Humans of Open Universities Australia: Meet Samira

September 25, 2023

This month we meet Samira, a student advisor with a passion for education's transformative qualities. When her family fled war, education was critical in allowing them to create a new life. Samira brings this pride in education to her work every day. 

Tell us your name and your role at Open Universities Australia?

What was your role when you started and how has it changed?

I started with Open Universities Australia as an apprentice student advisor 3 years ago, during the COVID pandemic.

It was an interesting time as everything was done remotely, right from the interview process, to the on-boarding and training. We met all our teammates remotely in daily huddles and looked forward to our new learnings each day. Kudos to our trainers and Open Universities Australia, as the entire process was smooth and effective.

Following on from the initial apprentice student advisor role, I became a student advisor. In my current role, I assist students through servicing outbound and inbound calls, and occasionally assisting as a backup “chatter” when needed on our live chat platform, which allows new and existing students to jump online and ask us questions when it suits them best. I have also had the opportunity to join the Knowledge and Portfolio Guild. We liaise between the Guild and our Advisory Teams to disseminate information about new products offered by partner universities, along with any relevant changes to course information that may occur.

The Knowledge and Portfolio Guild also organises internal “Open Days”—these are days which allow student advisors to learn new and exciting information about courses to assist with giving students the right information. These are always are engaging and informative!

What led you to working at Open Universities Australia and why?

Education contributes to growth in individuals. The ripple effect that education has, beginning with the individual and positively impacting families as well as communities is life-changing.

On a personal level, historically, due to war my father and his family had to flee their country (which no longer exists). The family spread across the world, and in pursuing education they were able to create better lives and assimilate into their new environments.

In terms of my own education, I have completed a Bachelor Degree in Psychology and a Masters Degree in Counselling, so I know the power of education first-hand. My experiences assist me in my role as a student advisor when speaking with students.

I have also had the opportunity to previously volunteer with an organisation mentoring young girls (in Year 10), encouraging them to pursue Tertiary Education. These girls would be the first in their families to experience the transformative power of education. They had dreams and were excited to know that with education, they could create their own reality.

Being passionate about education on so many levels meant that when the opportunity came up for a role as a student advisor with Open Universities Australia, I was excited to apply!

What do you do every day to transform lives through education?

As a trusted student advisor, speaking with students, assisting, and guiding them to the subjects and degrees best suited to their study, career goals and aspirations.

What is your favourite part of your role?

Each day brings together new conversations with students, new insights and learnings and students’ lives transformed. Working in a collaborative, positive team environment and the variety that each day brings is one of the myriad reasons that makes this role so rewarding.

The foundation, however, is being able to assist students in transforming their lives through the power of education.

What is your proudest moment or career highlight during your time at Open Universities Australia?

There are several “mini” moments I can think of – each experience significant in its own way.

My first student enrolment, my first Study Period assisting students in enrolling, fascinating student conversations, joining the Knowledge and Portfolio Guild, and more recently—the first time I ever used a microphone on our internal Open Day! I just had to test it beforehand to ensure it was all good!

Shout out to my team leader Pallavi for encouraging us to grow outside our comfort zones!

What would you say to students thinking about taking the leap into online study?

All significant achievements begin with the first step, and Open Universities Australia is a great place to start.

What would you say to someone thinking about working for Open Universities Australia?

Go for it! Open Universities Australia is a forward-thinking organisation, continually evolving to meet the needs of Students, university partners and employees. Open Universities Australia’s positive work culture, encouraging people to grow both professionally and personally, is always valued. Everything we do is underpinned by Open University Australia’s values—Act for the Customer, Care for Each Other and Continuously Improve

What do you do when you’re not working behind the scenes at Open Universities Australia? How does this make you a better team member?

I enjoy spending time with family and friends, long walks on the beach, music (and playing piano), art (visiting museums and art galleries), books (browsing bookstores—especially on a rainy day), photography and travel.

Being naturally curious and eager to learn, I can relate with students’ varied interests and share relevant conversations, guiding them towards their study goals.

Finally, tell us a fun fact about you!

My sense of adventure seems to be unleashed when I travel! I have had some fun experiences—for instance bungee jumping in New Zealand and paragliding off the cliffs in Lima, Peru. I am looking forward to the next one!