Elysse Ralph, a third year Bachelor of Arts student at UWA, recently undertook a policy and research internship role with the Commissioner for Children and Young People through the McCusker Centre for Citizenship, helping to build a better understanding of young people’s views on vaping.
“My primary focus was on the Talking about Vaping survey. I contributed to the research and analysis of survey responses relating to young people's perceptions and use of e-cigarettes,” Elysse said.
“This research is geared toward identifying the support needed by young people in relation to e-cigarettes - by destigmatising these issues and advocating for a more compassionate, non-punitive approach, I believe we can genuinely improve the outcomes for young individuals dealing with addiction,” she said.
Stephanie Milan, Senior Research & Data Policy Officer with the office of the Commissioner for Children and Young People, said that Elysse’s involvement in the project helped translate a large volume of qualitative data into meaningful research findings.
“Elysse played an important role in our most recent research project, helping us thematically analyse the views and experiences of over 3000 WA young people on the topic of e-cigarettes and vaping,” Ms Milan said.
“While we provided the necessary research skills training and mentorship to Elysse, it was her passion and enthusiasm for our work that dictated the depth of her involvement in the project. The quality of work produced by Elysse, her professionalism, and growth over the course of her internship were impressive.
“We are grateful to the McCusker Centre for Citizenship for running such a strong internship program and we look forward to hosting many more interns in future,” she said.
As well as providing an opportunity to contribute to valuable research on the wellbeing of children and young people, Elysse said the internship experience had given her new perspective.
“My internship experience significantly broadened my perspective, particularly in terms of understanding and advocating for marginalised children, and this newfound awareness has equipped me with insights and knowledge that I can also apply to various contexts beyond the internship,” she said.
“My experience with the office of the Commissioner and my supervisor, Stephanie, was overwhelmingly positive. An internship like this is a valuable and enriching opportunity for anyone seeking to expand their horizons in the field of public service.”