NSW International Education Awards

Yuet Ting Wong

Education provider: Cumberland High School  

Town: Carlingford, NSW 

Hong Kong (SAR of China)

Yuet Ting Wong is passionate about promoting positive school culture and raising awareness of mental health. As the School Captain of Cumberland High School and a former member of the Student Representative Council, Yuet Ting helps to lead and represent his cohort in the community. He has organised the cohort to raise over two thousand dollars for Beyond Blue in building awareness about mental health. 

Yuet Ting created video resources for the school’s international student orientation program which shares tips and experiences. He also volunteered as a Peer Support Leader across the STEM program, both as Student Librarian and as a Peer Tutoring Mentor supporting Year 7 students. Yuet Ting organised school fundraising to support charities. He was also a participant of the Max Potential Program where he pitched an entrepreneurial approach to improve an aspect of community, creating an experimental website targeting international students to assist them with overcoming different barriers when adapting to study in Australia. 

Maksim Veselovskii

Education provider: TAFE NSW 

Town: Ultimo, NSW 

 Russia 

Maksim Veselovskii is committed to promoting culinary sustainability in NSW. After graduating from a Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery, he is completing an Advanced Diploma in Hospitality Management at TAFE NSW.  

Maksim volunteers for the Sydney City Farm community gardens to foster green initiatives and community sustainability, and CleanUp Australia, where he preserves his neighborhood. He works as chef de partie at the Royal Sydney Golf Club, where he promotes sustainability through constant green initiatives and sustainable practices such as limiting food wastage. Maksim has been previously involved in Eastern European community groups and helped other international students as they arrive and settle in Australia. He uses his culinary background to prepare meals during group meetings. 

Narayan Gautam

Education provider: Kingston Institute Australia 

Town: Sydney, NSW 

Nepal 

Narayan Gautam is committed to raising awareness about student rights, health, and mental wellbeing.  

He is the founder and president of the Kanakai Municipal Child Forum, the National Public Relations Officer of the Student Advisory Council under the Non-Residential Nepalese Association (NRNA) Australia, the Executive Secretary of the Nepalese Student Club at Western Sydney University, and an executive member of the Australian Blood Donor Association. Narayan is also preparing to enroll in the Master of Social Work program with Western Sydney University. 

Olaitan Temitope Ogunbodede

Education provider: The University of Sydney   

Town: Sydney, NSW 

Nigeria   

Olaitan Temitope Ogunbodede is passionate about healthcare and works a front-line health worker at Blacktown Emergency Department. Through his professional roles and volunteer work, he raises awareness about sexual health and sexually transmitted infections.

Olaitan also volunteered for the Great Lakes Agency for Peace and Development (GLAPD) in Merrylands to help refugee communities access food, water and clothing during the pandemic. He continues to help connect these communities and support their entry into the Australian workplace. 

NSW Jobs Connect for International Students

Institution: SEEK

Project lead: Scott Brown, Key Account Manager - Federal Government and Study Australia , SEEK

The NSW Jobs Connect for International Students program is making a difference to the international students and employers of NSW. Delivered in partnership between SEEK and Study NSW, this industry first program connects international students looking to kickstart their careers with employers looking for talent.  

As part of #NSWJobsConnect, SEEK delivered masterclasses for international students on how to create a profile and resume, tips for interviews, employment market insights and other helpful resources. Another key initiative was a Careers Expo for International Students connecting over 1,100 international students with 50 NSW employers. For NSW employers, webinars were delivered about the benefits of hiring international students, visa options and "busting the myths" about working hours.  

Job Smart Program

Education provider: The University of Sydney Business School   

Project lead: Sharon Mose, Job Smart Program Manager, The University of Sydney Business School  

The Careers & Employability Job Smart Program gives international students a hand to launch their careers. 

The program was designed exclusively for international students at the University of Sydney Business School. The program helps these students to overcome challenges in finding jobs and connecting with communities in NSW. More than 3,000 international students have completed the program, accessing networking, coaching and work experience activities.  

The program helps international students to become more competent, access industry experience, build community connections, and improve their experience in NSW. They can also learn about what employers want, and build networks, language, and employability skills.  

David Riordan

Title and Institution: CEO, Public Education Foundation 

David has worked in international education for 30 years. He had several high-profile roles including CEO of the NSW Department of Education International, CEO of TAFE NSW,  CEO of the Office of Communities, and Director of City Services at the City of Sydney.  

During his time at TAFE NSW, the institute was awarded the International Training Provider of the Year and had the largest number of international students enrolled of any TAFE institutes in Australia. David also chaired the 2010 NSW Ministerial Taskforce on International Education which recommended the implementation of Study NSW.   

Prior to taking up his CEO role with the Public Education Foundation, David’s most recent work focused on assisting organisations across the Australian International Education Industry with their post-Covid-19 Business Models. He has coordinated the annual Australia China Business Council (ACBC) Education Symposiums and facilitated the Australian International Education Industry Roundtables (IEIR) focusing on the return of international students to Australia. 

YangQingQing Hu

Education provider: Turramurra High School  

Town: Turramurra, NSW 

China 

Despite still being in high school, YangQingQing is already an inspiration for NSW’s international students. Soon after he enrolled as a Year 10 student at Turramurra High in 2022, he became a member of the School Leadership Team, supporting school initiatives like Multicultural Days, Turrafest and charity fundraisers.  

YangQingQing is also a founding member of the school's junior arm of the local Lion's Club. In this role, YangQingQing works on weekends to support many in his local community including aged care residents and fundraising charities. YangQingQing is also a founding member of the school Ecology Club, where he helps students bring biological knowledge into practice in the laboratory and raise student awareness of ecology.

Yuet Ting Wong

Education provider: Cumberland High School  

Town: Carlingford, NSW 

Hong Kong (SAR of China)

Yuet Ting Wong is passionate about promoting positive school culture and raising awareness of mental health. As the School Captain of Cumberland High School and a former member of the Student Representative Council, Yuet Ting helps to lead and represent his cohort in the community. He has organised the cohort to raise over two thousand dollars for Beyond Blue in building awareness about mental health. 

Yuet Ting created video resources for the school’s international student orientation program which shares tips and experiences. He also volunteered as a Peer Support Leader across the STEM program, both as Student Librarian and as a Peer Tutoring Mentor supporting Year 7 students. Yuet Ting organised school fundraising to support charities. He was also a participant of the Max Potential Program where he pitched an entrepreneurial approach to improve an aspect of community, creating an experimental website targeting international students to assist them with overcoming different barriers when adapting to study in Australia.

Yumeng (Amy) Xin

Education provider: St Catherine's School Waverley

Town: Waverley, NSW 

China   

Yumeng (Amy) Xin is dedicated to supporting NSW’s international student community. Amy started as a Year 9 student at St Catherine's School in 2020, establishing the Chinese Culture Club to connect international students during the pandemic.  

Amy has also been a leading member of St Catherine's School in the NSW Schools Chinese Debating Championship, helping to coordinate teams and mentor younger students. This year, she has completed 200 hours of volunteer experience, attending events such as junior AFL gala days, live screenings of Matildas’ matches from the Women’s World Cup and the Royal Easter Show. To challenge herself outside of the classroom, Amy has also worked at St John’s Ambulance NSW. 

Munkhjargal Enkhsaikhan

Education provider: Sydney English House 

Town: Sydney 

Mongolia 

Munkhjargal Enkhsaikhan is passionate about making her peers feel welcome. During Sydney English House’s Culture Day and Mongolian National Day, she encouraged students to bring their national dishes, music and art to class, helping everyone feel included.  

She also brings her experience working in humanitarian and animal welfare activism in Mongolia to NSW. For Munkhjargal, gaining an excellent education and enhancing her English language skills in Australia is a dream come true. After graduation, she plans to take her experience back to make a difference in Mongolia.

Narayan Gautam

Education provider: Kingston Institute Australia 

Town: Sydney, NSW 

Nepal 

Narayan Gautam is committed to raising awareness about student rights, health, and mental wellbeing.  

He is the founder and president of the Kanakai Municipal Child Forum, the National Public Relations Officer of the Student Advisory Council under the Non-Residential Nepalese Association (NRNA) Australia, the Executive Secretary of the Nepalese Student Club at Western Sydney University, and an executive member of the Australian Blood Donor Association. Narayan is also preparing to enroll in the Master of Social Work program with Western Sydney University. 

Maksim Veselovskii

Education provider: TAFE NSW 

Town: Ultimo, NSW 

 Russia 

Maksim Veselovskii is committed to promoting culinary sustainability in NSW. After graduating from a Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery, he is completing an Advanced Diploma in Hospitality Management at TAFE NSW.  

Maksim volunteers for the Sydney City Farm community gardens to foster green initiatives and community sustainability, and CleanUp Australia, where he preserves his neighborhood. He works as chef de partie at the Royal Sydney Golf Club, where he promotes sustainability through constant green initiatives and sustainable practices such as limiting food wastage. Maksim has been previously involved in Eastern European community groups and helped other international students as they arrive and settle in Australia. He uses his culinary background to prepare meals during group meetings. 

Ashrika Paruthi

Education provider: The University of Sydney  

Town: Sydney, NSW 

India  

Ashrika Paruthi works hard to improve international student life in Sydney. She has worked in numerous roles including on the University of Sydney Student Representative Council (SRC), the university publication Honi Soit, and on the Dalyell Scholars Liaison Committee, a flagship university program for high-achieving students. Ashrika has also connected international students as an International Student Ambassador for the City of Sydney.  

Ashrika represents the Indian student community in the Australia India Business Council, advocating for better educational experiences for Indian students in Australia. She also supports the design and delivery of the International Student Health Hub as a Consortium member and International Student Health Hub Volunteer at NSW Health.

Olaitan Temitope Ogunbodede

Education provider: The University of Sydney   

Town: Sydney, NSW 

Nigeria   

Olaitan Temitope Ogunbodede is passionate about healthcare and works a front-line health worker at Blacktown Emergency Department. Through his professional roles and volunteer work, he raises awareness about sexual health and sexually transmitted infections.

Olaitan also volunteered for the Great Lakes Agency for Peace and Development (GLAPD) in Merrylands to help refugee communities access food, water and clothing during the pandemic. He continues to help connect these communities and support their entry into the Australian workplace.

Ratih Arruum Listiyandini

Education provider: University of New South Wales

Town: Kensington, NSW 

Indonesia

Ratih Arruum Listiyandini is committed to improving the lives of others. That’s why she launched an innovative startup for online health education called HaiMama! This helped Ratih secure the 2022 UNSW New Wave Founders People's Choice award.  

Ratih also advocates for mental health in Sydney’s Muslim student communities as an executive member of the Islamic Society UNSW and Indonesian Muslim Family Students. Ratih is also a speaker, educator, peer-counsellor, and mental health first-aider in the community, as well as advocating for student minorities as the Deputy Chairperson on the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion division of the 2023 UNSW Postgraduate Student Council (PGC).  

Australian Sports Program

Institution: Australian International Sports Organisation Pty Ltd  

Project lead: Nicholas Toscan and Herman Lotey, Directors at Australian International Sports Organisation

The Australian Sports Program connects and educates international students through the power of sport. Between August 2022 to July 2023, the Australian Sports Program was delivered across 13 locations and reached over 860 international students in NSW. To assist with the delivery of the program, the Australian Sports Program also hired over 15 international students as Casual Sport Program Officers.  

Delivered by the Australian International Sports Organisation, the program teaches international students about what sport means in Australia in a fun, inclusive and active way. The impact of the program has attracted support across various sectors, including government, and education providers. The program forms part of various sporting bodies’ multicultural strategies, including Hockey NSW and NSW Rugby League.

NSW Jobs Connect for International Students

Institution: SEEK

Project lead: Scott Brown, Key Account Manager - Federal Government and Study Australia , SEEK

The NSW Jobs Connect for International Students program is making a difference to the international students and employers of NSW. Delivered in partnership between SEEK and Study NSW, this industry first program connects international students looking to kickstart their careers with employers looking for talent.  

As part of #NSWJobsConnect, SEEK delivered masterclasses for international students on how to create a profile and resume, tips for interviews, employment market insights and other helpful resources. Another key initiative was a Careers Expo for International Students connecting over 1,100 international students with 50 NSW employers. For NSW employers, webinars were delivered about the benefits of hiring international students, visa options and "busting the myths" about working hours.

Study NSW Change the Game

Institution: Young Change Agents 

Project lead: Arielle Struhl, NSW Programs Manager at Young Change Agents and Janine Farah, NSW/ACT Regional Manager at Young Change Agents  

The Study NSW Change the Game helped to educate and enhance the employability of international students in NSW. The program was designed to train international students in entrepreneurism, including workshops on interviewing, collaboration, team building and brainstorming. Participants helped solve problems faced by international students, such as challenges in housing, employment, and entering the Australian workforce. Participants also had a chance to win funding to bring their business ideas to life.  

Some of these ideas were pitched to NSW employers at the Study NSW Careers Expo for International Students, with one team winning $1,500 in seed funding for its creative solution to connect international students with Australian employers. The Change the Game program was delivered by Young Change Agents, an organisation dedicated to stimulating economic growth, improving health and creating social change through entrepreneurial education.

AusLEAP

Education provider: University of Technology Sydney

Project lead: Sojen Pradhan, Senior Lecturer at School of Professional Practice and Leadership, University of Technology Sydney  

The AusLEAP program helps international students contribute to life in NSW. As part of the program, students volunteer to develop skills in communication, leadership, cross-cultural connection, and team building. 

The program helped international students to tackle social and environmental challenges, discover new career pathways, and learn about the community where they live and study. The AusLEAP team is now developing a digital platform to support evolving needs of international students and help them continue volunteering now and into the future.

Global hackathon for global citizenship: addressing SDGs through industry innovation in multinational student teams

Education provider: University of Wollongong  

Project lead: Irit Alony, Senior lecturer at School of Business, University of Wollongong

The Global Hackathon for Global Citizenship is a program delivered by Erasmus+ online. It is a self-learning initiative to help international students to collaborate across multiple international education institutions to kick Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  

The program invites students to complete online modules about global issues like climate change. By bringing together educators from different backgrounds, the program drives collaborative learning across many NSW education providers. With its structured hackathon approach and adaptability, the program is now inspiring education providers worldwide.

Job Smart Program

Education provider: The University of Sydney Business School   

Project lead: Sharon Mose, Job Smart Program Manager, The University of Sydney Business School  

The Careers & Employability Job Smart Program gives international students a hand to launch their careers. 

The program was designed exclusively for international students at the University of Sydney Business School. The program helps these students to overcome challenges in finding jobs and connecting with communities in NSW. More than 3,000 international students have completed the program, accessing networking, coaching and work experience activities.  

The program helps international students to become more competent, access industry experience, build community connections, and improve their experience in NSW. They can also learn about what employers want, and build networks, language, and employability skills.

David Riordan

Title and Institution: CEO, Public Education Foundation 

David has worked in international education for 30 years. He had several high-profile roles including CEO of the NSW Department of Education International, CEO of TAFE NSW,  CEO of the Office of Communities, and Director of City Services at the City of Sydney.  

During his time at TAFE NSW, the institute was awarded the International Training Provider of the Year and had the largest number of international students enrolled of any TAFE institutes in Australia. David also chaired the 2010 NSW Ministerial Taskforce on International Education which recommended the implementation of Study NSW.   

Prior to taking up his CEO role with the Public Education Foundation, David’s most recent work focused on assisting organisations across the Australian International Education Industry with their post-Covid-19 Business Models. He has coordinated the annual Australia China Business Council (ACBC) Education Symposiums and facilitated the Australian International Education Industry Roundtables (IEIR) focusing on the return of international students to Australia.

Jackie Taylor

Title and Institution: Academic Division General Manager, The University of Newcastle   

Jackie Taylor is a trailblazer in NSW’s international education sector. By establishing the International Student Taskforce in Newcastle, she helped provide on-site accommodation for international students, supported the launch of an international student drop-in centre, and developed a language and literacy tool for international students. She also helped launch the international student welcome desk at Newcastle Airport in partnership with Study NSW. This taskforce helped to unite colleagues across the university by reinforcing support measures that ensure best practice in international education during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In addition, Jackie Taylor has committed to foster cross-cultural engagement through organising social events for international students, including the International Student vs Staff Cricket Match, Soccer Match, Badminton Contest, participating in the “All Cultures Weave” multicultural artwork project, and launching the City of Newcastle welcome event for international students.

Sonia Ortega

Title and Institution: CEO and Founder, Global Experience Australia   

Sonia is committed to transforming the lives of international students in NSW. As the CEO of Global Experience Australia, she drives international education engagement and establishes invaluable partnerships in the industry.  

Global Experience provides safe homes for international students in NSW. The organisation hires multilingual teams to bridge cultural gaps and ensure effective communication with international students. Beyond this role, Sonia has engaged various industry bodies, educational associations, and government initiatives to support the growth and development of the international education sector in NSW. Her expertise and insights help shape policies that support the safety, welfare, and success of international students in NSW. Sonia and her team have placed over 175,000 international students in safe homes.