From August 21 to 27, Joe Fujishima, Assistant Director at CLAIR Sydney, was at the Coffs Harbour City Council in New South Wales for his internship. During their secondment in Sydney, it is required for all assistant directors at CLAIR Sydney to undergo a one-week internship at a government or semi-government organization in Australia or New Zealand.
Coffs Harbour was the 2017/2018 host city for CLAIR Sydney’s annual event, CLAIR Forum, a one-day seminar for Australian and Japanese public servants to discuss and exchange information on local government initiatives. Coffs Harbour is located in the mid-north coast of NSW between Sydney and Brisbane, and is a popular stop-over point for those travelling between the two cities. In 1988, the city established a sister city relationship with Sasebo City, and this year, the two cities welcome the 30th anniversary of their connection.
Joe was hosted by the Industry & Destination Development (IDD) for his internship, during which he was given presentations on various initiatives and projects being implemented by the Coffs Harbour City Council. During his internship, Joe accompanied members of the IDD team to various events, such as the Chamber of Commerce Business Expo, where he listened to information about 6 Degrees, an initiative run by the Coffs Harbour City Council that provides co-working spaces, programs and events to support start-up and freelancers in the Coffs Coast. Joe also visited the Coffs Coast Growers Market, a community market held by the city council every Thursday to support local and regional food producers and businesses.
Joe also met with the local LGBTQI community and staff in the field of mental health support. In his one-week internship, Joe has gained significant insight into the administration of Australian governments by observing Coffs Harbour City Council’s efforts in areas such as local tourism, local industries and city facility management. It was an invaluable experience for him to be able to visit and see a variety of places and events, and meet with and talk to all the kind people in Coffs Harbour.
Finally, Joe would like to express his deepest gratitude to everyone who had kindly offered their time and assistance in the one week he was in Coffs Harbour. In particular, he would like to thank Ms Fiona Barden and all members of the IDD team, as well as everyone in Coffs Harbour City Council for their kind hospitality in making the week invaluable and unforgettable.
From the 3rd to the 13th of December, eight selected swimmers from the Fukuoka Swimming Association visited NSW, where they participated in joint training sessions with a local school and competed in the 2024-25 Speedo NSW Senior State Age Championships.
