From academia to policy
Alfadzni (Al) Haddimah recently wrapped up his time as CMY’s Policy Intern. Al completed 200 hours of work with CMY’s Policy team as part of his university studies.
Aldafzni is originally from Jolo, the capital city of the province of Sulu, on one of the South-West islands of the Philippines. Al worked there as a Youth Development Officer for a government agency. Undertaking a Masters in Public Policy and Management, Al travelled to Melbourne to study at Melbourne University. Al will soon be graduating with First Class Honours!
So far, Al has enjoyed his time in Melbourne and particularly loves the accessibility of public transport and cycling.
“The people here are very open. They’re welcoming and they’re cheerful,” says Al.
Al chose CMY to get out of his “comfort zone.” He saw that interning with CMY would deepen his sensitivity to people from refugee and migrant backgrounds and their lived experiences. From the get-go, Al was determined to expand his horizons.
“I entered this placement with a personal motive: to challenge the internal narrative I carried that my experience, grounded in a small island municipality, was somehow less valid in global policy discussions,” says Al.
“I wanted to test that assumption by immersing myself in a diverse and professional policy environment, hoping it would help me reclaim my confidence and refine how I position myself in international dialogues.”
Al worked closely with Edmee and Harini from the Policy team, specifically assisting with research for their Social Media Ban paper and their Family Violence Inquiry summary. Throughout his time with us, Al learned a lot about policy, specifically the way that policy is written and designed, as well as the importance of evidence in advocacy.
He also observed that CMY was a very kind and respectful workplace.
“At first, I hesitated to ask questions or contribute ideas, unsure if my perspective, coming from a small island in the Philippines, would be understood or valued. However, I noticed that colleagues would introduce me to others with genuine respect,” Al says.
“At CMY, everyone from interns to directors spoke casually and comfortably. Adapting to this openness took time, but it helped me see that confidence is not arrogance; it is a way of affirming your place in the room.”
Al’s internship was not without its challenges. In his work back in Jolo, Al is used to writing in a much more academic style, a kind of writing that doesn’t really fit with the kind of writing needed for policy. Another challenge was transitioning from a key figure in his workplace to being a “learner” again.
“One key moment came when I was asked to facilitate a youth sector meeting icebreaker. It felt trivial at first, but I soon realised it was a trust-building opportunity,” says Al.
“That task reminded me that relational leadership is foundational in both advocacy and governance. I began to approach each interaction as a learning loop, not a performance test.”
Al’s time at CMY was informative and groundbreaking. He aims to bring a lot of these learning experiences with him back to his own work in the Philippines.
“I learned that being “professional” does not mean being flawless,” Al says.
“It means being receptive, reflective, and responsible. Whether it was tracking changes in SharePoint, contributing to literature reviews, or just observing how colleagues handled policy conversations, every task taught me something.”
Al’s time in Australia is not quite over! Al is a foodie and coffee fan and has plans to “hop” from coffee shop to restaurant to coffee shop. He is also planning to enjoy the last bits of Melbourne he can before he heads home, to put all he has learnt into practice.