Press Release Tuesday, 7 July 2009 10 out of 10 for country work experience University of New South Wales law student Ms Tia Mitsis is giving full marks to her country life work experience placement. Tia is an early participant in 'The Brolga Project', an initiative placing university students into work experience with rural host agencies, and she has never been so far out in the country. "I go to the University of New South Wales in Sydney, my parents live in Brisbane, I have never even travelled in the country," Tia said. Placed with the Department of Communities (Child Safety Services) in Kingaroy, Tia said she suffered culture shock for the first couple of days. "On the way up here I was getting a bit freaked out," Tia laughed, "I was wondering where I was going!" "With this project you're not just doing work experience, you're actually living in a whole new community for four weeks, away from home, family and friends, so it's a bit daunting. "But I didn't ever think that I wanted to go home, the work from the very beginning was great, the department has been fantastic, I've had experiences I could hardly hope to have in a city placement," Tia added excitedly. Edward Naglik is Court Coordinator Child Safety Services South Burnett and says Tia is providing valuable input. "It's the first time we've had a law student here, and Tia's been absolutely excellent with everything that she's been doing," he said. And Mr Naglik refutes the notion that taking on a work experience student creates more work than it alleviates. "Providing work experience like this is an investment in the future, it's an extra set of hands which never goes astray, and it also provides a fresh perspective on existing framework, and new ideas are always good," he concluded. The Brolga Project is an initiative designed to encourage metropolitan students to live and work and in rural and regional areas, with the goal being to show students the excellent lifestyle that's offered by country communities, in the hope that some students will return to the rural community to start a career when they finish university. ...ends For more information please contact: Richard Cowley, Manager, The Brolga Project., 07 3366 1005 E richard@brolgaproject.com.au Mr Ed Naglik, Court Coordinator Child Safety Services 07 4164 9400