Social inclusion, sustainability and support for mental health initiatives spanning 17 nationalities topped the list at this year’s NSW International Student Awards.

Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade Alister Henskens said the 2022 NSW International Student Awards recognise and celebrate the individuals and organisations who have gone above and beyond for their communities.

“NSW attracts more international students than any other Australian state or territory, with over 160,000 choosing to study here and invest in a world-class education, great lifestyle and a wealth of future career prospects,” Mr Henskens said.

“We are extremely proud of our diverse international student community and the contribution these individuals and organisations make to building a vibrant and multicultural State.

“These awards are an important way of recognising exceptional achievements and to say thank you to those who are making meaningful contributions to our society and becoming ambassadors for NSW.”

Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure congratulated all winners for the valuable contributions they make to our communities while residing in NSW.
“These awards are a testament of just how successful we are as a multicultural society,” Mr Coure said.

“Students arrive in NSW feeling welcome and empowered to share their cultural perspective and unique experiences.”

Western Sydney University medical student Jennifer Budimulia was announced as winner in the Higher Education category for her work building a community-based mental health organisation called ‘Seribu Tujuan’.

The organisation supports members of the Indonesian community dealing with mental health issues.

Ms Budimulia said she chose to study in NSW because she wanted to learn about the healthcare system and find ways to give back to her community.
“As a strong advocate for accessibility to quality mental healthcare, being recognised motivates me to continue my endeavours,” Ms Budimulia said.

Winners were announced tonight in person for the first time since 2020, at a celebration held at Sydney’s Luna Park, with a live steam allowing the offshore community to tune in from around the globe.

The event crowned four individuals and two organisations across six categories:

Chun Hean (Nicholas) Thong is a Malaysian student at Wells International College studying a Diploma of Hospitality Management.

Nicholas has demonstrated his leadership skills and eagerness to make the lives of those around him easier by arriving to class early to help the trainer set up the kitchen, staying back late to pack up after class, and actively helping other students initiate their careers. Nicholas’ extensive knowledge and previous experience in Malaysia have allowed him to provide valuable feedback to the college to improve customer service and kitchen workflow.

Nicholas hopes to open his own business and is currently working on a project that aims to connect restaurants to the community by providing local charities with excess food from hospitality venues.

Jennifer is an Indonesian student at Western Sydney University studying medicine.

Originally from Jakarta, Jennifer chose to study abroad to experience and learn about the healthcare system in Australia. Since arriving, Jennifer developed a community-based mental health organisation for Indonesians called ‘Seribu Tujuan’ that aims to support Indonesians with mental health issues through education, prevention and treatment. Jennifer has spoken at several events and workshops about the importance of mental health and is proud to be able to contribute to breaking down the stigma surrounding this topic.

One of Jennifer’s goals is to grow Seribu Tujuan and increase accessibility to quality mental health care. She also plans to continue her psychiatry training so she can take a more hands-on approach to developing solutions for mental health care.