After completing a Bachelor of Arts majoring in History and Media Studies at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington, I started the Master of Museum and Heritage Practice in 2021. I have always loved museums, but I had no idea what a career in museums might look like. The practicum course showcased a wide range of museum practices and career paths, and I was able to participate in placements that aligned with my interests and career aspirations.

My first placement was with Wellington Heritage Week as a Festival Coordinator. During my placement I collaborated with community groups to produce events for the festival, ran their social media account, and produced a five year forward programme for the festival. This placement confirmed that my strengths were community and audience engagement.

I then began an internship with the Public Programmes team at Te Papa. I was lucky enough to be awarded the Cliff Whiting Memorial Scholarship which financially supported me through my internship. It was a privilege to be awarded this scholarship that honoured such a transformative museum leader. During my internship at Te Papa, I developed and delivered public programmes for Waitangi Day, and wrote a blog post about my programming and what Waitangi Day means to me, Waitangi Day, a time for reflection and participation | Te Papa’s Blog.

At the end of my internship a job opportunity in the Public Programmes team arose and I secured the job. My work at Te Papa is rooted in mana taonga, and I work with a wide range of community groups, mana whenua, artists and musicians, collection items and taonga. The practical courses of the MMHP degree supported my transition from study to work and provided me with opportunities to put my theoretical learning into practice.