Internships

Applications for the current internship intake (August 2011) closed on 30 April 2011.

If you wish to apply for the February - June 2012 period, please submit your application by 31 October 2011.

Internships in the Delegation of the European Union to Australia

The Delegation of the European Union to Australia offers periods of internship of three to five months duration to young university graduates interested in acquiring work experience in the unique international environment of the Delegation.

Deadline for applications

Applications must be received by 31 October for internships taking place during the period from 1 February to 30 June of the following year and by 30 April for internships taking place during the period from 1 August to 31 December of the same year.

Application requirements

Applicants must already possess or be able to demonstrate they can obtain a legal entitlement to remain in Australia for the duration of the internship. Immigration, visa or residence requirements for non-Australians applying for an internship have to be managed entirely by the candidates themselves.

Applicants must have recently completed, by the closing dates for applications, a course of university education and obtained a first degree or its equivalent.

Applicants must have a thorough knowledge of English. Knowledge of other official languages of the European Union, particularly French, would be an advantage.

The Delegation follows the procedures of the European Commission, [Rules governing the official traineeships scheme of the European Commission] laid out at http://ec.europa.eu/stages/rules/rules_en.pdf

Of relevance to applicants is the following:

Prior employment

The European Commission wishes to offer to as many people as possible the opportunity of in-service training. Therefore applications will not be accepted from candidates who - for more than six weeks:

• have already benefited or benefit from any kind of in-service training (formal or informal, paid or unpaid) within a European institution or body, or
• who have had or have any kind of employment within a European institution or body,

including anyone who is or has been an assistant to a Member of the European Parliament, an intra-muros consultant or researcher, a temporary staff member, a contract staff member, an auxiliary staff member or an interim staff member of any EU institution, body, delegation or representative office.

Selection criteria

Successful applicants will be selected, in the first instance, on the basis of qualifications and degree of motivation. However, priority may be given to applicants having already demonstrated their interest in the functioning and activities of the European Union by following courses on European studies. Also, proven experience / skills in areas relevant to the activities of the Delegation (especially in economics; trade policy; environmental policy; science and educational policy and cooperation; and public relations) would be an advantage.

Conditions of employment

The exact timing and duration of each internship will be mutually agreed between the Delegation and the successful candidate.

Interns will be expected to participate in the activities of the Delegation Monday to Friday (approximately 37½ hours per week) for the agreed duration of the internship.

Internships are non-remunerated. The Delegation is not in a position to provide any training grants nor to cover any of the travel, accommodation or other expenses incurred by interns. Interns must provide a health declaration by a GP and have adequate sickness and accident insurance.

Interns will be asked to sign an undertaking to exercise the greatest discretion with regard to all facts and information coming to their knowledge in the course of the internship and not to disclose to any unauthorised person any document or information not already made public.

Application procedure

Applications must be:

- addressed to:

Delegation of the European Union to Australia
(Application for an internship)
18 Arkana Street
Yarralumla ACT 2600

- or faxed to: +61 2 6273 4445 (Subject: Application for an internship)

- or e-mailed to: delegation-australia@eeas.europa.eu (Subject: Application for an internship).

The application must contain:

• a formal, complete, up-to-date curriculum vitae;
• a detailed statement of motivation; and
• a letter of recommendation from the last educational establishment attended.

The Delegation may choose to conduct interviews with some potential candidates by telephone.

The Delegation will acknowledge receipt of all applications in writing no later than one month after the closing date for applications and will normally inform the applicant whether they have been successful within a further month.

For information about studying in Europe, please see Australians - Study in Europe!

Information about internships in the Institutions of the European Union

Information about working for the European Institutions can be obtained from the European Personnel Selection Office : http://europa.eu/epso/index_en.htm

For general information about working in Europe, please see the European Job Mobility Portal:
http://europa.eu/eures/home.jsp?lang=en

Please click here for information on Working Holiday Visas for Young Australians