Student awards

NSW Government Schools International Student Awards

The NSW Government Schools International Student Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of international students and their significant contributions to our schools and communities.

The awards also recognise school and staff excellence in supporting international students.

2025 International Student Awards

The 2025 NSW Government Schools International Student Awards were presented at an awards ceremony at the Museum of Contemporary Art on Tuesday 11 March 2025.

Nominations for the 2026 awards will open in September 2025.

Student awards

Student award categories

The Academic Achievement Award recognises outstanding academic results.

The Leadership Award recognises students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership through school activities and who are a positive role model and mentor to other students.

The School Service Award recognises students who have contributed to their school community through volunteering and engagement activities.

Eligibility for student awards

  • Students must be enrolled in Year 12 at a NSW government school through the International Student Program.
  • Students may be nominated for one or more student awards.
  • Nominations for student awards must be submitted by a staff member of the student's school and with the principal’s endorsement.

School and staff awards

School and staff award categories

International Student Coordinator of the Year Award

This award recognises professional excellence in delivering services and support to international students.

Selection criteria

  • Helped international students settle in at the school.
  • Contributed to the ongoing improvement of the learning experience of international students.
  • Encouraged a culture of collaboration and connection between international students and local students.
  • Supported international student wellbeing.

International Student Support Award

This award recognises school staff members, other than International Student Coordinators (ISC), who have gone above and beyond in delivering services and support for international students.

Selection criteria

  • Helped international students settle in at the school.
  • Fostered engagement between international students and local students.
  • Contributed to the ongoing improvement of the learning experience of international students.
  • Supported international student wellbeing.

International Students Program School Excellence Award

This award recognises best practice for schools in delivering activities and initiatives that support international students.

Selection criteria

  • Employed a whole-of-school approach to supporting international students.
  • Assisted students in adapting to life in Australia and school life in NSW.
  • Fostered connections between international students and local students.
  • Provided support for international students to develop leadership skills.

Eligibility for school and staff awards

  • Schools must be registered with DE International to be eligible for the school excellence award.
  • Nominees for the International Student Coordinator of the Year Award must be formally registered as the school's International Student Coordinator.
  • Nominees for the International Student Support Award must not be the school's International Student Coordinator.
  • The activities for which schools and staff are nominated must have taken place in the 2024 calendar year.
  • Nominations for school and staff awards may be submitted by school staff or anyone in the school community. Self-nominations are welcome.

Recipients of the 2025 NSW Government Schools International Student Awards

Academic Achievement

Qixiu (Jack) Li, China
Epping Boys High School
Academic Achievement Award Winner 2025
ATAR 99.85

School Service

Liangpei (Luke) Liu, China
Mosman High School
School Service Award Winner 2025

Leadership

Parisha Singh, Fiji
John Edmondson High School
Leadership Award Winner 2025

International Student Coordinator of the Year

Christine Anderson
Strathfield Girls High School
International Student Coordinator of the Year 2025

International Student Support Award

Debra Goodfellow
Cabramatta High School
International Student Support Award Winner 2025

International Students Program School Excellence Award

Canley Vale High School
International Students Program School Excellence Award 2025

History of the NSW Government Schools International Student Awards

The NSW Government Schools International Student Awards have been presented each year since 2009 when the first student award categories were introduced. In 2020, the first school and staff award categories were introduced.

Previous student award winners come from 11 countries and attended 27 NSW government schools.

NSW International Student of the Year Award

Each year international students are selected for this prestigious award by StudyNSW based on criteria, including:

  • Being an inspirational role model to the community
  • Demonstrating an achievement or contribution that adds value to the community through
    • touching the lives of others
    • participating in the community
    • connecting an ethnic or language community group with the broader NSW community
    • volunteer work.

International students enrolled in NSW government schools have won the Schools Sector category for this award in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 acknowledging the outstanding contributions these students have made to their communities and the state of NSW.

Some of our award winners and nominees include:

2024 Winner - Minh Thiem (Evelyn) Lieu, Canley Vale High School

2024 Highly Commended - Qixiu (Jack) Li, Epping Boys High School

2024 Finalist - Xiao Leang Yee, Cabramatta High School

2023 Winner - Yuet Ting Wong, Cumberland High School

2023 Finalist - YangQingQing Hu, Turramurra High School

2022 Winner - Kathy Nguyen, Dulwich High School of Visual Arts and Design

2022 Finalist - William Nguyen, Canley Vale High School

2022 Finalist - Arum Jeon, Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High School

2021 Winner - Frank Lai, Epping Boys High School

2021 Finalist - Yimei Zhao, Mosman High School

2020 Winner – Andrea Tung Linh Ha, Beverly Hills Girls High School

2020 Finalist – Nickie Tran, Sarah Redfern High School

2019 Finalists – Baiyang Hu, Hunters Hill High School and Thong Dat (David) Pham, Kingsgrove North High School

2018 Winner – Duy Quang Mai, Homebush Boys High School

2017 Winner – Katherine Pei Kun Qi, Beverly Hills Girls High School

2016 Winner – Abigail Aguilar, Hunters Hill High School

2015 Winner – Mingjun (Martina) Zhang, Killarney Heights High School