Anushka Mudiyanselage is set to graduate with a Master of Data Science from UWA this year. In the final semester of his degree, he applied the technical expertise he has learnt to support the community-focused work of Alike WA through a McCusker Centre for Citizenship (the Centre) internship.
“For my master’s course I specialised in Data Analysis, Visualisation and Machine Learning. I wanted an opportunity to apply my skills with an organisation that helps people, and I was drawn to the McCusker Centre’s program because of its strong focus on positive social impact,” Anushka said.
Anushka was matched with Alike WA, the peak body supporting almost 800 peer-led support groups across the state, who were looking for an intern to lead a project enhancing the collection, management, reporting and evaluation of feedback data from workshops and events.
“I designed end-to-end workflows that cleaned, structured and analysed large datasets, and built functions to calculate key metrics like average confidence improvement and satisfaction scores,” explained Anushka.
“I also created interactive dashboards and graphs that allow non-technical staff to easily interpret outcomes, and concluded the project with a report and presentation proposing data governance enhancements and potential opportunities to incorporate AI-assisted analysis for future evaluations.”
Alike WA CEO, Amanda Muir, said that Anushka’s contribution would have a lasting impact for the organisation.
“We really value the opportunity to host interns through the McCusker Internship program; it brings fresh ideas and energy into our work and enables us to progress projects we otherwise wouldn’t have the resources for,” she said.
“For organisations with limited resources, having skilled data students on board is a game-changer, helping us close critical capability gaps and better serve our communities.”
Anushka reflected on what the internship had taught him as an emerging professional:
“This experience deepened my appreciation for how data science can directly contribute to social good,” he said.
“I realised that effective data solutions are not just about technology, but about accessibility and empowerment. Even simple analytical tools, designed well for the right users, can transform how organisations make decisions, measure success and communicate their impact. For Alike WA, this strengthens the support offered to volunteer-led peer support groups that play an essential role in community wellbeing and mental health.
“The internship also enhanced my communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills, which will be invaluable in my future career as a data analyst or data scientist. I am deeply grateful to Alike WA and the McCusker Centre for their guidance and support throughout the process.”