RPS backs emerging creative talent at Queensland University of Technology (QUT)

For the last few years, RPS has supported QUT’s landscape design and planning students within the Faculty of Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice by offering internships as part of their degrees.

Several landscape architecture and town planning students have interned at RPS through QUT’s Work Integrated Learning Program.

RPS’ Landscape Architecture Practice Leader, Andrew Galt says the program has added real value to his team and led to permanent, paid work for some of the students.

“It’s been a very successful arrangement and we’re happy to support the innovative and practical training at QUT. We certainly benefit from having students join our team – they bring different perspectives, fresh ideas and enthusiasm. And in some cases internships have turned into employment.”

That has been the case for Brooke Simpson, who is now combining her final year of studying a Bachelor of Design with work as a landscape architecture technician.

“I’ve been lucky that my placement led to paid work with RPS. I think internships are an invaluable component of degrees like mine. It complements the theory we’re learning at school and gives us the opportunity to get ‘real world’ experience – to see how that theory is applied.

“I’ve learnt so much working on the many and varied projects for clients and seeing it all come together on site.”

RPS also sponsors and presents the RPS Award at QUT for design.

Andrew says it’s another way to support emerging talent. “I think organisations and consulting firms like RPS have an important role to play in supporting the next generation of professionals. 

“We actually presented this award to one of our employees Rebecca Woodbridge in 2020, and she joined RPS the following year as a graduate landscape architect.”