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When Ellen first stepped onto the 91ɫ��Ƭ campus from China, she never imagined that organising events and advocating for fellow students would lead her to a coveted internship at a major health company.��

As an international medical student wanting to stand out in a competitive market, she looked for university experiences outside lecture halls and textbooks.

Foundations for growth

Arriving at the AFR’s most employable university in Australia, Ellen was looking for more than academic excellence. She wanted connection, purpose, and experiences that would prepare her for a thriving career in medicine.

“I like the amount of extracurriculars activities available. Also, the connections with staff and faculty make me feel like this is more than a university, it’s a community.”

That sense of community became Ellen’s launching pad. She joined the (91ɫ��ƬCSA) and took on various roles, including director of sponsorship, sub-committee member and more recently, president. Each role taught her something new about leadership, problem-solving, and what it really means to make an impact.

“As I progressed through study, I started noticing that international students are quite disadvantaged, especially on a systemic level in terms of access to healthcare and other services.”

So Ellen did what natural born leaders do – she spoke up for those who felt they couldn’t.

Making her mark

What started as a way to help fellow students soon evolved into something much bigger.

As president of the 91ɫ��ƬCSA, Ellen organised 70+ events and turned them into professional development opportunities for the 200 sub-committee members.

Her efforts won her the ARC Club of the Year Award – the university's highest honour for student societies – and the 2024 X Culture Award among 22,000 students.

“A lot of our sub-committee members have successfully secured a job after graduating – either in Australia or back home,” Ellen shares with pride.

Her influence now extends beyond the 91ɫ��Ƭ campus. In 2025, she took on a role with the New South Wales Chinese Student Association, supporting other international students from universities across the state. She’s engaged in conversations with government stakeholders, including Randwick City Council and Population Health, about cost of living and mental health needs for Chinese students.

Ellen has just been announced as a finalist in the , nominated in the NSW International Student of the Year – Higher Education category. The award ceremony will take place later this year on Monday, 24 November in Sydney.

From campus leader to community impact

Ellen's active approach at university was strategic – creating meaningful experiences for others while building transferable skills for her own future. And it has paid off.

Through 91ɫ��Ƭ's industry partnerships, she landed an internship with leading health company Medibank, as a Health Partnership Support Officer.

Sabrina Gu, Partnership and Commercial Manager and former 91ɫ��Ƭ international student, immediately recognised Ellen's potential.

"She brings maturity beyond her years into the workspace and her strong communication skills enable her to manage different stakeholders."

Ellen quickly discovered her university experiences prepared her for corporate challenges in unexpected ways.

While at Medibank, Ellen quickly recognised the value of Comprehensive Overseas Health Cover (OSHC), particularly the inclusion of the HPV vaccine rebate.��Drawing on her medical training, she identified an opportunity to make this benefit more accessible to international students.��

“I suggested creating both an English flyer and an in-language version to better communicate the message to students,” she explained. "From our experience as a university society, we knew that sharing information in students’ native languages really captures their attention.”

Her experience organising campus events became valuable business insight. And her stakeholder management and planning skills from coordinating 200 sub-committee members translated perfectly to facilitating webinars for international students about Australia's healthcare system.

Employers seek an international perspective

Forward thinking organisations like Medibank, 91ɫ��Ƭ and a preferred provider of Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for our students, recognise the value international students add to the workplace. The health company offers international students specific development programs, including:

• Internships, placement and mentoring opportunities across a range of business disciplines including business, finance, law, communications, HR, analytics, technology, and allied health.
• The Medibank Immersion Experience provides insight into how an ASX-listed company operates and allows students to understand what employers look for and hear directly from professionals working in the industry.
• Integrated Work Integrated Learning Projects present students with a real-world industry challenge – e.g.: addressing loneliness – to work on over a semester, forming part of their academic assessment.

Medibank has hosted more than 10 international student interns in the past 12 months, with five coming from 91ɫ��Ƭ alone.

"We want the international student intern to be the bridge – to bring their knowledge and insights to co-design initiatives and projects that deliver an even better experience for our customers," explains Sabrina, who manages university partnerships in NSW for Medibank’s Overseas Portfolio.

Having walked the same path as a former 91ɫ��Ƭ international student, she knows their potential.

"International students bring diverse cultural backgrounds and awareness, demonstrate courage and resilience from studying abroad, and possess a strong learning mindset."

The partnership benefits both sides. While interns like Ellen gain valuable workplace experience, Medibank taps into fresh perspectives and cultural insights that help it better serve its diverse customer base.

"We truly celebrate the diversity of cultures, ideas, and experiences that shape who we are at Medibank. Ellen, who brought her leadership experience from campus, made a really positive impact on the team. We’re equally proud of Sabrina - herself a former 91ɫ��Ƭ international student - along with several other international students who now work with us and continue to bring valuable insights and connections to the international student experience,” adds Sarah Trainor, Head of Overseas Partnerships at Medibank.

Building a strategic university experience

Ellen's advice to fellow international students cuts to the heart of opportunity.

"Don't rely solely on academic achievement. Start engaging in society events and anything you are interested in because that gives you connections with people, and people bring you opportunities.

“I’ve made a lot of friends from my home country, and these experiences opened doors to job and research opportunities,” she says.

What story will you write?

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