Queensland Academy for Health Sciences is proud to congratulate Year 11 student Thenuli Balage on her appointment as one of twenty 2026 Mayor's Student Ambassadors for the City of Gold Coast.
Thenuli was formally appointed at a civic ceremony held at the Gold Coast Council Chambers, joining a remarkable cohort of young people drawn from 14 countries and representing nine Gold Coast education and training providers. The diversity of this group is one of its greatest strengths, bringing together a range of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences in genuine service of the broader Gold Coast community.
Throughout the year, Ambassadors will engage in a wide range of activities designed to foster growth academically, personally and professionally. At its heart, the program is about building a deeper understanding of self, of peers and of the city they call home. It is a genuinely rare opportunity and one that Thenuli has earned through her commitment, character and leadership.
Thenuli has spoken of her desire to use the Ambassador platform to champion causes close to her heart, particularly inclusion, student voice and the participation of women and girls in STEM. These are values that resonate deeply with the QAHS community, and we have no doubt she will advocate for them with both passion and purpose.
To read more, you can visit Thenuli's story on the Experience Gold Coast webpage.
Thenuli follows in the footsteps of Year 12 student Mattias Steljic, who served as a Mayor's Student Ambassador in 2025 and represented QAHS with great distinction. That two QAHS students have now been recognised through this program in consecutive years speaks to the quality and character of our student community.
We congratulate Thenuli on this well-deserved appointment and look forward to hearing about her experiences and contributions throughout 2026.
Dion Obst
HOD Global Connect