Fashion Internships: Intern abroad in Sydney, Australia
Fashion is an exciting and fast-moving industry, where practical experience and industry know-how makes all the difference in the world. Start your career off on the right foot with an internship in Sydney, Australia, where the suburbs are home to interesting and creative boutiques. Come prepared to be as proactive and flexible as possible, as there is scope to gain multidisciplinary and broadly transferable skills. A high level of initiative will greatly enhance your cultural immersion and engagement as a fashion intern in Australia!
What to expect from your Fashion internship:
- Gain insight into the logistical operations of boutiques working to anticipate trends and attract customers.
- Deepen your industry experience while developing enhanced communication and relationship-building skills.
- Assist with marketing strategies, business strategy and seasonal planning.
- Gain scope to build your creative portfolio, depending on your strengths and focus.
Your internship abroad host organization:
- Apparel companies, retailers and boutiques
- Wholesale or manufacturing establishments
Internship details
Fashion internships in Sydney are ideal for creative, proactive, business-minded students, who are highly motivated and passionate about the industry. There is scope to gain a broad degree of experience, helping you to understand day-to-day operations of businesses that offer goods and services within this sector. Start building your resume with experiences grounded in your preferred industry and grow from there!
This is an in-country internship, with accommodation and select meals included. You can explore remote Business Administration & Start Ups internships, if you are looking for an internship program that you can undertake from home.
Fashion is a broad field that encompasses a variety of talents, so there is a large range of potential placements available for interns who can contribute and build their understanding of this sector. Individual internship experiences vary, as the specific placement that you’re assigned will depend on review of your resume and your current level of studies and experience.
For example, if you have a design portfolio, showcasing skills related to design, illustration, sewing, working with textiles (etc), then the allocation of your internship placement can take such experience into consideration. In this case, internship activities may be related to assisting with trend identification, creation of brand mood boards and design concepts, color palettes and themes. Interns may also have scope to provide illustration techniques and technical drawings, and assist local designers with pattern cutting, draping techniques, tailoring and sewing.
Interns with a profile that’s more aligned with marketing and business (for example) can likewise be assigned an internship with alternative focus areas, contributing toward long-term business and marketing strategies. This may involve review of marketing strategies, development of supplier relationships, content creation for diverse media and advertising platforms, etc.
Although interns may focus on areas of strength, flexibility and adaptation is always required. Placement preferences are considered but always subject to availability. If you’re at a more introductory level, you should reasonably expect a more introductory internship. Likewise, if you’re interning for a shorter duration, you will have a different experience from someone who is interning for a longer duration.
Supervision may be handled by a range of staff, as teams can often be multidisciplinary. In all cases, interns should expect that the first week of your experience will focus on settling in and gaining some introductory knowledge, as you will not “hit the ground running”. Rather, you should start with learning about the placement to gain an understanding of what you can build upon, develop, learn, and contribute. Ensure that you ask questions and provide feedback during the introductory period, so that your supervisor(s) understands how you’re progressing. This will help them to better understand important details, such as how quickly you learn, what you find challenging, what you find interesting, etc.
What are the career benefits of interning abroad as a Fashion Intern?
Fashion interns learn from a qualified and experienced supervisor, and can be involved in:
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Attending team meetings to gain broad insight into multifaceted projects and priorities.
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Providing logistical or administrative support to assist vendors and complete customer orders.
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Researching market opportunities to identify trends and develop business strategies.
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Creating content for diverse media and advertising platforms.
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Assisting designers, where possible, with concept design and stages of garment creation.
Professional development opportunities:
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Gain practical insight into the challenges and opportunities in the industry.
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Increase your understanding of advance planning, operations and administrative requirements.
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Review sustainable and ethical solutions that can advance and improve the industry.
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Learn from experienced professionals and teams in diverse roles and areas of expertise.
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Gain practical skills and boost your employability, with guidance from Intern Abroad HQ’s Experiential Learning Curriculum to support your learning and cultural intelligence.
Are you eligible for this internship?
Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.
Not sure which program to join?
Australia photo gallery
Academic credit available for all internships
Get course credit from your college or university while completing your internship abroad or a remote internship program. It's a great way to meet your academic requirements and gain valuable experience at the same time.
Learn about course creditProgram fees
Applying for our Fashion Internship is completely free! The support package covers the assistance we provide in finding your internship and arranging your living accommodations in your host country, ensuring you thrive during your program.
Please note that a deposit of US$499 is required to confirm your place. The remaining balance (minus your initial US$499 deposit) is due at least 90 days before your internship start date.
Duration |
Program Fee |
|---|---|
| 6 weeks | $3,652 Equivalent to $86 /day |
| 8 weeks | $4,235 Equivalent to $75 /day |
| 10 weeks | $4,867 Equivalent to $69 /day |
| 12 weeks | $5,449 Equivalent to $64 /day |
| 16 weeks | $6,663 Equivalent to $59 /day |
| 20 weeks | $7,878 Equivalent to $56 /day |
| 24 weeks | $9,092 Equivalent to $54 /day |
- Airport pick-up
- Daily breakfast and dinner (lunches on weekends only)
- Accommodation
- 24/7 in-country support
- Program orientation
- Dedicated support before, during, and after your internship
- In-country guidance for social and tourist activities
- Sourcing and securing your internship placement
- Personalization of your internship plan
- Coaching from your supervisor
- Documented portfolio of your experiential learnings
- Academic credit facilitation
- International reference letter
- Certificate of Internship Completion
- Lunches during the week
- All in-country transportation
- Transfer back to the airport at the end of your internship program
- Visa (if required), flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check
- Personal spending money for snacks, drinks, public transport, laundry, and leisure activities during your free time.
Popular add-ons & experiences in Sydney
Take your internship to the next level with Intern Abroad HQ's affordable activity and tour add-ons in Sydney! Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto an internship program.
Get to experience waterfalls, koalas, kangaroos, spectacular views, Aboriginal culture, bush walks in the World Heritage National Park within the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney.
Visit Australia’s incredible capital city and see unique architecture, museums, galleries and more!
Hunter Valley is a wine-growing area north of Sydney. Enjoy a delicious day there tasting different types of wine, cheese and beer.
Arrival and Orientation
When are internships in Sydney available?
Internships in Sydney, Australia, begin every Monday of the year (except for December). Exceptions may be made to this when start dates are shifted to avoid public/school holiday disruptions or closed when the program has already reached capacity. Interns may choose to spend a minimum of 6 weeks, up to a maximum of 24 weeks.
When do you need to arrive and check-in?
Airport pick up and accommodation are included in the Program Fee. The accommodation is covered from the Sunday night before the Monday start date.
The typical port of entry is the Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, abbreviated as SYD. In order to receive the airport pick up service, interns are required to arrive on the Sunday (before their Monday start date). Upon arrival, interns will be met, greeted, and transferred to the accommodation.
If you are planning to spend time independently in Sydney prior to your internship and will not require an international airport pick up, we can discuss alternative arrival logistics with you.
Requests for earlier pick-up times and/or extra nights of accommodation must be communicated in advance and are subject to availability. Additional cost will be incurred for pick-up requests outside of the scheduled timeframe for this service.
For departure, the last night of the accommodation is the Friday night of the final week, leaving interns free to depart on Saturday. Return transportation to the airport is not included in the internship program fee but local coordinators can assist you to make arrangements, upon request. As a guide only, expect to budget approximately US$20 - US$30 for the AirportLink system, or US$60 - US$70 for a taxi.
Please note that all participants are advised not to book flights until they have first registered to confirm their participation and internship placement details.
What does the internship orientation cover?
Orientations for internships in Sydney will be scheduled virtually. The online orientation covers important details for your internship, including introductions, information about culture, customs, rules, expectations, safety, language lessons, cultural excursions, and more. Your specific internship placement orientation will follow the general orientation, as you’ll be provided guidance on how to travel to and from your internship and be introduced to the team you’ll be joining.
Check what's required to visit Australia
Check out the widget below to learn about the visa requirements for the Fashion internship in Australia, based on your country of residence.
Accommodation and WiFi
What kind of accommodation is provided for interns in Sydney?
All interns in Sydney are hosted in various homestay accommodations. The homestay accommodation hosts provide guests with an extra layer of local support. Accommodation hosts vary, as all homes and families are different. However, all hosts are accustomed to welcoming guests and will be happy to support you throughout your stay!
All homestays have WiFi. To keep connected when out and about, you can also opt to purchase a local SIM card with data (you will need to ensure that your phone is unlocked for international use). The local team can assist you with this at the orientation, if need be.
All interns will be asked to complete an Accommodation Preference Form in advance, as we do our utmost to accommodate you as comfortably as possible (subject to availability and provision of advance notice and planning).
Any requests to exclude the accommodation service from your internship experience, in order for you to make independent arrangements, must be discussed and confirmed in advance.
Please note that the accommodation pictured in the photo gallery of this webpage is provided as an example. Since we work with more than one apartment, the exact accommodation that you’re assigned may differ from the photos. However, you can expect a similar standard and similar amenities to what is displayed.
Is the accommodation shared?
In most cases, individuals will be allocated a private bedroom. In the event that you’re not allocated a private room, you may share with one other guest, of the same gender. Shared rooming arrangements are usually prioritized for friends, who are on the internship program together.
Given that homestay accommodations themselves may be mixed-gender (with single-sex bedroom allocations for guests), guests must be prepared to share common living spaces with mixed-gender, such as shared kitchen, living, dining, and bathroom areas.
Where in Sydney is the intern accommodation located?
The various homestay accommodations are located in suburban areas, with convenient access to public transportation routes.
Your internship placement will always be arranged first and your accommodation plans will be made secondarily. This ensures that your assigned accommodation takes into consideration the location of your internship.
What is required for commuting between the accommodation and internship placement?
Due to the layout of Sydney’s urban and residential areas, it is normal to expect a commute to and from the internship placement using public transportation networks. The average public transportation commute time (between accommodation and the internship placement) is approximately 45-70 minutes (one way). Monthly public transportation passes for buses, trains, and trams, which allow unlimited travel, are commonly used. Expect to budget approx. US$120 per month.
Meals
Are meals included?
Yes - internships in Australia include two meals per day, Monday through Friday, provided by the host family (daily breakfast and dinner). During the weekend, lunch is also available. Lunch is not included through the internship program during the week, so you’ll need to budget for this meal.
In all cases, interns should budget and plan to take care of your own preferences independently. For example, your own particular snacks, treats, extra meals, etc.
A weekly budget of approximately US$200 should be more than generous for covering lunches during the week, in addition to any extra snacks and treats (plus costs required for using public transportation). Bear in mind that your weekly spending budget will be determined by your own personal spending habits and lifestyle choices, so please plan accordingly.
What kind of meals are provided?
Homestays typically provide meals for their guests in the traditional ways of the country. In Australia, you will find that the most common options for breakfast are toast, cereal, and porridge. The breakfasts provided daily to interns are not frequently cooked, but more likely to be cold, self-serve, continental style.
Dinner is the main meal of the day. It is typically served between 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., usually consisting of meat, a side dish (potatoes are the most common choice), and seasonal vegetables.
Can various dietary requirements be catered for?
Any vegetarian and/or other dietary requirements must be communicated in advance. There is an additional weekly surcharge if a gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian or vegan diet is requested. Once you have confirmed your internship participation, you can book and pay for this weekly surcharge in advance.
Essential country information
| Capital | Canberra |
| Population | 26.8 million |
| Languages | English |
| Currency | Australian dollar |
| Time zone | UTC+11:00 |
Weather and climate:
Australia’s climate is significantly influenced by ocean currents and, due to the size of the Australian continent, you can expect different weather depending on where you are. Northern Australia has a tropical climate and will experience summer rainfall; the south-west has a Mediterranean climate; the southeast can be humid and subtropical; and the interior of the country tends to be arid or semi-arid. If you are planning to travel around different regions of the country, make sure you check the weather forecast!
The summer months in Sydney, where the internship programs are based, are considered to be from late November through till early March. During this season, the average daily high is above 77°F (25°C). By late February or early March, nights start getting cooler. The winter season runs from late May till early September, and brings average highs of 63°F (17°C) and lows of 47°F (8°C).
The highest tourist season in Australia is usually between April to September, when you can find everything open, and a mild and dry weather in most of the country. If you are going during this time, plan for big crowds at popular sites, and make sure you book your plans in advance to avoid disappointment.
