Community
17 April, 2024
Where are they now?
A YEAR ago, four young up-and-coming James Cook University students were featured in Cairns Local News.
Callan Burkett, Joe Teague, Kai English and Josh Payne were ambitious members of James Cook University’s Smithfield campus with three also being student ambassadors.
Twelve months on where are they now?
Mr Burkett, 24, of Whitfield, has spent the last 12 months finalising his bachelor’s degree.
“Primarily, I worked as a student ambassador at James Cook University (JCU), where I engaged in recruitment and aspiration-building initiatives, aimed at secondary students within the region,” he said.
“Furthermore, I was provided the opportunity to work as an intern at for a not-for-profit that continues to provide holistic care to underrepresented persons within Far North Queensland.
“This was made available as part of my degree’s Work Integrated Learning (WIL), a subject that enables students to apply learned theory within a practical environment.”
Mr Burkett graduated with a Bachelor of Business and successfully transitioned into full-time employment at JCU, working within a team promoting higher education to low socio-economic, regional, and remote students.
Mr Teague, 23, of Edmonton, quit the retail sector for law.
“Since the last article, I ceased my retail employment and took on a position as a court bailiff within the Cairns district and supreme courts,” he said.
“It was through this employment that I was able to confirm my interest in criminal law as well as advocacy within the courtroom.
“As of July 2023, I have commenced and currently hold employment as a paralegal within a criminal law firm.
“I balance full-time employment as well as a full-time study load, as I progress towards the end of my degree. The expected completion of which will be at the end of 2024.
“From that point I plan on commencing my practical legal training (post-graduate studies) on a full-time basis so as to complete it mid-2025.
“Once this is completed, I will be eligible to be admitted as a practising lawyer and intend on doing so.
“Once I have gained this qualification, I plan to stay local and work within Cairns in a position that would see me ‘on my feet’ within the courts.”
Josh Payne, 22, of Trinity Beach, has just entered his third and final year of law at JCU.
“I currently work part-time at a private law firm here in Cairns. My interest currently lies in family law and I appreciate the need for solicitors working in this field specifically in creating justiciable outcomes for the parties involved while also promoting the best interests of the children above all,” he said.
“I also appreciate the broad experience that you can gain in this field such as property settlement, children and parenting matters and dispute resolution skills. I look forward to completing my studies and seeing what lies ahead.”
Kai English, 23, of Edmonton, was in his final year of a Bachelor of Business last year while completing a double major in both marketing and human resource management.
It is believed he is travelling in Japan and could not be contacted to contribute to this story.
