ANAGI GUNASEKERA
· Creative Learning Experience Designer · Educator · Musician
DeakinTALENT Career Ambassador
Supporting students, connecting them with opportunities, and developing career confidence.
Role: DeakinTalent Career Ambassador
Organisation: DeakinTALENT
Focus: Student career support · Career literacy · Employer engagement · Professional development
Selected as one of 12 Career Ambassadors at Deakin’s Burwood Campus.
What I do
I support students through DeakinTALENT pop-ups, events and campus activities, helping them identify useful career resources and next steps.
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Connect students with jobs, internships, events, career resources and further support
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Provide basic résumé feedback and refer students to more specialised guidance when needed
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Help make career support feel approachable, relevant and easy to navigate
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Work with students from different disciplines and stages of study
Employer Engagement and Career Literacy
Through DeakinTALENT Employer Showcases and career events, I’ve had direct opportunities to engage with employers and learn more about different industries, roles and career pathways.
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Helped welcome students and support event delivery
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Interviewed employers and students during Employer Showcases
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Spoke directly with employers about roles, teams and opportunities that are not always visible in advertised vacancies
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Gained insight into what employers value, how different career paths develop, and how graduates can position their skills
These experiences have strengthened my career literacy and given me a more practical understanding of the transition from university into professional life.
Professional Development
Ongoing professional development has been a key part of my Career Ambassador experience, giving me structured training across a range of professional and interpersonal skills.
My development has included:
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Public speaking and professional communication - building confidence in presenting, facilitating conversations and engaging with different audiences
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Strengths-based coaching - developing an understanding of how strengths profiles can identify what energises people, where strengths may be overused, and how different strengths can complement one another. I also explored how this framework can support teamwork, development conversations, goal-setting and helping others recognise how they contribute best
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Anti-racism and anti-discrimination training - strengthening my understanding of inclusive practice and how to respond appropriately to discrimination
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Gender-based violence training - developing awareness of sensitive situations, appropriate responses, disclosure pathways and when to escalate or seek further support
Together, these experiences have strengthened my ability to communicate professionally, work inclusively, understand different perspectives and respond thoughtfully in complex situations.
Career Ambassador of the Month - July 2026
I was grateful to be recognised as Career Ambassador of the Month, with the recognition highlighting the enthusiasm, positivity and energy I brought to interactions with students and colleagues, alongside my creativity, initiative and team mindset.
For me, the recognition was especially meaningful because it reflected something I value across all my work: creating spaces where people feel comfortable, supported, valued and connected.
What I've taken from this role
Being a Career Ambassador has reshaped how I think about career development. I’ve learned that careers are rarely linear, and there is no single point at which you suddenly begin preparing for your future.
Career development is an ongoing process of exploring opportunities, building stepping-stone experiences, documenting what you learn, reflecting on how your skills are developing, and staying open to where different experiences may lead.
The role has also shown me the importance of going beyond networking to building and sustaining genuine professional relationships - keeping in touch, following up, staying curious and continuing conversations over time.
Through supporting students, engaging with employers and learning from DeakinTALENT resources, I’ve developed a much stronger understanding of how to navigate opportunities intentionally while continuing to grow professionally.
