcoming and my two mentors were so kind to me they were like my mum! I loved how we would share snacks in the office, get lunch together everyday and how my mentor even took me Batik shopping one day. I would say it’s a much more relaxed work environment than in Australia and being late was accepted where as in Australia punctuality is very important.
Q: What are the main skills you have learnt during your internship?
During my internship I learnt a lot about the Indonesian disability sector and how this contrasts to practices in Australia. Through undertaking the internship I practiced a lot of critical thinking in my learning and research. It also made me more confident as I had to step out of my comfort zone and communicate with a range of individuals when there was often a language barrier.
Q: What did you find to be the most rewarding part of this experience?
The most rewarding part of the experience were the connections I made. I made lasting connections with my host organisation and new friends but also connections with people from visiting communities. It was so inspiring to connect with people whom face so many struggles and hardships in their life but still remain so positive and full of joy. I was very grateful to be able to take part in this experience.
Q: Were you able to learn about the Indonesian culture from this program? If yes, how was this achieved?
Through seminars and the time in my internship I was able to learn more about the Indonesian culture and development sector. It was such a great experience to be able to live in Indonesia and immerse myself in this cultural experience.
Q: How will the internship benefit or influence your future career?
The internship will definitely be beneficial to my future career. Through the the various professional skills I have developed, as well as the general experience to live in a foreign country and the personal growth this entailed, it will undoubtedly serve me well in my future career.
Q: Would you recommend this program to your friends?
I would 100% recommend this program to my friends and anyone asking about it! It was such an amazing experience that I’ll never forget.
Q: Favourite Indonesian word/phrase:
Kucing
Q: What did you get up to in your free-time? i.e. in the evenings and on weekends.
I definitely made the most out of my free time! When I was in Jakarta for the first two weeks we went to a lot of cool restaurants, bars and cafes and did lots of shopping. I was then in Yogyakarta for the remainder of my time in Indonesia and I absolutely loved the community and culture here! I visited some beautiful temples such as Prambanan and Borobodur. Yogyakarta has such beautiful scenery and mountains which I loved. I also joined a run club, a gym and did yoga sessions which was a great way to meet new people and stay active. Yogyakarta also has such a great art scene and I was able to take part in a ring making class ,ceramics class and visit museums.
Q: What surprised you about Indonesia? Any new insights?
I was surprised by the cafe culture in Indonesia as they have so many cool cafes! They often serve coffee until the night and there are lots of people doing work on their computers which was handy when I was writing my report as I fit right in.
