awarded to a recognised UNSW student organisation which has demonstrated impactful development and support of the international student experience at UNSW through programs and activities, to a diverse student audience.

The Chinese Debating Club has provided a supportive platform for international students at UNSW for over a decade, with a focus on Chinese students. It helps them integrate into local life and experience the university’s inclusive culture through diverse activities. These focus on two main areas: social entertainment and personal development. Social events, like the recent “Back to Childhood” Children’s Day celebration, foster connections through unique Chinese cultural experiences. For personal development, the club is known for its debating competitions, which build critical thinking and teamwork skills. This year’s 17th Huaxia Cup International Chinese Debating Championship featured participants from 24 universities worldwide, enhancing communication skills and boosting UNSW’s global reputation. The event attracted hundreds of students as participants, committee members, and volunteers, highlighting international students' talent and fostering a sense of pride and achievement.

awarded to an enrolled UNSW student who has improved the campus experience for international students through leadership and innovation.

Ellen is a fifth-year international student in Medicine at UNSW, and has significantly impacted the international student experience, particularly for the 22,000 Chinese students on campus. She has been President and Vice President of the UNSW Chinese Student Association, where she led a team of over 290 subcommittee members and 3,000 club members to host over 70 events, spanning social, cultural, and career development. Her leadership earned the Arc Club of the Year Award, and she was a leader in the organisation of the large-scale Mid-Autumn Festival, engaging over 1,500 Chinese students across NSW.

Ellen's data-driven approach involved gathering insights on student needs, collaborating with UNSW departments, and conducting mental health research. She has also initiated workshops on health literacy and creative arts, fostering engagement during major university events. As a City of Sydney International Student Ambassador and advisory committee member, Ellen ensures that international students' voices are heard and represented. Her dedication to enhancing student life makes her a standout candidate for recognition.

award is presented to a recognised UNSW student organisation whose activities have created meaningful impact or influenced positive change to the mental health and wellbeing of other UNSW students.

Throughout 2024, PsychSoc has focused on enhancing student health and wellbeing at UNSW through a range of engaging initiatives. In Term 1 Stress Less Week, PsychSoc created a time capsule station for students to express their stresses and goals, fostering reflection and emotional well-being. In Term 2, they partnered with Arc’s Student Representative Council to host mental health experts, offering insights on wellbeing topics at the Roundhouse.

PsychSoc also launched ‘PsychTown’, a philanthropic event themed ‘Adventure Time’, featuring stalls like Jake’s Dog Cafe and Marceline’s Magical Makes, raising funds for various charities. They also organised a Charity Showcase at the UNSW Roundhouse, featuring over 25 student performers, raising funds for Save the Children. Other events included Emotions at Play, a fun game show fostering community connection, and the World’s Greatest Shave, raising funds for blood cancer research. These initiatives highlighted PsychSoc’s commitment to supporting physical, mental, and social wellness on campus.

presented to an enrolled UNSW student who has created meaningful impact or influenced positive change in the campus experience for others, with consistent willingness to go above and beyond to help and support other UNSW students.

Eunice has shown herself to be dedicated to enhancing the student experience and advocating for wellbeing at UNSW. Her commitment is evident through her involvement in numerous roles, including Chair of the UNSW Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC), Senior Ambassador for the Gateway Program, Future Students Recruitment team Ambassador, and Student Representative on multiple University and Faculty Committees.

Eunice is a strong advocate for student voices, ensuring they are heard and valued in all her representative roles. As SHAC Chair, she leads efforts to address health and wellbeing concerns, working closely with university services. Her advocacy has led to successful initiatives that enhance inclusion and safety at UNSW. Despite her own academic commitments, Eunice regularly mentors and tutors younger medical students, demonstrating her supportive and approachable nature. Eunice’s passion, leadership, and dedication to positive change make her an invaluable asset to the UNSW community.

offered for a piece of student writing relating to UNSW's Art Collection. Entrants were required to submit of a short, original creative response to one of three specified works of art selected from the UNSW Art Collection.

Munira Tabassum Ahmed is a writer and second-year medical student at UNSW. Her work has been published in Best of Australian Poems, Meanjin, Australian Poetry Journal, Liminal Magazine, Cordite, and elsewhere. She was the 2022 Kat Muscat Fellow and 2023-24 Faber Scholarship Recipient. Her poem, The Overlaying, is a response to Michelle Teear’s work Desert Rain 2.

for a currently enrolled student at UNSW who has demonstrated positive impact on the broader community at UNSW and in outward-facing community engagement.

Harrison is a second year Engineering student who has shown exceptional leadership and dedication to the UNSW community through his successful fundraiser for the Sydney Children’s Hospital, raising approximately $25,000, including $14,000 in direct donations. Beyond the financial impact, Harrison organised a concert that united the UNSW and broader Sydney communities, using music to foster inclusivity and a culture of philanthropy.

His vision and planning were key to the event’s success, involving local bands and collaboration with UNSW teams. Harrison managed all aspects, from securing performers and venues to promoting the event widely. His effective use of social media and community channels drew a large, diverse audience, enhancing participation and donations.

The fundraiser not only provided substantial support to the Sydney Children’s Hospital but also strengthened community bonds and highlighted the power of collective action. Harrison’s work has set a new standard for future student-led initiatives, demonstrating the impact of combining music, charity, and community spirit.

for a currently enrolled student at UNSW who has demonstrated leadership in promoting artistic or ethnocultural expression within the greater UNSW community,  and demonstrated innovation in creating cultural experiences for a diverse student community on and off campus.

Mofang is A PhD student in music, and the founder and president of the UNSW Singing Society, established to reduce social isolation, loneliness, and pressure on students (especially international students), and help improve mental health. She has organised multicultural performances on and off campus, encouraging students from different cultural backgrounds to contribute to performance in their own languages.

Mofang has led weekly singing sessions for students, lunchtime performances outside the Main Library, orientation karaoke parties, and local community performances. Her vision for using music as a conduit to building community has brought hundreds of students together in a positive and healthy environment.

presented to an enrolled student and current member of a religious group at UNSW who has made significant contributions to the university and broader community. Nominations for this award were made by the Chaplains of the UNSW Religious Centre.

Esmaeel is a final year undergraduate of Mechanical Engineering, and has been a dedicated volunteer with the Islamic Society of UNSW since 2019, contributing to a range of community-focused initiatives. He has played a key role in fundraising, setting up Friday prayers, supporting Iftar events, and organising and packing food hampers, ensuring essential aid reached the university's most vulnerable members.

Esmaeel has been instrumental in organising inclusive events like a Girls Beach Day with a female instructor, and a hiking trip to Heathcote. In 2023, Esmaeel launched a Learn to Swim Program, teaching nearly 80 adults a crucial life skill, and led a successful camping trip. In 2024, he continued with the Learn to Swim initiative, volunteered for Ramadan Iftar events, and helped organise a Quran competition.

Esmaeel's five years of volunteerism highlight his leadership, adaptability, and unwavering dedication to supporting and educating the community, making him a vital member of ISOC UNSW and beyond.

to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution of a student member of the UNSW Wind Symphony for their demonstration of a high level of commitment, performance and ensemble contribution across the entire academic year.

Stephen is a saxophone player in the UNSW Wind Symphony, and is completing his undergraduate studies in Medicine. This year, he also composed a work for the UNSW Orchestra, called ‘Potboiler’, which will be given its premiere performance here in Clancy Auditorium on Friday 15 November.

to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution of a member of the UNSW Wind Symphony for their demonstration of a high level of commitment, performance and ensemble contribution across the entire academic year.

Megan Amos is in the 2nd year of her PhD in Chemistry at the Australian Centre for Astrobiology, having completed a double degree in Music and Science in 2022. She is leader of the flute section in the UNSW Wind Symphony of which she has been a member since 2019.

to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution of a student member of the UNSW Orchestra for their demonstration of a high level of commitment, performance and ensemble contribution across the entire academic year.

Mary is in her fourth year of Bachelor of Education (Secondary)/ Bachelor of Music (Creative Practice), and plays timpani and keyboard in the UNSW Orchestra.

to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution of a member of the UNSW Orchestra for their demonstration of a high level of commitment, performance and ensemble contribution across the entire academic year.

Florence Chou previously studied a Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Arts at UNSW. She has remained as oboist in the UNSW Orchestra since 2019 to retain her connection to an orchestral community.

to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution of a student member of the Collegium Musicum Choir for their demonstration of a high level of commitment, performance and ensemble contribution across the entire academic year.

Siena is a soprano in the choir, and in her final year of degree in Psychology. In Term 1, Siena was a soloist in the choir’s performance of Julian David Bryson’s work ‘The Field (Ubi caritas)’, which was an Australian premiere performance.

to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution of a member of the Collegium Musicum Choir for their demonstration of a high level of commitment, performance and ensemble contribution across the entire academic year.

Harmony is a soprano in the choir, and is in the first year of a degree in Fine Arts (Music). She previously student musical theatre at NIDA, and hopes to go on to complete a Masters in Primary Teaching so she can share her passion with future generations.

to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution of a student member of Corde for their demonstration of a high level of commitment, performance and ensemble contribution across the entire academic year. 

Oliver is a tenor in both Corde and the Corde Consort this year, and is in his fifth year of a combined undergraduate program in Software Engineering and Music, majoring in composition.

to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution of a member of Corde for their demonstration of a high level of commitment, performance and ensemble contribution across the entire academic year. 

Lisa is a first-year student in Maths and Actuarial Studies, and is a soprano in Corde. She has the best attendance record in the group, and this year also participated in the performative artwork ‘When do I breathe?’, in every performance activity that Corde was part of, and even assisted in a body percussion session with the Annual General Meeting of the Society of Mining Professors.

awarded to a recognised UNSW student organisation which has demonstrated impactful promotion of artistic or ethnocultural expression within the greater UNSW community to a diverse student audience.

The Islamic Society of UNSW has made a significant cultural impact by fostering inclusivity, cultural expression, and community engagement on campus.  ISOC’s events are tailored to create a welcoming environment for local and international students of various cultural, racial, and linguistic backgrounds. Smaller gatherings like the "Meet and Greet" and weekly futsal sessions help new students integrate and form connections. Larger events, such as the Eid BBQ Feast and Ramadan group prayers and dinners blend cultural and religious traditions, fostering a sense of belonging.

ISOC's annual Eid celebration, attracting over 700 participants, creates a platform for intercultural dialogue and greater visibility of Islamic traditions. The Sisters' Cultural Night, with a fashion show, henna, and traditional food, specifically catered to female students, while smaller activities like sunrise walks and rock-climbing encouraged personal connections. Overall, ISOC’s efforts have enriched the UNSW community, offering a vibrant, inclusive space for students from around the world to share cultural experiences.

presented to an international student currently enrolled at UNSW, and resident a college affiliated with UNSW. The winner has demonstrated a positive contribution to college life and impact on the residential community, and has shown initiative and leadership in promoting student engagement and interaction.

Shadman is a second-year student of Civil Engineering, resident in International House, who has shown outstanding leadership, initiative, and dedication to fostering a positive and inclusive college community. He has significantly contributed to social and cultural events, including organising the 2024 International House Sports Day and Cultural Night, which have greatly enhanced the sense of belonging among residents. Shadman's leadership in Monday night sports between colleges has been particularly impactful, motivating participation across skill levels and strengthening friendships within the college community. Shadman has championed cultural events, celebrating diversity and encouraging residents to share their traditions. His efforts have promoted mutual respect and understanding, creating an inclusive and vibrant atmosphere where everyone feels valued. Shadman’s ability to connect with residents from various backgrounds and his exceptional interpersonal skills have been key to maintaining the welcoming spirit of International House.

presented to two or more clubs which have demonstrated successful collaboration, with their combined efforts creating significant cultural impact on the UNSW community.

In 2024, the UNSW Bangladeshi and Pakistani Societies collaborated to create culturally rich and inclusive experiences for the wider UNSW community. This partnership brought together students from diverse backgrounds, fostering unity through shared cultural events and celebrations. Key events included Iftars, game nights, charity drives, and the flagship UNSW Eid Dinner, which became a symbol of unity within diversity. The dinner featured cultural performances, charity auctions, and traditional food, with $8,000 raised for Human Appeal's Lebanon Aid. The UNSW Grand Iftar was a free event that attracted over 600 attendees, celebrating Ramadan's spirit of reflection and community. Volunteers from both societies played a crucial role in collaboratively organising these events, creating memorable and meaningful experiences. This year-long partnership strengthened ties between the two societies and set a foundation for ongoing cross-cultural collaboration at UNSW.