International Students

Celebrating Excellence: Our 2026 Victorian Global Learning Awards Finalists!

We are incredibly proud to announce that four of our international students have been selected as finalists in the 2026 Victorian Global Learning Awards — a remarkable achievement that recognises their leadership, global citizenship, and positive contributions to our school community.

Junyu (William) Yan

Finalist: Student Leadership Award – Junior High School (Years 7–8)William has shown exceptional commitment to leadership through his involvement in school programs, academic dedication, and his supportive, positive attitude. As a young leader, he continues to inspire others with his curiosity, determination, and willingness to take on challenges.

Zian (Mia) GAO

Finalist: Student Leadership Award – Middle School (Years 9–10)

Mia has demonstrated exceptional commitment to leadership through her active involvement in school activities, strong academic focus, and consistently positive attitude. As an emerging young leader, she inspires those around her with her resilience, confidence, and willingness to embrace new challenges. Her dedication and enthusiasm reflect her growing potential and the valuable contribution she makes to our school community.

Kuysing (Kyle) Te

Finalist: Global Citizen Award – Year 11

Kyle has been a driving force in promoting inclusion, leadership, and cross-cultural engagement within our school. His ongoing commitment to supporting others — especially through academic mentoring and student activities — reflects the true spirit of a global citizen.

Meyly (Elly) Te

Finalist: Global Citizen Award – Year 12

Elly’s passion for community and cultural understanding has made a significant impact on our international student program. Her contributions to mentoring, peer support, and student-led initiatives demonstrate maturity, kindness, and a strong sense of global responsibility.

A Supportive and Inclusive Learning Environment at Doncaster Secondary College

These achievements highlight not only the outstanding talents of our international students but also the warm, supportive, and inclusive learning environment at Doncaster Secondary College. Our International Student Program is dedicated to fostering confidence, leadership, and cross-cultural understanding, ensuring every student feels welcomed, valued, and empowered to thrive.

Our strong international student culture encourages young people to grow as leaders, critical thinkers, and compassionate members of a global community. The accomplishments of William, Mia, Elly, and Kyle reflect the strength of this community and the positive impact of a school environment that celebrates diversity, student voice, and global citizenship.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to William, Mia, Elly, and Kyle on this remarkable achievement and wish them every success at the upcoming awards ceremony. Our entire school community is incredibly proud of you!

Head Start! -2026 Global Student Learning Voice Team

As we prepare for an exciting year ahead, our 2026 Global Student Learning Voice Team has already taken impressive steps to support and inspire our international student community.

Redesigning the International Student Buddy Program Handbook

This year, our dedicated student leaders have worked collaboratively to redesign the International Student Buddy Program Handbook for 2026. Their goal was to create a clearer, more engaging, and more student-friendly guide that reflects the real experiences and needs of newly arrived international students.

The updated handbook includes improved orientation information, practical settlement tips, and a stronger focus on wellbeing and peer connection. This refreshed resource will play a vital role in helping our 2026 international students feel welcomed, supported, and confident as they begin their journey at our school.

Hosting Two Buddy Program Training Sessions

To ensure our buddy team is well prepared, the Global Student Learning Voice Team successfully hosted two International Student Buddy Program Training Sessions this term.

These sessions focused on building leadership skills, strengthening communication and cultural understanding, and equipping buddies with strategies to support new students during their first weeks of transition. Our student leaders demonstrated maturity, initiative, and genuine care throughout the training, setting the tone for a highly supportive buddy program in 2026.

Looking Ahead

With their enthusiasm and commitment, the 2026 Global Student Learning Voice Team has given our program a strong head start. Their contributions will ensure new international students feel connected, valued, and ready to thrive from day one.

We look forward to another positive and collaborative year ahead!

Here are their thoughts and reflections on redesigning the handbook and leading the buddy training sessions:

Redesigning the International Student Buddy Program Handbook

“Working together to redesign the International Student Buddy Program Handbook has been one of the highlights of our leadership experience this year. We wanted to make something that new international students could easily understand and feel comfortable using. We added clearer information, friendlier language, and tips that we wish we had known when we first started at the school.

These improvements will benefit our new international students and their local buddies by giving them a handbook that is specifically created for them. It aims to answer their most important questions, and help them feel supported from the moment they arrive.

It felt great working as a team and sharing our different ideas and experiences. We hope the new handbook helps the 2026 international students feel welcomed and supported from their very first day.”

Hosting the Two Buddy Program Training Sessions

“Hosting the Buddy Training Sessions was a fun and rewarding experience. It was our first-time leading sessions like this, and we learned a lot about communication, teamwork, and how to guide others. We also ensured that the buddies know the process of the program in order to make the new students who will come in 2026 have a wonderful experience in the program. We enjoyed meeting the new buddies and seeing how excited they were to help next year’s international students. The training sessions helped all of us understand our roles better and feel more confident about supporting new students.We’re proud of what we achieved and can’t wait to see the buddy team make a positive difference in 2026!”

2026 Global Student Learning Voice Team

Kuysing (Kyle) Te   Y12

Nelly Carol (Nelly) LIM         Y11

Zian (Mia) GAO     Y10

Guqin (Grace) XU  Y10

Elyse VAN DER MEI              Y10

Madison NGUYEN                  Y10

Tsz Wai (Josephine) KUNG   Y10

Boxuan (Danny) WANG        Y9

Junyu (William) YAN             Y9

Chenxinyi (Celine) ZHAO     Y8

Leo Han: Our International Student Voice in the SRC!

We are thrilled to celebrate a wonderful achievement from our international student community. Leo Han, a Year 9 student, has been successfully accepted into the Student Representative Council (SRC) for 2026 — an exciting opportunity to have a real impact on school life!

Leo has always been enthusiastic about helping others and sharing ideas. His energy, positivity, and willingness to listen to others made him a standout candidate for the SRC. As an international student, Leo is eager to represent the voices of all students, promote inclusivity, and contribute to projects that make our school a welcoming and engaging place for everyone.

Leo shares:

"Becoming a member of the Student Representative Council is both an exciting and challenging opportunity for me to improve my leadership and communicative skills, as well as a chance to practice my English. The reasons why I applied for this position include my enthusiasm to take an active role in “improving the school lives” and “representing the voices of my peers”. Furthermore, as I always believe that every student leadership program is not just about making big decisions, but about listening, cooperating, and supporting each other’s ideas.

As an international student, my primary intention of joining the SRC is to share my point of view and help to bridge the cultural gaps inside this multicultural school community. I really hope that my participation would make those from different background feel inclusive, and connected.

When I’m informed that I was successfully selected as a member of the SRC, I feel really proud and grateful, not only because I’m the only international student in the council, but also the trust others gave me. I believe that I would contribute as much as possible to the part of the council I belong to—the academics section, and make impactful decisions on “helping students enjoying classes!"

Being part of the SRC is a fantastic way for students to develop leadership skills, teamwork, and confidence — and Leo has already shown he has all these qualities in abundance. We are incredibly proud of him and look forward to seeing the positive contributions he will make to our school community in 2026.

Congratulations, Leo, on this well-deserved achievement!

Homestay Information and Awareness Session 2025

In alignment with the guidelines of the International Education and Partnership Division, Doncaster Secondary College’s International Student Program recently delivered a two-hour Homestay Information and Awareness Session via Webex.

The session covered a range of important topics designed to support homestay hosts in providing a safe, nurturing, and compliant environment for our international students.

   Critical Incident Policies and Procedures

• Guidelines and processes for managing emergencies and critical situations.

  Child Safety and Wellbeing

• An overview of the school’s Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy and Child Safe Code of Conduct.

  Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse

• Key steps and protocols for recognizing and reporting actual or suspected child abuse.

  Homestay Terms and Conditions

• Updates to the Homestay Responsibility Agreement, including revised terms and conditions.

  Legislative Updates

• Information on any changes to legislation affecting homestay providers, student accommodation, and related policies or guidelines.

  Homestay Provider Expectations and Responsibilities

• Clear outline of the roles, responsibilities, and expectations of homestay providers.

  Support and Advice for Homestay Providers

• Resources and guidance to assist homestay providers in supporting their students effectively.

  Q&A Session

• Opportunity for homestay providers to ask questions and seek clarification on key topics.

On behalf of Doncaster Secondary College, Assistant Principal Ms. Belinda McGee and Director of the International Student Program Ms. Sally Huang extended their sincere appreciation to all homestay hosts for their outstanding support and commitment to our international students throughout 2025.

Success Story: International Student Earns a Place in SEAL Class

We are delighted to share an outstanding achievement from our international student community. William Yan, currently in Year 8, has been successfully selected for the 2026 SEAL (Select Entry Accelerated Learning) Class — a remarkable accomplishment that reflects his dedication, talent, and commitment to academic excellence.

William joined our school as a new international student two years ago and quickly impressed his teachers with his strong work ethic, curiosity, and positive attitude toward learning. Throughout these two years, he consistently demonstrated high-level problem-solving skills, strong self-motivation, and an eagerness to extend himself across all subjects.

Earning a place in the SEAL program is highly competitive, and William’s success highlights both his individual hard work and the supportive learning environment provided by our staff and programs. We are incredibly proud of his achievement and excited to see him continue thriving in this accelerated pathway.

On behalf of our school community, we congratulate William on this well-deserved opportunity and look forward to seeing all that he accomplishes in the years ahead.

William shares:

"Earning myself a place in the SEAL class for 2026 is one of the most meaningful milestones in my school journey so far. When I first heard about the SEAL program, I was immediately interested because of the academic challenge it offered and the opportunities it provides for leadership and personal growth. Studying overseas, I always looked forward to opportunities to extend myself and better grow academically, and I believed that the SEAL class is a great way to do that. When I found out about the opportunity, Ms Huang, my mom, my friends and me all encouraged me to give it a try. Their confidence in me helped me believe that I was ready to take on something more demanding and rewarding. I have always given my best effort, and I really felt that my hardworking payed off. 

Getting into the SEAL class is a huge step up for me, I’ve always enjoyed taking on new challenges, and the SEAL class felt like the perfect opportunity to extend myself and develop skills that will benefit me in and out of the classroom. I look forward to it, because I hope that I can get better, but I also feel nervous, going into a new class without my friends and afraid of myself not doing good enough. I am grateful to everyone who supported me, and excited about the new journey ahead.

As an international student, I was told that this is a rare chance for us. So given this opportunity, I will be a role model for international students, giving my fellow students experiences and guidance. I want to share my experiences, and help create an learning environment where everyone feels confident to participate and grow. I also hope to contribute by being reliable, encouraging my classmates, and taking on leadership roles when needed.

I feel honoured to be in the SEAL class, and I look forward to new challenges, opportunities, and making positive contributions. "

Congratulations, William! We are excited to see you continue to excel and inspire others.

Attendance Award – International Students of Term 4

Congratulations to the following international students for achieving an outstanding 100% attendance in Term 4.

This achievement reflects more than punctuality—it demonstrates each student’s resilience, responsibility, and strong commitment to their learning. By consistently attending every class, they have not only maintained excellent academic habits but also shown great respect for their education and the opportunities provided to them.

Their dedication sets a positive example for all international students and contributes to a culture of perseverance and excellence within our school community. We are incredibly proud of their efforts and commend them for their exemplary approach to school life.

Well done to all award recipients!

2025 –A Fruitful Year for Our International Students

The year 2025 has been both remarkable and rewarding for our international students, marked by significant achievements, important milestones, and well-deserved recognition. At the school’s end-of-year presentation ceremony, we proudly celebrated the success of many international students who were honoured for their outstanding performance.

These awards highlight not only the students’ hard work, resilience, and dedication, but also the invaluable support provided by our teachers, mentors, and families who have guided them throughout their journey.

We extend our warmest congratulations to all students who achieved exceptional results this year. Your accomplishments reflect your perseverance and commitment to excellence.

As we look back on an inspiring 2025, we look forward to another year of growth and success in 2026. To all our students: keep aiming high, stay motivated, and continue making us proud!