Location

Perth, Australia

Program Description

Recording from earlier information session below:

Australia Internship Information Session Recording 10-1-2024

Want on-the-job international preparation for our globalized world? Not sure where to complete your kinesiology/exercise science, hospitality management, or sport and recreation management internship? This is the program for you. In this exciting JMU program, students will be placed in an internship within one of three fields: kinesiology/exercise science, hospitality management, or sport and recreation management. The placements vary and students will work with JMU's in-country partner agency The Education Abroad Network (TEAN) to confirm internships after acceptance.

For KIN: TEAN assists accepted students in finding a site that is individually tailored to their allied health professional goals. This study abroad program has a history of placing students with Australian Rules Football teams to experience first-hand the sports medicine culture by engaging in numerous activities, which include helping in the performance and conditioning activities within the club by conducting various fitness assessments and interpreting results; and developing exercise prescriptions for injured athletes. This placement allows students the opportunity to get an insider’s look at the home-grown Aussie sport that dominates the country. More recently, potential site opportunities have expanded into fitness and athletic performance, physiotherapy, and chiropractic care to name a few. TEAN is a very enthusiastic organization with caring and devoted professionals positioned in-country who are committed to the students' educational tourism experience. They are eager to hear what you’d like to learn during your study abroad course and are always searching for new opportunities to develop. Dream big! Your actual placement will not be determined until after you are accepted.

For HM: Most placements will be with hotels, restaurants, or local travel agencies around Perth. Students will have the opportunity to experience hospitality, tourism, and marketing all while working with colleagues from around the world. Actual placements will be determined after acceptance.

For SRM: Most placements will be with sports teams or companies/agencies involved with Australian Rules football. Students will experience sports management, membership, and marketing while engaging in numerous activities. Actual placements will be determined after acceptance.

Students will start their Australian adventure in Cairns, where they will participate in an exciting Orientation, which includes "all things Australian" along with a Great Barrier Reef excursion and classes to help prepare them for their time in the country. They will then go to their placement cities in Perth or Melbourne. 

Upon arrival in their internship city, students will get settled in their apartments and attend an orientation designed to get them familiar with their area and prepare them for the work environment they will encounter in their internships.

Students will be placed in a full-time internship for a total of 8 weeks (160+ hours).

Don't waste your summer, take advantage of this opportunity to get international work experience while earning academic credits!

Watch this video to learn more about the Kinesiology Australia Internship program!

Location Description

Students may be placed in Perth or Melbourne, depending on program, internship goals, and site availability.

As the capital and largest city of the state of Western Australia, Perth gives you a combination of cosmopolitan life surrounded by incredible natural beauty. While in Perth, you might spend your time outside of internship hiking the trails of Kings Park, taking a tour on Swan River, swimming in its beautiful beaches or taking a ferry to Rottnest Island to visit the smiling quokkas who run freely there! The Botanic Garden on Mount Eliza offers sweeping views of the city. The Perth Cultural Center houses the state ballet and opera companies, and occupies its own central precinct, including a theatre, library and the Art Gallery of Western Australia.

Melbourne is the coastal capital and most populous city of the southeastern Australia state of Victoria. Often referred to as Australia's cultural capital, Melbourne is recognized globally as a center of sport, music, theatre, comedy, art, literature, film and television. The most visited attractions in Melbourne are Federation Square, Queen Victoria Market, Southbank, Melbourne Zoo, Melbourne Aquarium, Docklands, Arts Centre Melbourne, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground. A theme park inspired by New York’s Coney Island and Seattle’s park of the same name, Luna Park is also a popular tourist destination. Melbourne has extensive train, tram, bus and taxi systems offering many options for transportation in the city.

Both cities have been ranked among the world’s most livable cities. And, for planning purposes -- remember the summer solstice in June we have in the United States will be the winter solstice in Australia!

Director

Angeline McMullin | mcmullja@jmu.edu | Center for Global Engagement

Jana Walters (instructor) | walterjr@jmu.edu | Department of Kinesiology

Theresa Lind (instructor) | lindtl@jmu.edu | Hospitality Management

Angela Hayslett (instructor) | haysleai@jmu.edu | Sport & Recreation Management

Accommodations

Lodging provided is in apartment style housing with shared livingroom and Kitchen with roomates. Housing varies each year based on availability, but it is always considered a nice quality.

Students will receive a partial meal stipend. This will not cover all meals, but is meant to be supplemental. The meal stipend is $80 AUD, which will go further if students prepare meals at home vs going out. Students should plan to spend their own money each week for groceries outside of the meals covered by the stipend.

Additional Items to Consider

Program fee includes internship placement, orientation, health insurance, 24/7 emergency contact information, housing, food stipend, and in-country support in Australia throughout the internship. Airfare and spending money are not included.

While this study abroad program awards specific credits, the experience may fulfill internship requirements for other majors.

Applicant Criteria

Applicants must have a GPA minimum of 2.5

Prerequisites:

• For KIN 481, completion of KIN 381 is required
• For SRM 482: SRM 282, SRM 333 and completion of 72 credit hours (cannot be on academic probation)

Open to JMU students only.