In 2025, the Washington Internship Program celebrates 25 years of offering Flinders University students an extraordinary opportunity to experience political life at the heart of US democracy. The program places students in influential congressional offices, exposing them to the fast-paced realities, priorities, and pressures of working in the US capital.
Since its inception in 2000, the program has sent close to 150 Flinders students to the US – representing the largest presence in Washington of any university outside the United States.
Successful applicants work as political professionals in the offices of US Senators and Members of the House of Representatives. Each office appoints a staff member to supervise interns and coordinate their tasks. Supervisors also assist their interns with the program’s unique academic component: a major research paper developed by the intern as part of their experience.
Alyce Ferme, who recently returned from Washington, has had time to reflect on how much she learned and experienced during her eight weeks in Washington, D.C. “It solidifies my passion for policy, but also reinforced the importance of adaptability, curiosity, and taking initiative” says Alyce.
Students return with a letter from their congressman, Senator or a senior staff member in their office attesting to their internship performance, the letter forming an important part of the intern’s professional resume.
This is the case for Zoe Johnston (BIntRelPolSc(Hons) ’25), who was a 2023 intern in Congressman Joe Courtney’s office. Zoe reflects that “the Washington Internship Program was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Not only has it opened so many doors for me as I progress in my career, but it solidified my love for international affairs and diplomacy.”
The Washington Internship Program has a long legacy here at Flinders and we look forward to many more years to come.
Learn more about the program here.
“Chatting to Nancy Pelosi about gun violence, brushing shoulders with Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders, having dinner in a members-only dining hall – I’ve had the time of my life in Washington.”
ZOE JOHNSTON, FLINDERS STUDENT