Commission participates in first International Students Festival

Radhika Prasanna, International Students Project Officer at the CRC meets students at the First International Students Festival at Darling Harbour, Sydney

The Community Relations Commission participated in the first International Students Festival at Darling Harbour on Sunday 6th March.

The chair of the commission, Stepan Kerkyasharian said today: “This was a valuable opportunity for Commission staff to meet face-to-face with international students and to talk to them about the series of information sessions we are currently organising for students.

“Our staff also distributed, directly to students, large numbers of the Z card which the Commission produced in 2010, as a pocket guide to services throughout New South Wales.

“After the concerns in 2009 about student safety and college collapses it was great to see thousands of overseas students enjoying the outdoor life of Sydney on a typical summer’s day,”Mr Kerkyasharian said.

The festival was organised by the Premier’s Council on International Education on which the CRC is represented.

The highlight of the festival was the announcement of the winners of the first international student awards.

“On behalf of the Community Relations Commission, I heartily congratulate the four winners and the finalists and wish them every success with their  studies and their future professional careers”, Mr Kerkyasharian said.

Twenty-five finalists from 19 countries assembled to hear the names of the four winners:

Higher Education Category

Stephen Chikazaza

Stephen Chikazaza, 30, from Zimbabwe, enrolled in a Masters of Integrated Design at UNSW, for his fundraising efforts for disaster relief, his participation in peer mentoring programs and his role on the Student Representative Council.

Stephen exemplifies community spirit and has maintained an excellent academic record while being involved in all aspects of student life in Sydney.

Vocational Education and Training Category

Hayley Ward

Hayley Ward, 41, from UK, graduated with distinction with a Diploma in Community Service from TAFE Northern Beaches College for her volunteer work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations.

Despite suffering chronic pain caused by a severe head injury four years ago, Hayley has touched the lives of fellow students and her community.

English Language Category

Guilhermina de Araujo

Helen Zimmerman, Navitas Education Providers, accepted the offer on behalf of Guilhermina de Araujo

Guilhermina de Araujo, 23, from East Timor, graduated from the Australian College of English Sydney last year. She believes that education can change lives and aspires to become a leader in East Timor’s development.

She is committed to helping East Timor become a better place by strengthening education and employment opportunities for women.

She intends to enrol in a business degree at an Australian university in the near future.

Schools Category

Alia Geneid

Alia Geneid, 16, from Malaysia, is a high school boarder at Kambala in Sydney. Since arriving from Malaysia five years ago, she has mentored overseas students to ensure they embrace the benefits of a boarding education in Australia.

Admired by her peers, staff and the wider community, Alia was elected Environment Prefect in July 2010 and has heightened the school’s awareness to embrace sustainable practices.