Inside the Charter Hall Scholarship Program

When you join Charter Hall as a scholarship participant, you’re welcomed as a full contributor, like everyone else in our team. You’ll be involved in meaningful work, which makes a difference to our people, customers and communities.

You’ll learn a lot, but we’ll learn from you too.

We’ll support and develop you into a career-ready professional, as you put your university skills to work in real situations and take part in learning experiences at one of Australia’s leading property funds management companies.

It’s a unique, exciting and challenging experience, as our 2021 scholarship participants Luke Bagatella (WSU student) and Grace Shipway (UTS student) share.

How was your first month at Charter Hall?

Luke: The first month has been very eye-opening. It allowed me to understand the inner workings of the company and meet some great people. I must admit the first day was quite daunting, as I have never worked in an office before! But everyone has been very welcoming and more than happy to help me make the most out of my rotation.

Grace: The first month has been great! The people at Charter Hall have been extremely welcoming and encouraging of my development and learning. From the get-go, I was jumping into meetings and visiting assets. This was very helpful, as it enabled me to piece together the teams and responsibilities that are involved in Charter Hall. 

What rotation are you currently doing?

Luke: I am currently working with the Office Development Team. The biggest learning would be the extensive presence that the team has within the construction of the properties. It's also been interesting learning about what goes into finding the appropriate tenant customers for each development.

Grace: I am currently undergoing my Retail rotation and will be here for two months. One of the best learning experiences has been heading on site to visit our convenience-based centres and meet our tenant customers. It enabled me to learn first-hand and piece together what I have been exposed to so far, in terms of leasing, operations, development, marketing and more.

What are you most excited for in the year ahead?

Grace: I am very excited to explore all the sectors within Charter Hall as I continue my rotations this year. I hope this will help me to determine where my interests and skills are best applicable within the property industry. I am also looking forward to finishing my degree!

What do you think is the most valuable aspect of the scholarship?

Luke: Through the rotations that the scholarships promotes, I believe that I will be able to align myself with numerous different people throughout the company. This will allow me to gain connections with people not simply just in my team, but the entire business.

How has the transition been from learning about property, to working in it?

Grace: Having practical experience is second to none. You can learn a lot from reading a textbook, but there is no substitute to the mentorship and learning program that I have been exposed to at Charter Hall.

Why did you choose a career in property?

Luke: I chose a career in property as I was keen to travel to different properties and not be stuck in the office five days a week! I was also attracted to helping facilitate tenants with effective workspaces that allows them to achieve their key performance indicators.

What has been the biggest eye-opener working here?

Luke: The biggest eye-opener has been the overall number of assets that Charter Hall manage. I didn't realise that we owned so many properties around the city. Also, realising how much certain properties cost to acquire or develop was a surprise.

What advice would you give to other students studying property?

Luke: The advice that I would give to property students is to apply for as many job opportunities as you can, because physically working in the field broadens your horizon extensively. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions to individuals with experience, the knowledge that you are able to gain from them can far outweigh what you learn in university.

Grace: My advice for students studying property would be to find a role within the industry in the last year of your degree - you will learn so much. I believe this will help position you well within the industry, as well as assist you in building a network of like-minded individuals.