The Centre is working with partners to build opportunities that combine education with work placements – a long-term focus on skills and workforce development, as highlighted in our 10-Year Research Strategy 2022 and rolling Biennial Research Plans.
Two new internship opportunities for 2025 have been developed in partnership with Australian Postgraduate Research Intern (APR.Intern) – the industry engagement arm of the Australian Mathematical and Sciences Institute. It ensures that PhD and Masters by Research scholars receive supported opportunities to practice learnings from their degrees through hands-on experience within the natural hazards, resilience and disaster risk reduction sectors.
In 2024, the Centre piloted the first internship program with APR.Intern, hosted by New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service (NSW NPWS). Inaugural postgraduate intern, Shabnam Varzeshi, reviewed NSW NPWS's current research utilisation practices to improve decision making for fire and land management agencies. Read Shabnam's final report here.
Compare and contrast LA and WA wildfire resilience, preparedness and response
The deadline for internship applications is now closed.
Internship details:
- This is a paid, six-month position within DFES.
- The intern will research and identify any existing gaps and explore opportunities to implement learnings from the Los Angeles (LA) fires to prevent similar catastrophic and costly fires in the future.
- Preferred skills for the postgraduate student include fire and organisational knowledge, research management, strong analysis and problem solving skills.
- the intern will be mentored by the Centre’s existing contacts at DFES and Centre staff.
- This opportunity is open to any PhD and Masters students in Australia, affiliated with an Australian research institution, including postgraduate and associate students currently funded by the Centre.
- It is preferred that the intern will be based in Western Australia, however all candidates across Australia will be considered.
- A level of travel and accommodation will be offered by the Centre for a successful candidate who resides outside Western Australia.
Key dates:
- Applications closed on 15 April 2025.
- This internship will run for six months.
Benefits for the intern:
- Experience within a state fire and emergency services agency
- International emergency management collaboration
- Experience in fire operations and planning
Northern Territory practices in bushfire control
The deadline for internship applications is now closed.
Internship details:
The Centre and APR.Intern has developed an opportunity for a postgraduate placement within Bushfires NT and Northern Territory Fire and Emergency Services (NT FES) for scholars with transferable skills to apply to the natural hazard and disaster risk reduction sectors. Apply via APR.Intern by clicking the button in the top-right corner of this page.
- This internship is a paid, six-month position within Bushfires NT and NT FES.
- The intern will research how well current fire behaviour models predict actual fires by comparing observed fire data with forecasted data, focusing on gamba grass and buffel grass in the NT.
- This research will improve current vegetation maps for the NT to better align with bordering states (South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland) and review the literature to develop a proposal for new fire behaviour models for gamba grass and buffel grass.
- Preferred skills for this position include Geographic Information System (GIS) modelling, a background in fire behaviour and excellent project management and communication skills.
- The intern will be mentored by the Centre’s existing contacts at Bushfires NT, NT FES and Centre staff.
- This opportunity is open to any PhD or Masters by Research students in Australia, affiliated with an Australian research institution, including postgraduate and associate students currently funded by the Centre.
- It is preferred that the intern will be based in Darwin, however remote candidates will be considered.
Key dates:
- Applications close on 15 April 2025.
- This internship will run for six months.
Benefits for intern:
- An opportunity to contribute your theoretical knowledge to address a real-world challenge on how to best utilise knowledge from research, to inform the policies and practices for a large government entity.
- Mentorship and exposure working with industry leading experts in land management and fire science policies and practices.
- Opportunities to attend prescribed burns and bushfires to obtain data.
- An opportunity to work with the Centre and its network of industry partners and applied researchers within the Australian natural hazards sector.
Occupiers of land in Queensland legal responsibility for managing bushfire hazards on their property
The Centre and APR.Intern has developed this opportunity for a postgraduate placement within the Queensland Fire Department (QFD). Apply via APR.Intern by clicking the button in the top-right corner of this page.
The deadline for internship applications is now closed.
Internship details:
- This is a paid, six-month position within QFD's Legislation Branch.
- The intern will research and answer the question "To what extent do occupiers of land in Queensland have a legal responsibility for managing bushfire hazards on their property?"
- Preferred skills for the position include strong experience in researching legislative policy questions and interpreting legislation and case law.
- The intern will be mentored by the Centre’s existing contacts at QFD and Centre staff.
- This opportunity is open to any PhD, Masters or final year law students in Australia, affiliated with an Australian research institution, including postgraduate and associate students currently funded by the Centre.
- It is preferred that the intern will be based in Queensland, however remote candidates will be considered.
Key dates:
- Applications close on 15 April 2025.
- This internship will run for six months.
Benefits for the intern:
- Exposure to the complex legal landscape that emergency services and related agencies are tasked with natural hazard prevention and preparedness policy implementation operate in.
- Mentorship and exposure working with industry leading experts in emergency management law and policy.
- Develop research and workplace skills.
- An opportunity to work with the Centre and its network of industry partners and applied researchers within the Australian natural hazards sector.