Intern profile - Alana Pham

Since joining our internship program, Alana has been heavily involved with our ABLE committee, helping to organise important events that help promote a more inclusive workplace. Her recent involvement included fundraising for the Jeans for Genes organisation through an employee Lunch and Learn event as well as raising awareness on the Hidden Disability Training Sunflower Program which supports team members living with a disability or condition who may need a helping hand in the workplace.

“It’s been a really great experience having had that equal opportunity to learn and connect with different people in the committee who want to achieve the same goal of supporting an inclusive workplace,” Alana commented.

Alana herself has been living with a hidden disability for many years, but that has not stopped her from living a normal life.

She has battled with an auto-immune condition known as alopecia for many years which causes her to lose hair mainly from her head and different areas of her body.

“It started being a problem in my 20s as I remember losing so much hair and finding bald patches on my head. I initially blamed myself and did not know how to cope.”

“Having a great support system both at work and in my personal life has really made all the difference and over time I have learnt to be more open with my disability when I realised this was something beyond my control,” she said.

Alana is currently undertaking a double degree in Chemical Engineering and Pharmaceutical Science at RMIT University and is a proud recipient of the ExxonMobil Engineering Scholarship and Excellence Award which is awarded to students in their penultimate year who score a Grade Point Average of 3.0 or higher.

She is also part of RMIT’s Equitable Learning Services committee who provides support to students with a disability or chronic illness. The committee works with course lecturers to find ways to adjust workload and a student’s learning environment accordingly. Through working with this team, Alana was inspired to join our ABLE committee and participate in similar work.

“It’s been wonderful having an understanding and supportive supervisor and team that allow flexibility in my day. The internship program has really opened my eyes to what the industry is like and being involved in the ABLE committee has been truly rewarding,” Alana highlighted.

Her advice to others coping with a disability? “Know that you are not alone and there is always someone out there who will understand your situation and provide support. Your differences are what makes you unique and that is something special that no one can take away from you.”