The importance of the PwC First Nations Internship

Meet Sam Hudson, who started his PwC journey as a First Nations intern and is now a trainee in our Corporate Tax team.

Meet Sam Hudson, a Queensland University of Technology student and brand-new trainee at PwC. Sam started his PwC journey by joining our First Nations internship program, which placed him in one of our corporate tax teams. Sam calls northern Queensland and Brisbane home, is learning Mandarin in his spare time and describes himself as "old-fashioned" as he prefers a face-to-face yarn over texting.

How did you find out about the First Nation's Internship?

It was the Blackboard notice at the university. It wasn't very obvious, but I was looking at the announcements about different opportunities and saw PwC's First Nation Internship!

I applied, and I didn't think much of it. Matt, the First Nations recruiter, really took the time to get to know me and figure out what team might work best. There were a few considerations, like which teams had the capacity for me to work, especially over the summer as a law student. We narrowed it down to either the Legal or Tax team. I wasn't overly confident about the tax team as I have limited financial knowledge, but it worked out great! I was sceptical, but when I realized how welcoming Matt was and how great the environment seemed, it made me open to the idea of working at a professional services firm or an accounting firm like PwC.

What attracted you to PwC?

It seems really forward-thinking to have a First Nation internship, especially in Australia's social and political climate. There are a lot of inequalities, and PwC seems to be a leader in the drive toward diversity and inclusion with programs like the First Nation internship. Because of the internship, I get to be able to participate in an environment that I otherwise wouldn't have thought possible.

Why are you excited to be a trainee?

I got to do my six-week internship over the summer holidays, and they decided to keep me on as a trainee before I headed back to university.

The trainee program is cool because I get to work full-time and study part-time. At some points last year, I was working three jobs. So it's better to have one job with proper entitlements that gets me real-world experience at the same time.

It also means that I get a headstart on juggling the demands of work and learning, so I'm getting ready for my future.

Do you like that the traineeship will combine work and school?

Yeah, it's a placement of sorts. Last year, I was constantly worried that I'd either have to drop my study or stop working. And it wasn't a possibility to stop working, so for me to be able to work full-time and study part-time has been my saving grace because it means that I can do both things. Plus, the added bonus of doing work I want to do and enjoy.

Why is working in a diverse and inclusive workplace important to you?

It's a more accurate representation of society. Not only in Australian culture but the global society, and with how globalized business is becoming, it's important to have everyone represented. It also feels easier to be myself, share, and appreciate different cultures and perspectives.

How would you describe the Brisbane office?

I think that it's really good. Many people are endearing to one another that I've met in the Brisbane office and willing to hear what one another has to say or try to help each other troubleshoot different issues or point somebody in the right direction. It's nice to have a general conversation about our progress with other teams, you know, barring confidentiality.

What makes you proud to work at PwC?

I suppose I can just be myself, and I don't have to try to be somebody I'm not. Here, I have a voice, and I'm able to listen to people who are quite clever and have different ideas. It's a nice give-and-take concept.

I enjoy coming to work because I feel like I'm going to learn something new, and as a 23-year-old, I still feel like I'm learning new things every day, which is a joyous feeling.

Are you excited about attending the PwC First Nations Summit in Sydney?

I am excited. I get to meet other people I otherwise wouldn't have the chance to meet face-to-face. There will be people from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin. So it'll be really cool to be able to put a face to a name and to get a better understanding of their experience at PwC.

The importance of the PwC First Nations Internship

Meet Sam Hudson, who started his PwC journey as a First Nations intern and is now a trainee in our Corporate Tax team.

Contact us

PwC Careers

General enquiries, PwC Australia

PwC Student Careers

General enquiries, PwC Australia