ACU interns will get the chance to work alongside Australia’s Holy See diplomat

ACU student interns will get the chance to work alongside Australia’s top Holy See diplomat

Australian Catholic University (ACU) students will have a rare opportunity to shadow the country’s top diplomat in the Vatican as part of a new formal agreement with the Australian Embassy to the Holy See.

ACU Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Zlatko Skrbis and Australia’s Ambassador to the Holy See, Her Excellency Chiara Porro, signed a memorandum of understanding in Rome last week detailing a new internship program that will be open to current ACU students in 2022/2023.

“The Australian Embassy to the Holy See has worked closely with the Australian Catholic University’s Rome campus since it was first opened in 2015, including supporting ACU’s Conaci Scholarship program for Indigenous students,” Ambassador Porro said.

“We are pleased to further strengthen our relationship through the launch of the Rome Internship Program, which will provide ACU students with a unique insight into Australia’s relations with the Holy See, and practical experience working on international issues.”

“I encourage all students with a keen interest in international politics and international relations to consider this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work inside one of the most important diplomatic headquarters in the world.”

Through the Rome Internship Program, students will have the chance to manage the Embassy’s social media, support public diplomatic events, draft reports on developments in the Vatican, audit international meetings, and respond to inquiries from Australian departments and the public.

Ambassador Porro will welcome the first ACU student intern in Semester 2 2022.

Ms Porro is Australia’s fourth ambassador to the Holy See – but second female diplomat – and the youngest person invited to be part of the Vatican’s diplomatic corps.

The Holy See first established diplomatic relations with Australia in 1973.