Left to Right: Prof Di Brown, Genalor Fischer, and Prof Michele Rumsey.
Genalor Fischer, a graduate of the Master of Strategic Public Relations at the University of Sydney, believes her successful internship at the WHO CCNM UTS was a lifelong learning experience.
From the Philippines, Genalor was able to study her post-graduate degree at the prestigious University through the Australia Awards Scholarship Program. She took up the course intending to elevate her skills from an experienced communicator to a strategist in a global setting.
As a new public relations (PR) graduate transitioning to professional practice, Genalor wanted to contribute her learned skills in the developmental sector like the WHO CCNM UTS which provides big-impact work towards achieving social good. For Genalor, seeing how communication helps in project implementation is the perfect harmony of theory and practice in public relations.
In the Centre, Genalor developed the communication plan under the guidance of the Centre Team for the five-year Strengthening the Health Workforce in the Pacific (SHWP) program, which is to be implemented in thirteen Pacific Island Countries (PICS). Funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the said program is part of the Australian Government’s Partnership for a Healthy Region initiative.
The process of developing the plan entailed learning the Centre’s vision, goals, culture, and public to help effectively strategize the engagement and outreach needed for the project’s success. Genalor shared that putting the Team’s ideas into the communication plan also harnessed her intuitive listening and critical thinking skills, which are important in becoming a communications strategist.
“My internship journey at the WHO CCNM UTS was a professional and personal fulfillment.”
Genalor drafted news stories, attended meetings, and developed briefers during her internship. She likewise gave recommendations for enhancing the SHWP program’s webpage content and form to help ensure that WHO CCNM UTS’ messaging is clear and engaging. As part of the internship, Genalor was assigned to be part of a core team that held conversations with the Chief of Nursing and Midwifery Officers from several PICs to get their views about gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI).
Above all work outputs, Genalor shared that the trust placed by the WHO CCNM UTS Team, under the leadership of Director Michele Rumsey, was the greatest part of her internship and the warmest accolade for any communications practitioner. Genalor said that the staff’s welcoming nature and inclusive culture inspired her to give her best in all her tasks and continue developing a work ethic branded with authenticity. She added that it was an honor to contribute to the WHO CCNM UTS’ noble work in the overall healthcare in the PICS.
Overall, the internship with WHO CCNM UTS gave Genalor a professional experience that will serve as her inspiration to continue working with passion grounded in humility and willingness to learn. Moving forward, Genalor knows that her valuable experience in WHO CCNM UTS will propel her to always exert her best to champion the role of communications in helping an organisation achieve its goals and in making a positive difference.