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Ever wondered what it takes to be the welcoming face of Curtin? From leading high school students on campus tours to answering rapid-fire questions in front of a crowd, the Student Ambassador Program offers a unique glimpse into university life – and it’s transforming students in ways they never expected.
We spoke with two current Curtin Student Ambassadors, Komal and Andrew, who’ve discovered that being an Ambassador is about more than just representing Curtin. It’s about pushing boundaries, building confidence and developing skills that will carry them into their careers.
Stepping outside your comfort zone
For many students, joining the Student Ambassador Program means facing their biggest fear head-on. Komal, a Master of Professional Accounting student in her final semester, describes herself as an introvert who finds it “really hard to talk to strangers.” But that’s exactly why she joined.
“When we have high school students coming here, you get to talk to them and they throw random questions at you. You have seconds to answer them. It’s more about stopping your overthinking,” she explains.
Andrew, a third-year Bachelor of Psychology student, discovered the Program through a friend and was drawn to the opportunity to practise his people skills. “I wish I’d joined Student Ambassadors sooner. It is such a lovely program, especially to start off with. It’s a really good professional development opportunity.”
A day in the life
One of the roles of a Student Ambassador is to lead prospective students through Race Around the Uni (RATU), where high schoolers visit locations across campus and answer questions along the way. After the tour comes the panel session, where Ambassadors face questions from curious high school students.
“On that panel, students ask you random questions. Some of them are tricky. Some are okay. When they finish, you have three to five seconds to think about it,” Komal says.
One of Andrew’s favourite memories was leading a high school group through campus for half a day, where they participated in an innovation challenge that had the students designed theme parks. “Just getting to see everyone stand up and present their ideas was really good fun.”
Building skills that matter
The skills Student Ambassadors develop extend far beyond the Program. For Komal, who’s about to start her graduate role with Deloitte’s audit team, the Program has been invaluable.
“I can’t explain enough the confidence that has come with it. Especially answering the random questions,” she says. “In auditing, you can’t work by yourself. You need to work in teams. And the more you learn about how to navigate the conflicts, the better it is.”
Andrew, who plans to work as a school counsellor, has found similar value. “I think I’ll end up working as a school counsellor, working one-on-one with students. So just having that time to work with high school students and get over that fear – it can be a little bit anxiety inducing when you’re going into a classroom setting for the first time.”
With more than 30 Ambassadors in the Program, both students appreciate the opportunity to build teamwork skills and make friends across different faculties.
Advice for future ambassadors
Looking back on their experiences, both students have clear advice for anyone considering applying.
“Don’t shy away when they ask you to present the RATU,” Komal urges. “If you are joining the Student Ambassador Program, your main priority should be focusing on your presentation or public speaking.”
Andrew’s advice? “Get started as early as you can. Don’t necessarily wait until the next semester. And just take on as many opportunities and as many different ones as you can within Student Ambassadors. There’s so many skills that you can pick up.”
Ready to step outside your comfort zone? Applications to become a Curtin Student Ambassador in 2026 are now open. Visit our website to apply.
