There are no “official” entry criteria but you do need to be:

• a people person
• comfortable speaking to individuals as well as a group of people
• happy to have your photo taken for use in social media campaigns and publicity shots.

This Student Ambassador initiative is based in Dunedin and Central Otago so unfortunately we can't accept applications from Auckland International Campus students. If you're keen to help out, please contact the Auckland team.

Student Ambassadors are offered casual work by the Student Ambassador Coordinator, Carly Nesbit. This work can be for an hour or a few hours. 

Jobs are listed as being available in our Microsoft Teams group and Student Ambassadors comment in the Teams group to say that they are happy to help. 

Examples of the type of jobs offered are:

Helping with large events like Tertiary Open Day

• Handing out information
• Chatting to prospective learners and their whānau
• Helping someone to find where they need to be
• Setting up chairs and tables

Helping with twice-yearly graduations

• Helping in the Gown Room
• Washing and ironing gowns
• Sending out certificates to graduates
• Handing out graduation booklets at the event

Campus tours

• Show prospective students and their whānau around campus
• Talk to them about their programme or what studying at the Polytechnic is like

Helping at symposiums and other Polytechnic events

• Helping on the registration desk
• Showing people where to go
• Meet and greet style activities 

• This will be a great thing to put on your CV. It shows that you’re willing to help other people, can learn new things and will work hard.
  
  
• You get paid!
  
  
• You get a t-shirt to wear for all the Student Ambassador jobs you do (unless you’re asked to wear something different).  
  
  
• You get to meet lots of new people and build your confidence.
  
  
• You’ll get to learn more about how events work.

We will give you training when you begin your role as a Student Ambassador. Sometimes, you might need to do a quick training session before a specific job to ensure you know what you are doing.

We will also send you a link to this webpage with loads more info - check it out now if you're curious!

OPSA is an independent organisation that advocates for students.

The OPSA Board has positions like Māori Rep and Wellbeing Rep and they attend high-level meetings with senior Polytechnic staff to discuss student issues. They are even involved in discussions about things like the student levy amount.

These reps are elected annually by their fellow students. 

OPSA Programme / College Reps are learners who are also elected by their peers annually. There is one rep per programme and their role is to feed back into the main group of OPSA Reps with any complaints or issues (or positive news). They represent you, their classmates, across all things and are there to spread news and support info. 

Student Ambassadors are casual employees of the Polytechnic itself. Their role is not one of advocacy. They are given casual work such as setting up events or functions and they get paid for the hours they do. They can do support-like work when answering questions, but this will be more with prospective students rather than current students.

The role of a Student Ambassador is more of a practical, hands-on type position, rather than the OPSA reps which is more of a supportive, peer-to-peer type role.

• Applications open each year at the start of the year and close in late March.
  
  
• Please email a cover letter to Carly.Nesbit@op.ac.nz — Carly is our Student Ambassador Coordinator.
  
  
• In the cover letter, let Carly know a little bit about yourself and why you’re keen to be an Ambassador.
  
  
• Please also include your preferred email address and phone number in this cover letter.  
  
  
• If you’re successful, Carly will touch base with you (via phone or email) to sort a time to have a chat.
  
  
• You’ll then need to sign a casual contract (once you’ve read and are happy with the terms and conditions).
  
  
• And we’ll set you up in our Polytechnic contract system.  
  
  
• Once you’re signed up to be a Student Ambassador, we’ll give you training and more information about things like dress code and behaviour, how jobs are allocated, what happens if you’re sick and can’t make it to the job, how to log the hours you’ve worked, pay cycles and health and safety.

Please email Carly.Nesbit@op.ac.nz if you have any questions and she’ll get back to you as soon as she can.