Bondy in the spotlight: Vineesha Veer

Being recently named a 2020 Gold Coast Mayor’s Student Ambassador has given Vineesha Veer the feeling she’s come full circle.

In her new role, the Bond University Biomedical Science student will represent the city by welcoming other students to the Gold Coast, helping them to develop their goals and explore their interests – just like a Bond academic did for her more than two years ago.

“I came to Bond for a tour and my tour guide was Associate Professor Lottie Tajouri, who is one of my teachers now,” Vineesha said.

“He gave me a tour of the Health Sciences & Medicine building and then ended up telling me about Biomedical Science.

“At the time I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do research or medicine, and what to study. He told me all about research and got me so interested in that area, so I chose Biomed,” she said.

Originally from Tamworth, New South Wales, Vineesha said she was used to a community where most people knew each other’s names.

But moving to the sixth largest city in Australia has surprised her; there is still a strong sense of community spirit.

“It’s a lot busier and there’s a lot more diversity but there’s that inclusivity that I never thought would be in a city like this one,” she said.  

Having grown up in a rural town, Vineesha said she understands young people’s desire to explore other parts of the country.

She hopes her personal experience of moving to a major city will help others when they arrive to study on the Gold Coast.

“I have never looked back since I started at Bond,” she said.

“I really like that we have a lot of one-on-one interpersonal relationships and interactions, especially with my lecturers."

“My lecturers know me by name, I know most of the Health Sciences and Medicine students – it’s not like you see them once and you leave,” she said.

“You build a connection and I think that’s the main thing I really enjoy about Bond, you get a connection rather than just being a number or just being a stranger.”

The Mayor’s Student Ambassador program offers recipients the opportunity to represent the student community on the Gold Coast, manage a budget to create student led programs and events, and to participate in professional development workshops.

For more information on the program, and how to get involved, visit Study Gold Coast.