The Ambassadors include celebrities like Matt Moran, Lisa Mcguigan, Ed Halmagyi and Kyle Loades. Lesser well-known, but equally successful people include Jim Sell who runs a building business in the Southern Highlands; Frank Newah-Jefroi, who's gone from refugee to community services worker in the Riverina, and Carmen-Lee Campbell, a shearer and wool classer out west.

The winning students will be selected by the TAFE NSW Institutes via a nomination process, from the same course area that the Ambassador studied or an equally meritorious student from another discipline.

The identified courses align with industry-recognised qualifications, ranging from Certificate III to Diploma.

Prizes are to be presented at each Institute's annual Student Awards. The initial prizes will be awarded at the Hunter Institute on 4 May 2016.

The 30 new prizes will encourage students to excel in their chosen course and provide inspiration to others. They will be offered for two years initially.