International student spotlight: Hua Tong

Hua, originally from China, is currently undertaking a Master of Teaching with Charles Darwin University and is also a 2022 Study NT Student Ambassador. Hua has just graduated alongside 19 of his peers from the 2022 Study NT Student Ambassador Program. We sat down with Hua to find out more about his life in the Australia’s Northern Territory (NT) and his highlights from 2022.

Hua, when did you arrive in the NT and tell us about something that surprised you when you first arrived?

I arrived in the NT in 2020 and the first thing that surprised me was the traffic here, or actually, the lack of traffic! In big cities, the commute time is generally about one hour but in Darwin, most commutes usually take less than 20 minutes. I can also drive to beautiful places like Litchfield National Park to see waterfalls within an hour and a half. I can also go to Katherine to boat in the incredible Nitmiluk National Park gorges in just three hours. The NT has so many great outdoor experiences to explore!

How did you settle into your new life in the NT and what is one piece of advice you would give to a student preparing to move to the NT to study?

Thanks to my education provider and some organisations that hold events and workshops that help newcomers like me, I was able to learn about life in the NT and adapt quickly to living here. I suggest that those who plan to come to NT pay attention to the public accounts on social media of local education providers and organisations, they often publish articles that help new students integrate into the local area.

What has been the highlight of 2022 for you?

I was off to a great start to 2022. I performed a successful magic show for thousands of people at the Darwin Convention Centre on Australia Day earlier this year and I was then selected to be a Study NT Student Ambassador. This gave me a lot of opportunities to communicate with students, educational agents and people from different industries.

In the middle of this year I produced my second magic show, and my first short movie premiered at the Darwin Fringe Festival, which really connected me with the Darwin community. I also co-produced a successful fundraiser concert, performed as a headliner in a comedy show and volunteered as a singer in different events. All of these opportunities and experiences have been incredible highlights for me in 2022.

Applications for the 2023 Study NT Student Ambassador Program are now open! Find out more information and apply now.