2023 Student Volunteer Champions

2023 Student Volunteer Champions

Students from the RMIT volunteering community have been recognized by their peers as our 2023 Student Volunteer Champions for their contribution to different events.

Prior to our End of Year Volunteer Party, our student volunteering committee voted for their Student Volunteer Champions for 2023.

Our winners were Monique Senjaya, Katherine Chea, Sunny Nguyen, Jacqueline Dunn, Bevan Gadsden, Tanya Singh, Utkarsh Agarwal and Manh Duc Nguyen.

All eight champions were recognised for their efforts, and we spoke to a few of them about their experience and why they love volunteerin.

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Jacqueline Dunn – SEAG/Academic Board

Volunteering has helped me with my confidence and the ability to understand the university better. It's also encouraged me make the most out of my time at RMIT.

My advice for students that are a unsure about volunteering would be that even if you don’t know anyone, when you go to volunteering events you will be with like-minded people and those who have chosen to be there. So it means that it's a really nice environment and even if it feels like you've jumped into the deep end you'll be fine! 

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Manh Duc Nguyen – Peer Mentor

Through volunteering I got the chance to meet a lot of people - students and RUSU volunteers. Everyone was very nice, and I was able to talk a lot to them which is usually very difficult for me.

For my personal experience, I was quite shy when I first started being a volunteer but when I met the co-ordinator, I found that they are very friendly and gave me the chance to be open which helped me feel more comfortable little by little.

Volunteering has changed me a lot and given me the confidence to use my voice in my classes too!

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Monique Senjaya – RUSU Volunteer

I helped with events and the RUSU Real Foods Cafe. At first, I was hesitant but then when I started, I made so many friends and won cool prizes. And it’s not just that; there are a lot of advantages to being a volunteer. 

I think for me, volunteering helped a lot in making friends and socially interacting with people. I don't think that I would have made as many friends as I have without my volunteering experience. 

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Katherine Chea – Club Leader

I've been volunteering for the Physics Student Association for a really long time. I'm still there and I'm finally at the top now as the president. I've also started doing some cue sports stuff as well, just because I wanted to play some pool every now and then and every now and then.

If you think that you enjoy something and you want to meet people that enjoy the same things, there's a lot of perks of being a volunteer. You get to talk to a bunch of different people. In my case with the physics department, it's put me on good terms with some of the staff and academics, and that's been really valuable to my PhD. 

 

Interested in volunteering as an RMIT student?

We're gearing up for some amazing orientation events in 2024 and are looking for volunteers to be part of the welcome crew! Learn more here.

Participating in a volunteer program or role can not only be personally fulfilling but can also help you meet new people and build essential skills that employers value – like communication, leadership and teamwork. Volunteer experience also looks great on your résumé!

You can explore the different volunteering opportunities at RMIT before you decide which area to sign up with. 

Already know which program you want to volunteer with? Register to become a volunteer here. 

23 November 2023

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.