Tax clinic students

Student engagement and contribution to the community

Clinics participating in the program collectively engaged over 300 students across a diverse array of disciplines including law, accounting, and finance. These students contributed 24,368 community service hours, with some students even travelling to remote communities to offer tax assistance where it was most needed. Students engage in a wide range of substantive and professional tasks that allow them to gain cross-functional experience while meaningfully contributing to the administration of tax justice across Australia.

Common tasks undertaken by students

Students participated in a diverse range of substantive and professional tasks across the tax clinic network. This practical experience provided them with cross-functional exposure and valuable opportunities to contribute meaningfully to the administration of tax justice across Australia. Student contributions include but are not limited to:

• Client-facing roles – Conducting client appointments, preparing for real-life consultations, and offering tax support for vulnerable groups through outreach.
• Research and advocacy – Conducting legal and tax research, drafting legal advice, memoranda, and communications, and producing client-facing education materials such as brochures and videos.
• Clinic development and administration – Assisting in the creation of manuals for FAQs and induction, updating clinic websites, and coordinating sub-projects to improve internal operations.
• Community engagement – Contributing to outreach programs, participating in local events, and travelling to underserved communities to provide free tax assistance.
• Marketing and communications – Promoting tax clinics within and beyond university campuses, often developing public-facing materials or hosting workshops on tax for small business owners and beginners.

Benefits for students

Participation in the tax clinics provided profound professional and personal benefits for students, including:

• Development of professional identity – students developed greater awareness of the responsibilities and ethics associated with tax work, enhancing their readiness for professional practice.
• Improved employment outcomes – clinic experience significantly enhanced students’ employability through networking opportunities, industry events, and exposure to real-world tax practices.
• Enhanced technical and interpersonal skills – students reported improvements in legal research, written communication, teamwork, client interaction, and problem-solving skills across all clinics. Students also learnt lodgments using software, for example, Xero tax.
• Personal growth – the immersive environment fostered self-confidence and resilience. Students frequently cited how the experience improved their intrinsic motivation, broadened their empathy, and prepared them for future professional challenges.
• Exploration of career pathways – exposure to diverse roles such as BAS agents, corporate tax professionals, in-house advisers, and public sector roles enabled students to make more informed career choices.

Student feedback

Student testimonials across all clinics reflected deep appreciation and a sense of personal and professional transformation:

• ‘This subject is invaluable ... It allowed me to apply the law to real people and taught me more than 2 or 3 core subjects would have.’ – University of Melbourne student
• ‘I look back at my experience with the tax clinic as a positive one. I believe it is a forward-thinking initiative by the university and should be adopted as a core unit as part of an accounting degree, where students have the opportunity to transfer their technical skills learned in the classroom and apply it to real-world situations in a professional environment.’ – Western Sydney University student
• ‘The practical experience of working alongside registered tax agents has allowed me to apply my tax knowledge and skills to assist the community. I am grateful to collaborate with my colleagues, which has enhanced my learning and professional growth.’ – Edith Cowan University student
• ‘One of my most memorable experiences was assisting a client who was visibly distressed due to a significant tax liability … Her relief and gratitude had a lasting impact on me and shaped my empathetic approach with future clients. The practical skills and experience I’ve gained here have also prepared me for real-world work in the accounting field.’ – Victoria University student
• ‘I consider my experience with the University of Newcastle Tax Clinic to be the highlight of my year. The ability to gain hands-on experience after gaining the theoretical knowledge during my degree of the taxation is invaluable in my progression into working life … I believe my experience has given me invaluable skills for the workforce as well as made me a better person by the ability to empathise with clients that are in place of need, encouraging me to be a better person.’ – University of Newcastle student
• ‘The biggest takeaway from the meeting wasn’t the knowledge of taxation—it was humanity. As tax professionals, whether in a free clinic or private practice, our role should go beyond calculating refunds or lodging returns. We should care about our clients and our communities and use our expertise to make a difference. I walked out of the debrief that day feeling powerful.’ – University of Tasmania student
• ‘What I valued most was applying my tax knowledge to real client situations ... It felt meaningful to contribute to something bigger and make a genuine impact within the community.’ – Griffith University student
• ‘My experience with the UC Tax Clinic has been nothing short of exceptional. The clinic uses an efficient delivery method via an online platform to provide the services that has afforded a lot of clients beyond the limits of ACT with the opportunity to seek the assistance they are in dire requirement. Abid Hussain is an excellent tax agent with years of experience and the team of Abid and Carole Grey, the manager of the clinic, has proven to be a success looking at the number of clients the clinic serves. As a student, the internship provided me an early opportunity to have exposure working with real clients and real scenarios. It also taught me the necessary skills in managing clients, managing client expectations and managing deadlines apart from the plethora of subject based learning I received while on the job. For those who are in need of tax services, I highly recommend the clinic and for those students who are eager to have an early bite at the work life experience as a tax agent, I suggest that they join the clinic.’ – University of Canberra student
• ‘I wanted to sincerely thank you for your guidance and support during the University of South Australia Tax Clinic. I thoroughly enjoyed the practical experience of assisting clients … I really appreciate all your efforts, and I especially valued the practical experience of interacting with clients for tax filing and related tasks.’ – University of South Australia student
• ‘Participating in the CDU Tax Clinic was one of the most rewarding experiences of my academic journey. The program significantly enhanced my communication and analytical skills and gave me the confidence to navigate real client scenarios with professionalism and empathy. The hands-on exposure to tax matters and community engagement not only complemented my academic learning but also prepared me for the workforce. I'm now proud to be working with SAMAF Consultants, where I continue to build on the foundations laid during my time at the clinic.’ – Charles Darwin University student
• ‘Working on real cases has bridged theory and practice, preparing me for future professional challenges.’ – Australian National University student

Overall, students consistently identified their clinic experience as a highlight of their education, blending service, skill development, and real-world exposure in a uniquely impactful way.