“It’s fascinating how.. simple student volunteer work like this can open doors to more opportunities and learnings.”
Anmol Panjwani, Student Volunteer
National Student Volunteer Week 2024 (NSVW) is coordinated and delivered nationally by Volunteering Queensland since 2013, acknowledging and celebrating student volunteers, and promoting volunteering to students and young people across Australia.
We are sharing some interviews with some of our amazing students making a difference to their peers and the wider community through volunteering.
As part of our LIVE in NSW Initiative, we support volunteers at the Study NSW International Student Welcome Desks at Sydney and Newcastle Airports. These students explained to us what they enjoyed most about studying in Sydney, the benefits they have experienced from volunteering and how they’ve been able to make a difference in welcoming fellow students.
This year’s NSVW theme is Generation Impact which we truly believe our student volunteers embody wholeheartedly. If your role involves international student support at your university, we’d love to see how we can leverage volunteering to enrich the study journey.
Meet Anmol!
Area of Study: Masters (Postgraduate) in Data Science and Innovation
Country of Origin: India
Institution University of Technology Sydney
Hours Volunteered: 33
Anmol’s tip for international students:
By volunteering at Sydney Airport, I witnessed the long-awaited reunion of families and friends and shared the emotions experienced by them. It’s fascinating how volunteering opens up doors for more opportunities and learnings for me.
Why did you choose to study in NSW?
I think the kind of universities and courses that I was looking for my master’s in data science happened to be majorly in NSW. The kind that focuses on practical learning and encourages internships as part of the curriculum [rather] than only focusing on theory. Sydney was home to 2 such shortlisted unis, out of which I chose UTS and I’m happy with the decision.
I was aware of the multicultural lifestyle of Sydney. Even though the cost of living was not very friendly to the pocket, with the support of my parents and family I was able to take a leap and choose NSW for an overall good quality of life.
What has been your favourite part of the student volunteering experience?
The vivid landscapes around the city, the museums, beaches, and parks being mandatory in every suburb, the good quality of air, fresh fruits and veggies, and cleanliness in most areas are all that make my experience here in Sydney worthwhile …… I also like how the unis, especially in Sydney, are blended with the residential areas and offices alike. And an unforgettable shoutout to the public transport, which is very well planned, making student life easier.
How have you gotten involved in student volunteer work?
I heard about the Study NSW International Student Welcome Desk at a career event co-organized by Seek, Gradability and Study NSW. It was also encouraged at our university, that’s how I enrolled myself in it.
We had to undergo an induction and training on day 1 at the airport to get better accustomed to the area and its whereabouts. I also volunteered at the student pantry in UTS this semester, where I was working in a team to receive, set up and manage the pantry stock while attending to the students.
What have you gained from your volunteering experience?
I’m glad to share that my volunteering experiences have provided me with a great deal of satisfaction since I was able to use my time and knowledge to be of service to others. It also helped me to build friendships, teamwork, and communication skills; and widen my network on a personal and professional level.
It’s fascinating how a simple volunteering work like this can open doors to more opportunities and learnings, and inculcate accountability and responsibility in students (especially with the strict airport rules).
Where do you see yourself going in the future?
I see myself in a leadership role in future, be it in my career growth as a Lead Data Scientist or in some volunteering event. I see myself working with and for the people, society, and environment at a larger extent.
Communiteer is partnering with Study NSW for our LIVE in NSW Initiative. This involves the design and delivery of student volunteering programs and support services to create a holistic experience for international students.
Enhance the experience and outcomes for international students studying in NSW, and strengthen the international education system.
- Personalised experience for international students
- Practical & purposeful use of time
- Established programs, ready to scale
- Cost-effective, co-contribution model
