The initiative was set up between the Property Education Foundation (PEF) and Curtin University to work on a program that would encourage high calibre students to learn more about the many opportunities available in the property industry and help develop their skills to move into commercial property selling and leasing.
The PEF realised that in order to provide the industry with a pool of smart, well-trained graduates, they needed to promote property studies as an attractive career pathway choice to first-year undergraduates.
Realmark Commercial Executive Director, Mike Rowe, who was on the industry advisory committee for PEF, said the Internship Program provided property students with great opportunities to interact with industry professionals and gain an insight and work experience in the industry.
“The expectation is that it would lead to the recruitment of a great crop of talented new individuals to the industry,” Mr Rowe said.
“Realmark, along with other major Perth property groups, became a sponsor of the Internship Program because we wholeheartedly believe in supporting young students and attracting talented people to our industry.
“We currently have four students working at Realmark Commercial learning all aspects of the industry and what it takes day-to-day to work and be successful within it.
“It is great to be able to connect with students who are studying a property degree because it becomes mutually beneficial, we can learn from each other.
“These students are going to be the future leaders of our industry so this is a great recruitment opportunity for both sides to learn about each other. We want our interns to learn about Realmark and how we operate and word of mouth gets out so then we have great quality people applying to work with us.”
Curtin University property students can access this internship program as part of their Business Degree or undertake the internship by their own initiative just for the experience, supported by Curtin who cover the associated insurance costs.
Andrea Constable, a lecturer at Curtin University in the School of Economics, Finance & Property, said the program was a great success.
“The Internship Program is a wonderful opportunity for the students and they absolutely love it, Ms Constable said.
“The main benefits for the students are the ability to see the practical side of their theoretical knowledge, expanding their networks and obtaining that working knowledge from a professional environment that you really can’t understand until you are amongst it.
“Curtin University has always been very passionate about incorporating work-integrated learning and industry connectivity and having these companies jump on board is great for the students. You don’t get that in a lot of industries. It is very unusual to be able to see how a company actually operates without first being hired by them, these students are very fortunate to experience it.”
Ms Constable said the support from industry regarding the program was significant.
“The property industry is incredibly supportive, it is a huge undertaking to take on an intern and we are very lucky to have such engaged members who are always willing to support our course,” she said.