Enrolled students

I highly recommend the clinic to anyone with an interest in accounting, tax and law, as it is an experience unmatched by other courses. You work with real clients and complex cases, while being guided by experienced and knowledgeable mentors. Above all, the clinic teaches you the fundamental principle all professionals should strive for: combining diligence and competence with care, so that you not only do well, but also do good. 

I enjoyed applying my tax knowledge into practice during my experience at the UNSW Taxation Clinic. The tax professionals were always supportive in fostering a learning environment and I was presented with many opportunities to develop critical interpersonal skills.

My experience at the UNSW Tax and Business Advisory Clinic was one of the most valuable experiences I had at university, allowing me to apply the knowledge and skills I developed throughout my studies to real client circumstances. I particularly enjoyed developing my technical knowledge, communication skills and attention to detail while working with and learning from experienced tax professionals. The clinic strengthened my confidence and played an important role in my professional development, while also deepening my interest in pursuing a career in accounting and taxation.

The Clinic gave me the opportunity to put classroom knowledge into practice, working through real tax issues and developing confidence in communicating with real Australian clients. I particularly appreciated the welcoming and supportive working atmosphere, where I felt comfortable asking questions and learning from both the supervisors and fellow students. It was rewarding to develop practical skills while helping people in the community.

This wasn’t just an academic exercise – it was a transformative  experience. I worked with real clients facing real challenges, including survivors of domestic violence, individuals living with mental illness and small-business owners overwhelmed by debt. These weren’t hypothetical scenarios or textbook case studies. They were deeply personal, complex human stories – and I had the opportunity to help. It changed my perspective of studying at UNSW.

These past ten weeks have been beyond valuable; I would even go as far as to say they have been life-changing for me. Thank you for inspiring me to not only become a better professional, but also a kinder person.

I expected to refine my taxation skills, but I didn’t anticipate just how profound the experience would be. At first, I was sceptical about the mental health, domestic violence and financial abuse training, as I did not immediately see the connection to tax issues. However, my perspective changed completely after meeting my first client. That moment was a wake-up call: tax problems are often just one part of a much more complex struggle.

The Clinic gave me the opportunity to work pro bono with clients from low socioeconomic backgrounds, particularly people experiencing financial abuse whose circumstances may be overlooked by policy and administrative systems. I also had the opportunity to spearhead a research database concerning clients experiencing vulnerability. I valued the research skills and responsibility I was given from the outset.

Volunteering at the tax clinic has made me realise how many people are quietly struggling behind numbers and forms. A lot of our clients aren’t just cases with tax issues but people who have been financially abused by partners, overwhelmed by debts they don’t fully understand, or pushed into crisis by things completely out of their control. Through this experience, I’ve come to see why it’s called a clinic rather than an office. For me, it feels less like processing paperwork and more like offering a small piece of care to someone who’s already exhausted. Even though we can't fix their whole life, helping them untangle a tax problem can remove one heavy burden, and in that moment it feels like we’re offering a small beam of light into a pretty dark situation.