Brayden Millar

Student advisor specialising in fees and payment information

Connect with Brayden 

Brayden is driven by his purpose as a student advisor to make a real difference, especially for those who feel university is out of reach. He loves a good chat and relates particularly well to those moving from trades or vocational work into higher education.

Brayden would love to talk to you about:

• Fees, student loans and paying for university
• Entry pathways
• Choosing a course that aligns with your goals

Brayden reveals how he found his own path through study

What is your work and study background?

I left school after Year 10, went to TAFE, and worked as a roof plumber for five or six years. Next, I moved into managing country pubs and working at a golf club. Hospitality gave me a chance to bring out my outgoing side – I needed to have patience, think on my feet and build rapport with all kinds of people.

Outside work, I train in kickboxing and jiu-jitsu and work as a coach. I love the sense of purpose I get from martial arts, helping other develop and achieve something they’ve worked towards.

What led you to start working for Open Universities Australia?

A friend who worked at Open Universities Australia referred me for the student advisor role. He thought I’d be good at talking with students because I’m relatable and can pretty much have a conversation with anyone.

I saw it as a chance to use my people skills to make a real difference. I like having a genuine chat with students and working out where they’re coming from. My own experience outside traditional education also helps me relate to people who haven’t followed the usual path into university.

What’s your favourite part about helping students?

The best conversations are with people who don’t think they can get into uni. They might say, “I don’t have an ATAR” or “I left school after Year 10,” and assume that rules them out. I get to explain that there may be non-ATAR pathways or other entry options they can explore.

Sometimes I’m speaking with a school leaver who’s worried about what comes next. Other times, it’s a parent calling about their child or an adult returning to study after many years. I can draw on my own experience because I’ve been there. I know what it’s like to leave school early and have to find another direction.

I want to be in the underdog’s corner and help them move from feeling like they have no options to seeing that there may be a way forward.

What do you enjoy about helping students with fees and payment information?

A lot of people have heard of HECS-HELP or know there are government loans, but they don’t really understand how they work. It does get complicated. I enjoy helping people work out what they’re eligible for, then explaining it in a way they can understand.

My role is to help them make an informed decision rather than ruling study out before they have the full picture.