2025 WA INTERNATIONAL TERTIARY STUDENT OF THE YEAR

The CISWA WA International Tertiary Student of the Year Award is about recognizing the significant contribution that international students make to the Western Australian Community. 

CISWA acknowledged an international student who demonstrated academic excellence and enhanced the student experience both within the school and in the wider community.

When selecting the recipient, the student’s achievements and contributions during their time as an international student in Australia were considered, with particular emphasis on activities that fostered interaction with Australian students and the local community.

The accomplishments of the winning student will be highlighted across the education sector through peak bodies, higher education media, and the CISWA website, celebrating their outstanding impact.

This award is sponsored by Perth Airport, and the winner is presented with a certificate, trophy and $500 prize money.

This year’s winner!

Novi Indriastuti – Murdoch University

Sponsored by Perth Airport

Novi is in Perth as an Australia Awards Scholar, completing her Master of Education degree, mainly with high distinctions. One of her professors, in her reference, says “Novi is a brilliant student. Quite simply, she is an outstanding scholar.”  And another says that over her twenty years of teaching at Murdoch, “Novi has been the very best international student I have ever had the pleasure of working with”.

Since March 2025, Novi has served as a Student as Change Agent, collaborating with her team to create a peer support program for students with disabilities. Recognising the challenges her peers face, Novi co-founded the Disability Support Body, which connects students with disabilities to supportive peers, fostering belonging and easing their transition to university life.

In late 2024, she received the Alison Sudradjat Prize from the Australian Government. Through this, she co-designed and delivered an online career mentoring program for peers with vision impairments in Indonesia. Evidenced by her outstanding academic portfolio, coupled with her meaningful voluntary engagement in university life, Novi has demonstrated extraordinary commitment not only to her studies, but to the student community more broadly in Western Australia. With her unique academic talent and endeavours to create an inclusive educational environment, Novi exemplifies the spirit of the WA International Tertiary Student of the Year award.

Congratulations, Novi!