Intern Report: Emily Bartlett

Quirky Kid welcomes professionals and interns from various walks of life including provisional psychologists, editors, graphic artists and teachers. During the course of their internships - from 3 to 6 months - a lot of learning takes places. In this new section, we ask our interns and colleagues to share their experiences with Quirky Kid; what they've learnt and how this experience will help them in the future. In this post, Emily Bartlett shares her experience.

Why did I apply?

I applied to volunteer with The Quirky Kid Clinic to learn practical skills in the area of Child Psychology, build on my current knowledge acquired through my Psychology degree and gain first-hand experience working in a private practice and working publishing house. I also hoped to use this opportunity as a way to connect with like-minded individuals and learn from the teams' experience and knowledge.

What did I learn?

The range of projects and activities available during my placement were matched with my interests, skills and development areas. I was involved in researching material for a social emotional program, writing for the website, learning to score assessments, assisting with shop orders and managing client relationships. In addition, I co-facilitated a number of anxiety and social skills workshops for primary school aged clients.

How will this help me in the future?

As an aspiring Psychologist, this placement provided me with a broad range of skills and knowledge which will be beneficial when applying for Clinical Masters programs and in my future career ventures. I was able to assess whether the private sector appealed to me and an opportunity to connect with Psychologists to discuss their career path and learn from their knowledge and guidance.

My experience with QK as a company.

My experience with The Quirky Kid Clinic was enjoyable and professional. I really admire and respect the creative way the clinic is presented which translates into a very warm and welcoming space for their clients. The team are highly skilled and is clear why Quirky Kid is being recognised internationally for their innovative product development.

Tips for future applicants.

The placement requires a “can do” attitude, attention to detail, a flexible and creative approach to new tasks, and motivation to work independently and in a small team. Overall, it was a valuable experience and recommend this opportunity to other aspiring counsellors or psychologists.

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