Three UWA students dedicate 300 hours to the Wagin community for McCusker Centre for Citizenship internship
Travelling to the Shire of Wagin, UWA students Fred Hawkins, Krish Jain and Anna Naiju individually contributed 100 hours to the Wagin Caravan Park, Wait-Jen Trail and former Old Road Board Building from June 16-18, led by the McCusker Centre for Citizenship program.
Ms Naiju, who studies business analytics and management, derived a business plan to upgrade the Wagin Caravan Park by researching community needs, booking trends and benchmarking against other parks in the region.
Her objective focused on safety and creating a pet and family-friendly space, proposing CCTV, accessible cabins for disabled residents, and adding power outlets.
Ms Naiju said these ideas 'came from real conversations with residents'.
'These are practical changes that reflect the voices of the community, which helped create a vision for a more inclusive, welcoming, and future-ready caravan park,' she said.
'(The internship) gives you a chance to grow while giving back to the community, helping you find purpose, discover your strengths, and engage with real community needs.
'The experience of living and working in a small regional town opened my eyes to the strong sense of community, warmth, and kindness that exists there.'
Conservation biology undergraduate Mr Hawkins executed a Wait-Jen Trail renewal plan after assessing the financial, communal and infrastructural requirements to redevelop the 10km heritage track.
Mr Hawkins said a solo-walk through the Wait-Jen Trail was a highlight, featuring 'idyllic and awe-inspiring scenery'.
'I believe my work with the shire will help attract support for the protection of WA's biodiverse ecosystems by educating visitors on the rare and unique flora and fauna of the area,' he said, 'as well as the many Indigenous communities that have deep, knowledgeable and longstanding connections to these environments.'
Master of business analytics student Mr Jain gained experienced as a marketing and communications intern tasked with completing a prospectus for commercial use of the historic Old Road Board Building built in 1912.
Mr Jain recommended an art cafe as a viable use of the building, which the shire endorsed by providing support and incentives to establish a private business.
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