Connecting students to future pathways: What to expect from CommBank at Indigenous Nationals

CommBank is the official banking partner of Indigenous Nationals in 2026 and the focus remains on supporting First Nations students to explore future pathways, build connections and learn more about opportunities available to them. 

Across the week, the CommBank team will be on the ground connecting with students from across Australia. On Thursday at the Mob markets, a series of sessions will bring together conversations on careers and AI. These sessions are designed to be practical, accessible and grounded in real experiences, helping students explore future career pathways and build confidence in emerging areas such as technology and AI. 

Exploring career pathways at CommBank 

For Trent Rose, a proud Gomeroi man, who works in early careers supporting interns and graduates at CommBank, Indigenous Nationals is a chance to connect directly with students and open up conversations about what their future could look like. 

Trent will be running a session during the markets, which will give students a clearer view of the breadth of career opportunities available at CommBank, many of which extend beyond traditional perceptions of banking. From technology and AI through to a range of corporate and specialist roles, the aim is to show the range of pathways that exist. 

A key focus is helping students understand where to start. The session will walk through practical entry points such as internships, graduate programs and part-time roles, while also giving insight into what those experiences look like in practice. 

For Trent, this work is grounded in supporting pathways for First Nations talent early in their careers. He hopes students leave with a better understanding of how their skills and interests could translate into a future at CommBank. 

Importantly, the session is open beyond just students. By welcoming the broader community, there is an opportunity for families, mentors and networks to better understand the career pathways available and how they can support the next generation. 

At its core, the message is simple. Come along, ask questions and stay curious. You do not need to have everything figured out to take the first step.

Building confidence with AI 

Alongside the careers session, Ky Simms, a proud Bidjigal woman, from CommBank’s Indigenous Careers team will lead a session focused on AI and how it can be used in everyday life. 

Having started her own journey as a school-based trainee, Ky brings a strong focus on early pathways and making opportunities more accessible. Her session is designed to meet people where they are, regardless of their experience with technology. 

Rather than focusing on technical detail, the session will explore how AI already shows up in day-to-day life and how it can be used responsibly as a practical tool. The goal is to help students feel more confident experimenting with it. 

A key theme is using AI safely and responsibly. The session will touch on privacy considerations, cultural awareness and responsible technology use.  

Ky also sees AI and tech more broadly as a growing area of opportunity for First Nations students. Her message is to stay open-minded and not feel limited by assumptions about what a career in this space requires. 

Ultimately, the session is about building confidence. Whether someone is completely new to AI or already experimenting with it, there will be something practical to take away.  

A space to connect and learn 

Together, these sessions reflect the broader purpose of CommBank’s presence at Indigenous Nationals. It is about more than sharing information. It is about connecting with students, creating space for conversation and helping them explore what is possible. 

With hundreds of First Nations university students coming together across the week, the event brings a strong sense of energy, connection and potential.  If you are attending Indigenous Nationals, come and connect with the team across the week or join a session during the Mob Markets on Thursday. You can learn more about careers at CommBank, hear directly from people on their own pathways and explore how emerging technology like AI are influencing the way we work.