CSL has expanded its programs that welcome promising students to spend time working and learning at the biotech company, which develops and manufactures rare disease medicines as well as vaccines.
The inaugural internship program launched in Australia in November 2022 with a cohort of university and post-graduate students. The paid 12-week program, which concluded in February, gave interns experience working in functions that support CSL and two of its business units, CSL Behring and CSL Seqirus. They joined the following departments: Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Commercial Operations, Medical Affairs, Operational Excellence and Finance.
The program kicked off with a three-day orientation across the Parkville and Broadmeadows sites, where they met with CSL Chief Operating Officer Paul McKenzie, CSL Chief Finance Officer Joy Linton, Senior Vice President and General Manager for CSL Seqirus, Stephen Marlow, Deputy Chief Financial Officer John Levy and Parkville and Broadmeadows site heads.
“Our Intern Program offers penultimate year students an opportunity to gain first-hand experience in a global organization to enhance their skills through learning and development opportunities while working alongside CSL colleagues. At the end of the program, students have the opportunity to apply to and be considered for early offers to join our award-winning Graduate Program for the following year,” said Silvana Naumovski, Senior Manager, CSL Early Career Programs Asia-Pacific.
Feedback from the interns has been positive.
“CSL is company that prioritizes the growth of their employees and it is no different with the Internship Program. The business does not only provide invaluable learning opportunities in a multi-disciplinary environment, but also offers the chance to positively impact the company and showcase these impacts,” said Sajeevan, a student at the University of Sydney.
Luca, a student at Monash University, agreed, saying he found the experience both rewarding and challenging.
“I was able to explore a variety of team dynamics and learn about CSL’s values, which I applied in my day-to-day work. Throughout my internship, I had many opportunities to work on challenging projects that enabled me to enhance my knowledge and develop the skills required to succeed in the pharmaceutical industry,” he said.
The Internship Program is designed for students who are completing their undergraduate or postgraduate degree. Applications for the 2023-2024 internship program opens in July, Naumovski said.
