What?
Every year up to six to eight young people experience an exciting and challenging five-week internship which serves as an introduction to the labour movement in Western Australia. The Labour Movement Internship (LMI) runs in January/February and is coordinated by the Labour Movement Education Association Inc. Participants are employed full-time and are paid a training wage.
LMI offers a mix of formal skills training, work experience in union and political offices, seminars led by labour figures, and familiarisation visits to key organisations. Since 1996, over 120 young people have participated in the Program. Of these, more than half have gone on to work in the labour movement and almost all remain active in labour politics.
Who?
LMI is coordinated by the Labour Movement Education Association Inc. (LMEA Inc.). Participants are encouraged to organise many Program activities themselves, providing them with experience in planning and coordinating people and events.
Aims
LMI seeks to:
- Strengthen links between young activists and the labour movement by forming a community of young people with a sound understanding of the aspirations, methods and values of the union movement and the Australian Labor Party, and the relationship between them;
- Provide participants with experience and training in union, political and campaigning skills;
- Give participants first hand experience of the inner workings of unions, political offices and other groups involved with the labour movement; and
- Enable participants to broaden their knowledge and interest in the central issues affecting the Labour movement.
Funding
Significant financial support is needed to meet the wages of the participants and other Program costs every year. LMI funding comes from direct donations from West Australian trade unions, Parliamentarians and supporters.
