Milo Line was a participant of the Agriculture Professional Practicum (APP), in 2023. Milo is studying a Bachelor of Agricultural Technology from The University of Western Australia.
Q: Why did you decide to undertake the ACICIS internship program?
It was highly recommended to me by a friend.
Q: Did you receive a New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant? Do you think the NCP is an important initiative? If yes, why? The NCP is a signature initiative of the Australian Government which aims to lift knowledge of the Indo-Pacific in Australia by supporting Australian undergraduates on experiences such as the Professional Practica.
Yes, because I think that people initially don’t recognise how much Indonesia has to offer and probably don’t consider coming here for learning/work experience. So I think the NCP goes a long way to encouraging people to just at a minimum explore the opportunities that exist within Indonesia.
Q: Where did you live in Indonesia (Kos, homestay, hotel, rental etc.)? Any tips for prospective students on finding accommodation?
Kos, use mamikos, it’s so cheap. Remember! More expensive doesn’t necessarily mean better.
Q: How have you found the academic components of this program – i.e. the language classes/seminars?
Incredibly informative. I was super pleased with the calibre of the seminar speakers.
Q: What organisation are you interning with? (Explain your role and responsibilities)
Austrex. Researching viability of GPS tracking animals in supply chain to comply with ESCAS.
Q: How have you found the work culture of your host organisation? How is it different to work experience in Australia?
Amazing. It was a great experience and ACICIS was very open to teaching us about the industry even if it was unrelated to our project.
Q: What are the main skills you have learnt during your internship?
Working in a diverse workplace. Market analytics. Being able to related to people from a different background in a professional and informed way.
Q: What did you find to be the most rewarding part of this experience?
Single event: visiting an abbattoir provided an opportunity to see how much ESCAS had influenced Indonesia.
Overall: how a countries market power can have such a major impact on other countries. How interconnected our cultures are.
Q. Were you able to learn about the Indonesian culture from this program? If yes, how was this achieved?
Yes, I learned a lot about Islam and Indonesian customs because the people in my office were keen to tell me everything I wanted to know. Also ACICIS’ approach to teaching us Indonesian went a long way to helping me understand Indonesia through talking to Indonesians.
Q. How will the internship benefit or influence your future career?
Having a company like Austrex on my resume will definitely benefit me in the job application process.
Q. Would you recommend this program to your friends?
Definitely.
Q. Favourite Indonesian word/phrase:
Pancasila.