昨年8月に行われた2025年度の日本語弁論大会で、優秀な成績を収めたZekunさんが、いすゞオーストラリア・リミテッドでのインターンシップレポートを送ってくださいました。
Internship Report – Isuzu Australia Limited
Following my participation in the 2025 Victorian Japanese Speech Contest, I was fortunate to receive an internship opportunity with Isuzu Australia Limited (IAL) through the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Melbourne (JCCiM). Having completed my Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne, majoring in Electrical Engineering, I was very interested in this opportunity as I have always had an interest in engineering and the automotive industry. As I had limited corporate experience before this internship, I saw it as a great chance to gain practical engineering experience and experience a Japanese workplace. My internship was initially arranged for three months, working three days a week, and was later extended until the end of 2026.
I joined IAL as an Engineering Services Intern. During my first week, my mentor introduced me to SolidWorks and guided me through some simple modelling tasks. I initially worked on connectors, which are mainly used for harnesses. Over the first two months, I designed around 40 connectors, which helped me become much more confident with SolidWorks. I was then given more challenging tasks, including designing labels and brackets, creating engineering drawings, and conducting force analysis simulations. I also gained exposure to 3D printing, prototyping, manufacturing and welding, all of which were new to me before starting the internship.
One project that I found particularly rewarding was designing a bracket. I started by taking measurements and considering what sheet thickness would be suitable for the application, before modelling it in SolidWorks and producing the engineering drawing. I later received the master sample and inspected it against the design and requirements. Being able to experience these different stages gave me a much better understanding of how an engineering design connects to a physical product.
One of the biggest changes I noticed in myself was my confidence. When I first started, I often needed to ask my mentors for help, but over time I became increasingly comfortable solving problems and completing designs independently. My manager also recognised my enthusiasm, willingness to learn and progress, which was very encouraging to hear. Towards the end of my original internship period, my manager offered to extend my internship until the end of 2026 and encouraged me to “keep up the good work”. I was very grateful for the opportunity and for the trust the team had placed in me.
My internship also gave me the opportunity to experience Japanese workplace culture first-hand. Before joining IAL, I had mainly encountered Japanese expressions and customs through studying Japanese. At work, I saw colleagues naturally using “さん” when addressing each other and “お疲れ様です” in everyday interactions. I also noticed the polite and respectful way people communicated, including bowing when greeting or thanking others. Over time, I began using these expressions myself.
Another memorable experience was attending the 2026 Japan Festival with one of my colleagues, who kindly invited me and arranged a ticket for me. I enjoyed the traditional Japanese performances and food stalls, and was surprised by how large the Japanese community in Melbourne was. It was a great opportunity to experience Japanese culture outside of the workplace.
Overall, my internship at IAL has been a very rewarding experience. As an Electrical Engineering graduate, I learned that I should not limit myself to only one area of engineering. My experience with mechanical design and the automotive industry has encouraged me to remain open to unfamiliar fields and continue learning beyond my university major.
Finally, I would like to sincerely thank JCCiM for sourcing and facilitating this internship opportunity for me, and everyone at IAL for their help, guidance and encouragement throughout my time there. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to spend almost a year learning and working with the team, and I am grateful for everything I have learned from this experience.