Deakin’s Orientation Ambassador Program by Rachel Hanley, Deakin University

Along with implementing some new and improved ‘back-end’ administrative processes, Deakin’s Orientation Ambassador Program (formerly known as the Connect Program) has recently gone a massive re-brand as we excitedly prepare to greet our commencing Deakin students for Trimester 1, 2019! In the past six months our program has moved to a completely digitalised rostering system for both our volunteers and casual staff – significantly reducing the time required to put together these rosters manually. We have also moved to a new points-based rewards system for our volunteers, which allows us to reward volunteers with professional development opportunities and allows volunteers to build on the rewards and recognition that they receive for their voluntary contributions without limits. Our new motto is “there are no minimum requirements, just maximum rewards!”. But, our most notable change of all, we have an unmissable new uniform of bright pink shirts, so new students will have no problems finding an Orientation Ambassador to help answer any questions they have as they arrive on campus for the first time! This week we are conducting the last of our training sessions to our new team of volunteers, and are so excited to be working with such an enthusiastic group of Orientation Ambassadors who cannot wait to start assisting new students here at Deakin!