UWA Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) student Jessica-Monique Bojanjac applied her interdisciplinary knowledge in law and society during her McCusker Centre for Citizenship internship with the Commissioner for Children and Young People (CCYP).
Jessica-Monique was motivated to apply for the internship to complement her honours studies while contributing to meaningful, community-focused work.
“I saw it as an opportunity to give back to my community, apply my knowledge of research, legislation and policy in a practical setting, and make meaningful change,” she said.
During her internship, Jessica-Monique worked as a research intern supporting the development of the pilot phase for CCYP’s 2025–26 Complaints Management Project. Her work involved conducting baseline research into complaint data collection, analysing trends across existing frameworks, identifying privacy and confidentiality considerations, and developing key questions to support agencies in reporting complaint data.
In addition, she contributed to briefing notes, supported the development of CCYP’s annual report, and participated in policy and team meetings.
Her supervisor, Hope Kachila, praised her impact and professionalism.
“Jessica-Monique demonstrated a high level of professionalism, curiosity and commitment to learning from the outset,” she said. “She consistently produced thoughtful, well-structured work of a high standard and exceeded expectations.”
A key highlight for Jessica-Monique was the opportunity to apply her academic learning in a real-world policy setting.
“Being able to use my knowledge of law to anticipate and mitigate potential issues in a project was extremely rewarding,” she said. “It reinforced the importance of well-informed regulation and accountability.”
One of the most challenging aspects of her role was navigating a shift in the focus of complaint data collection. With the project moving towards identifying trends and systemic issues, Jessica-Monique needed to develop new questions that balanced comprehensive data gathering with practical constraints faced by agencies.
“It was challenging to design questions that were both meaningful and feasible,” she said. “But starting from the ground up allowed me to think critically about each element of the process.”
Reflecting on her experience, Jessica-Monique said the internship deepened her understanding of the complex and interconnected issues faced by children and young people.
“Working with the policy team showed me how much care and commitment goes into ensuring young people are heard,” she said. “It also highlighted how different forms of disadvantage often overlap across areas like health, education and the justice system.”
Through her work, Jessica-Monique contributed to initiatives that support children and young people by improving how their experiences are captured and understood. These efforts help inform advocacy and policy development, while also empowering young people to understand their rights and contribute to change in their communities.
Jessica-Monique believes the experience will have lasting benefits for her future career in law.
“The research and problem-solving skills I developed will be invaluable,” she said. “It has strengthened my ability to analyse complex issues and develop practical solutions in a policy and legal context.”
Jessica-Monique strongly recommends a McCusker Centre internship to other students.
“It’s a unique opportunity to apply your studies in a real-world setting while making a meaningful impact,” she said. “The experience helps you grow professionally and personally, while building valuable skills and connections.”