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Excelsia’s master’s students contribute to We Are Australia’s Industry Excellence Award

We Are Australia® Foundation, in collaboration with Excelsia University College, has published a report, Invisible Victims: Quantifying the Impact of Crime Against International Students in Australia.

 

This research has contributed to We Are Australia being named a finalist for the Study NSW International Education Awards (Industry Excellence category), recognising their efforts to improve safety and support international students.

 

The Director and Founder of We Are Australia praised the outstanding contributions by our social work master’s students, Khadiza Alam, Sarita Mijar Basel, and Shanti Gurung, stating, ‘I would like to formally acknowledge and thank the three Excelsia Master of Social Work interns who played a key role in this project.’

Social work student, Shanti Gurung, described the role she played, saying, ‘To support this research project, I reviewed national crime datasets, completed a literature review on victimisation and underreporting, and engaged with stakeholders such as international students, legal Redfern centre, immigration lawyers, and support organisations. Toward the end of my placement, I contributed to co-authoring the research report and helped develop ideas for a public media and advocacy campaign.’ 

 

Despite the sad reality of the data they unearthed, our students expressed how proud they feel to have contributed to this project, with Shanti emphasising the positive impact this research will have helping others.  

 

Excelsia remains committed to empowering students to engage in meaningful research that drives positive change and strengthens support for vulnerable communities. 

 

Congratulations to students, Khadiza Alam, Sarita Mijar Basel and Shanti Gurung. 

 

If you are passionate about making a difference through social work, discover your pathway at Excelsia: https://excelsia.edu.au/study/social-work/master-of-social-work/ 

Today, I am proud to share this official correspondence from Julian Hill acknowledging our research report, Invisible Victims: Quantifying the Impact of Crime Against International Students in Australia. This letter is more than a response. It signals that our work is being seen at the national level. A topic that has long been overlooked, misunderstood, and often left in silence is finally receiving attention. This research was conducted in collaboration with our Master of Social Work interns from Excelsia University College. A huge thank you to Khadiza Alam, Sarita Mijar Basel, and Shanti Gurung for their professionalism, compassion, and commitment to uncovering the truth about the thousands of international students who remain invisible in our national data. Our work has already been recognised through our nomination for a Study NSW Excellence Award and as Finalists in the The PIE PIEoneer Awards 2025 in London in the Student Support category, which I was honoured to attend. But the heart of this is not awards or accolades.
Image: Adrian De Luca, Director and Founder, We Are Australia® Foundation, acknowledges the work of Excelsia’s students on LinkedIn.