Operations and Management Team
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Diana van Woerkom established Australian Internships after many years in education and training with Queensland Government. Diana started her teaching career in Hervey Bay with a new concept in education that recognised the value of both the academic and technical/vocational development of students. She eventually moved into the role of Director of Business Development where much of the training was developed to respond to industry demands. Diana was actively involved international education and this served as a catalyst for the establishment of her own business Australian Internships – the first company in Australia to welcome and support students from over 45 countries. In 2023, Diana retired from active management.

Rebekah first joined AI in 2003 while studying Business Management at the University of Queensland. After dedicating over a decade to Intern Services, Marketing and Operations she was appointed as the General Manager in 2015. Bek has a strong passion for the industry and believes that internships are a magnificent contribution to an international-oriented career & a great way to diversity the Australian workplace. After 17 years at AI Bek ventured out to raise a young family and spent several years working as a General Manager in the ECEC sector. In 2023 Bek returned “home” to AI where she took over the business as the Managing Director as founding owner Diana van Woerkom moved into retirement. Her wealth of knowledge and experience in the internship industry helps her understand the cultural & personal barriers faced by young professionals. Passionate about people, processes, and education Bek spends her days working to inspire the team to strive for excellence in all aspects of their interactions with interns, parents, and industry. Ever the optimist, Bek has a bubbly and optimistic outlook and strong belief that “knowledge is power”.

ADMINistration
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Originally from Brazil, Beatriz worked in a multinational company, specialized in IT, which contributed a lot to her personal and professional development, where she had her first contact in the job market. Beatriz chose to come to Australia to completely step out of her comfort zone, in an immersion in a new culture, new people, new habits. She has successfully completed her Bachelor of Business at Kaplan Business School in Brisbane. The experience of life in Australia, aligned with the knowledge gained from her course, were the main keys to carry out her function in Australian Internships. Communicative, proactive and motivated, she is always glad and willing to help the team.

Marketing
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PROGRAMS TEAM
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Josh, Australian, has spent the last 7 years working within the education sector helping students onto the right path for their future career. Within this time Josh has gained key skills in sales, business development and team management. Josh has a big passion for fitness, studying his certificate III & IV in Fitness and a Diploma of Sports Development. Josh also spent 3 years working as a Personal Trainer in some big gym franchises and running his own business. Josh joins the team at AI with a goal to continue helping students into their careers as an Internships Program Manager.

Salote brings over 30 years of experience in Early Childhood Education, curriculum development, tertiary education leadership, and workforce capacity building across the Pacific region and Australia. Prior to joining Australian Internships, Salote held senior academic and leadership roles at the University of the South Pacific for more than a decade, including coordinating Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programs across 12 Pacific Island countries. She has designed, delivered, and accredited Certificate III, Certificate IV, and Diploma-level ECCE programs, authored 17 tertiary-level coursebooks and assessment frameworks, and mentored hundreds of educators to enhance teaching quality and compliance.

Salote combines strategic leadership with hands-on teaching and centre management experience, having established and managed a community-based kindergarten and taught children from birth to eight years, in addition to working as an Early Childhood Teacher in Sydney for 2.5 years. She holds a Master of Education (Early Childhood Education) and multiple postgraduate qualifications in education, tertiary teaching, and training and assessment. Recognised by UNESCO as an ECCE Expert, Salote has represented the Pacific at international forums and advocated for equitable early childhood teacher salaries in Fiji. At Australian Internships, she leads program quality, educator support, and stakeholder engagement, championing ethical, high-quality early childhood pathways that strengthen both the Australian and Pacific ECE sectors.

Michaela, originally from Romania, has many years’ experience in Higher Education and Employment Services, providing employment and training programs support to international students, graduates, and experienced job seekers. Michaela completed a Bachelor of Counselling and is a registered Generalist Counsellor. Michaela’s passion is seeing people take control of their own careers and making choices that work better for them  and those they work and live with. Michaela enjoys travel, walking, baking, coffee and music.

Joy joined AI in 2017 with many years of valuable experience in the Education and Training sector.  Originally from Hong Kong, Joy has lived and worked in different parts of the world with multi nationalities and lived in a multi-cultural environment throughout the last 20 years. Many of those years have been in the field of Education.  Her seven years of experience working as a Clerical Marker for IELTS at the British Council, Cultural and Education Section, not only helped her to have a keen eye for details, she was also able to gain comprehensive knowledge and experience in diverse educational sectors. Her background also includes eight years as an Educational consultant providing professional advice to students seeking to study abroad.  When she is not working, she enjoys being outdoor, travelling and gardening.

Katharina, originally from Germany, joined AI as an Internship Program Supervisor in 2023. She has lived and worked in different places in Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland, where she mainly worked within the hospitality industry in different roles and venues. She has completed a Master in Sustainable Tourism Management in Cairns where she gained work experience in the tourism industry after completing an internship with a large tourism operator. She knows of the importance of gaining work experience as an international and hopes to support other internationals on their way. When not working, Katharina enjoys reading, live music and travelling.

Services Team
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Lee, originally from China, completed a Master of Applied Linguistics in 2022 and has since gained valuable experience in the Higher Education and International Education sectors. With expertise in admissions, visa processing, and student consulting, he has assisted numerous international and domestic students in navigating complex enrolment procedures. Since joining AI in 2023, Lee has applied his in-depth knowledge of visas and keen attention to detail to support clients in achieving successful enrolments and program entry. His strong understanding of application processes, compliance requirements, and student needs makes him a valuable asset to both the team and the students

With a bubbly and friendly disposition, Vien has a strong background in people and processing including 8 years’ experience in Customer Service in addition to 6 years’ experience as a Fraud Analyst. She is an expert in providing customer support, reviewing transactions, verifying information, and much more. As an Enquiries Officer at AI her personal mission is to support each and every applicant. She believes that internships transcend linking skills with opportunities; it’s about creating success stories and fostering continuous growth.

Sheila, originally from the Philippines, brings over 8 years of experience across diverse industries, with a focus on the education sector and customer service. Her background includes 2 years working with an Australian education company and 6 years managing client relations and sales for markets in the US, UK, and Australia. Known for her strong communication skills, dedication, and hard work, she is committed to delivering excellence in every role she undertakes.

Outside of work, Sheila enjoys broadening her perspectives by watching documentaries and exploring new cultures through travel. She is excited to bring her expertise to the team at Australian Internships and continue her professional journey in an international setting.