Meet

Dhanna

About Dhanna

CountryPhilippines

Educational institutionCharles Darwin University (CDU)

StudiedMaster of Public Policy

Student statusAlumni

I am Dhanna, a returning StudyNT student ambassador from the Philippines.

I am currently thriving in my last year as a Master of Public Policy student at Charles Darwin University and working part-time job at Sportspower, I love my job!

I have been experiencing the wonderful lifestyle here in Darwin, Northern Territory for almost two years now. The Top End showcases many of its boundless possibilities during the dry season, and I have been fortunate enough to have experienced them first hand. Darwin has many food and cultural markets and festivals like Bass in the Grass, Territory Taste and Nightcliff Sea Breeze. In 2019 Darwin also hosted the Arafura Games, which was amazing.

The Northern Territory is a place like no other in Australia, it is a balance of natural tranquillity and urban development and I love studying here!

Meet more alumni

Nirali — Australia

Darwin is home, I attended high school here and it was an easy decision to choose Charles Darwin University.

Shubham — Nepal

Darwin’s sunny days and beautiful beaches with a laidback lifestyle has captured my heart.

Amanda talking with friends

Amanda — Brazil

Being part of the StudyNT Student Ambassador program is great for helping people and improving skills.

Anna Belle — United States of America

Studying and working with people from so many different backgrounds has helped me imagine the world in ways.

Yudish — Mauritius

Darwin offers many opportunities for its community in terms of sporting activities such as cricket, netball, footy, etc.

Jimena — Colombia

I grew up in Gambita, Santander, one of the most mountainous regions in Colombia.

Jessica — Indonesia

When I completed my secondary junior course and my father asked me if I was interested to continue my studies in Darwin, of course I said yes because I believe that I can get a better education here.

Michael eating ice-cream with friends

Michael — Philippines

The StudyNT Student Ambassador Program is a great program for international students here in the Northern Territory.

Mashiat — Bangladesh

Every activity has made me feel blessed and proud of my decision to move to the Territory.

Barbara Mantoan

Barbara — Italy

When I was a child, Australia was always on my mind. I used to close my eyes and smell the ochre colours I saw on TV.

Upper body shot of Shreeja

Shreeja — India

Shree moved to Darwin from India in 2019 to pursue a Bachelor of Nursing.

Portrait shot of Nagendra

Nagendra — Nepal

Coming to live and study in the Territory is one of the best decisions I have made in my life.

Hari — Nepal

As a kid, growing up in Nepal, I was an avid reader. My favourite books featured stories about adventure, travel, nature and culture.

Stella — Indonesia

Darwin has a thriving lifestyle and a diverse community. The locals are extremely friendly. You'll immediately feel at home!

Farjana — Bangladesh

Hi, my name is Farjana, I am from Bangladesh.

Portrait shot of Oshin

Oshin — Bangladesh

My story of coming to Darwin is pure luck and it only led to better things.

Portrait shot of Jenny

Jenny — China

I am very excited to experience more of Darwin and I am sure it will be a great journey.

Portrait shot of Molly

Molly — Australia

I was lucky enough to find my perfect degree at Charles Darwin University.

Amy — China

Hi, I am Yue from Anhui Province, China. I am known as Amy.

Bushra — Bangladesh

Hi, I’m Bushra.

Ema — Slovakia

My favourite thing about living in the Territory would be the unique lifestyle and very laid back, easy-going people who always smile at you or have a chat with you.

Sara — Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Territory became a sign of new beginnings and hope for me. Since then, I have been able to start my studies and create a home, which I am grateful for.

Abhishek — India

Darwin city seemed small but it is home to people with kind, warm hearts. I have always felt welcomed in this city.

Nabiha — Bangladesh

Hi, I'm Nabiha from Bangladesh.

Izzy — Brazil

Hi, I'm Izzy from Brazil.

Coco — China

My name is Coco, I just started studying a Master of Teaching.

Gunawan — Indonesia

My name is Gunawan and I am studying English in the Northern Territory.

Muhammad — Bangladesh

I think that the thing I love the most about Darwin is the weather because it is similar to my country, Bangladesh.

Portrait shot of Pat

Pat — Thailand

My long journey in Australia has officially begun in Darwin after I have been granted a Study in Australia’s Northern Territory Scholarship.

Alima — China

I am from China and am studying Master of Accounting at Charles Darwin University.

Alice — Vietnam

Darwin is not only a welcoming city where I have made a great circle of friends, but Darwin made me feel like my home in Vietnam did.

Portrait shot of Aron

Aron — Italy

Darwin as one of the best places in Australia for quality of life and learning.

Prashun — Nepal

I found Darwin to be a vibrant and multicultural place.

Mark — Philippines

I'm Mark form Manila, the capital of the Philippines, and am the middle child among three siblings.

Sheikh Uzair Ahmed

Sheikh — Pakistan

If you’re looking for a laid back and relaxing environment, where people are friendly and greet you with warmth then the Northern Territory is the place to be!

Manfred — Estonia

I am Manfred, and I’m from Estonia.

Jayan — Nepal

I graduated in December 2018 as a civil engineer from Charles Darwin University.

Portrait shot of Christine

Christine — Vietnam

When I arrived in Darwin, I immediately knew this was going to be exciting.

Kylie — Vietnam

I chose Darwin, the gateway to Asia, making it accessible for visiting my hometown - Saigon, Vietnam.

Mikhaila — Philippines

I am Mikhaila and I am studying in the NT.

Sanjo — India

My name is Sanjo, originally from India.

Rosie — Vietnam

I always feel thankful because I have chosen Darwin to live in as the NT has an excellent education, kind people, a wonderful environment, and lovely weather.

Chiao — Taiwan

My name is Chiao and I am from Taiwan. I lived in Alice Springs for almost one year for my working holiday experience.

Anusia Ratna Dass

Anusia — Malaysia

Choosing to study in our Territory is one of the best decisions in my life. I love to share with others all the positives that studying here has brought to my life and how it can also transform theirs.

Ravi — India

Darwin, a land of opportunities, will help me to further in my career.

Nasib — Bangladesh

One of the biggest reasons I chose to study in the Northern Territory (NT) is because of the quality of education in the hospitality industry and tropical and relaxed lifestyle.

Ajay — India

My name is Ajay and I am from India.

Shehani Kaushika Rajapaksha

Shehani — Sri Lanka

Choosing Darwin, Northern Territory (NT) as my study destination has been one of the best decisions I’ve made and I’m already reaping the rewards of it.

Michael — Vanuatu

Halo Olketa! My name is Michael Taiki and I am from the Republic of Vanuatu.

Shree — Nepal

I came to Darwin from Nepal in February 2016 as an international student.

Intern stories: Farah and Baz

Farah and Baz — Brunei

Farah and Baz joined the Northern Territory Public Sector on a three month internship from the Brunei Government.

Kelly — China

Hello! My name is Kelly and I’m from Liaoning, China.

Chithra — India

My name is Chithra and I’m from India.

Jeanine — Philippines

…it is a common knowledge that Charles Darwin University belongs to the top 10 universities in Australia and I am proud and excited to be part of its community.

Amanda — China

Darwin is a multicultural city and a strong Aboriginal population, making it a welcoming and diverse option for international students

Carol — China

Hello, I am Qian Zou from Liaoning Province of China.

Apekshya — Nepal

My name is Apekshya and I have been in Darwin since November 2018.

Febby — Indonesia

Over the time I have lived in Darwin it has been an overwhelming experience due to its serene atmosphere and friendly community.

Emilia — Argentina

It’s a beautiful tropical place, with an incredible culture and adventures to discover.

Sushan — Nepal

The laid-back lifestyle, helpful community, beautiful beaches, and ample opportunities for work and internships are just some of the many things that I love about this place.

Chrystal — Philippines

My first impression when I arrived in Darwin was 'wow, this feels similar to the Philippines' but eventually I noticed that it’s quite different; the people, culture, opportunities, and diversity.

Jessica — Thailand

My name is Jessica. I have great friends and family here, so Darwin really feels like home.

Portrait shot of Nilesh

Nilesh — Sri Lanka

I am passionate about bringing people from different cultures together and help them transform their lives.

Edin — India

Right from the beginning, Darwin has been full of exciting ventures and encouragements.

Yeimi — Colombia

My name is Yeimi and I am from Colombia.

Portrait shot of Keith

Keith — Vietnam

I’m an international student from Vietnam who has spent the past eight years in Australia for education and personal development purposes.

Portrait shot of Sulav

Sulav — Nepal

The instant I landed in Darwin it was love at first sight. As I’m a ‘warm weather kind of guy’, Darwin is perfect for me.

Narayana — India

CDU offers courses in my area of interest, subjects like dynamics of engineering, applied fluid mechanics, turbo machinery, heat transfer.

Leonito — Timor-Leste

My name is Leonito Fatima da Costa Barros, and I am from Timor-Leste.

Faatih — Indonesia

I came to Australia three years ago as a backpacker as I wanted to see how wonderful it is.

Fernanda talking with friends

Fernanda — Brazil

The experience of living in the Territory brought me the opportunity to meet people from different countries and cultures.

Portrait shot of Denisse

Denisse — El Salvador

I believe in the power of sharing ideas to work towards a common goal.

Shuowei — China

Hello everyone, my name is Shuowei and I have been in Darwin for almost a year.

Denis — Switzerland

When I was 11, I came to Australia with my mother for four weeks. We visited Sydney, New South Wales and the Gold Coast and I remember being fascinated by the people here and impressed by the nature, especially the unspoiled beaches.

Abhishek — India

Hello, my name is Abhishek and I am from India.

Crystal — China

Since I first arrived in Darwin, I found I have been embraced by the unique natural scenery, the local culture, the close connection between the local community and people; everyone here is very friendly.

Mary — Philippines

I am Mary and I am from the Philippines.

Jurse — Philippines

My name is Jurse, an international student from the Philippines.

Anish — Nepal

I researched all available options and found Darwin was the best place to live for me.

May — Taiwan

I came to Darwin more than five years ago on a working holiday visa.

Byung — South Korea

I'm happy to introduce myself. My name is Byunghyuk but please just call me as Byung although this may be still a bit difficult to pronounce for Australian.

Bishnu — Nepal

Hello everyone, this is Bishnu all the way from Nepal.

Szu-yuan — Taiwan

My name is Szu-yuan, I have been studying in Charles Darwin University since July 2017.

Neil — Philippines

Growing up my parents always taught us that if we want something, we must work hard for it and I have carried this golden lesson wherever I go.

Portrait shot of Sunny

Sunny — China

When it comes to studying, living and working as an international student, Darwin is the place to be.

Leo — Taiwan

I can feel that even though Darwin is a small city, people here have strong bonds with each other.

Jung eun — South Korea

It is the best location for focusing on being myself as well as studying in open places surrounded by greenery.

Elvira — Indonesia

My name is Elvira, I was born and raised in the countryside of Java Island, Indonesia.

Sunday — Bangladesh

Hi, everyone knows me as Sunday.

Portrait shot of Saloni

Saloni — Nepal

As clichéd as it may sound, from the first time I toured the Territory, it felt like home.

Dayam — India

I am really excited to be a part of this wonderful journey as a StudyNT student ambassador.

Portrait shot of Anjun

Anjun — Sri Lanka

Helping students to engage and embrace the multiculturalism in Australia has always been a passion of mine.

Hua — China

Darwin's friendly, community atmosphere, high employment rate, famous tourist destinations and fast developing economy are also the reasons that attracted me to come here.

Portrait shot of Clarissa

Clarissa — Indonesia

I am excited with the opportunity to learn from joining and contributing to the StudyNT Student Ambassador program.

David — China

My name is Dali but you can call me David.

Quennie — Philippines

My name is Quennie from the Philippines.

Adele — Italy

My dream is to help people that are less fortunate and actively make a difference.

Ali — Tanzania

Home for me is the small, multi-cultural city of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Navjot — India

I'm Navjot from India, and I'm studying a Master of Business Administration at Charles Darwin University.

Rangga — Indonesia

Hi, my name is Rangga I’m studying for my Masters in Business Administration and Professional Practice at the Charles Darwin University.

Pooja — Sri Lanka

As an international student I find the Northern Territory is full of opportunities.

Augusto — Timor-Leste

Hi my name is Augusto and I am from Timor-Leste.

Santiago — Colombia

Hello everybody my name is Santiago and I am from Colombia.

Katarina — Slovakia

Hi there! My name is Katarina and I’m from Slovakia.

Tianyu (Tom) Wang

Tom — China

大家好！Hi everyone! My name is Tom and I’m from Beijing, the capital of China.

Jiaying — China

Jiaying is a citizen of China studying a Master of Business Administration at Charles Darwin University.

Lloyd — Philippines

Mabuhay! I am Lloyd Dominic from Davao City, Philippines.

Angelo — Philippines

Hi I’m Angelo and I’m doing a Master of Emergency and Disaster Management course at Charles Darwin University.

Minsu — South Korea

Hi, I’m Minsu and I'm studying hospitality.

Maria — Timor-Leste

Hi, my name is Maria Teresa or Mimi, I’m from Timor-Leste.

Natasha — Indonesia

I'm Natasha from Indonesia.

Grace — Vietnam

Xin Chao. It’s Huyen, most of my friends call me Gracie. I was born in a small province in Vietnam.

Matthew — Malaysia

Hi, I'm Matthew from Malaysia.

Sandipa — Nepal

My name is Sandipa. I grew up in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal.

Portrait shot of Julia

Julia — Brazil

I am more than happy to tell everyone how much I love studying in the Northern Territory.

Lara — Philippines

Hi my name is Lara. I was born in the Philippines and my family and I moved to Australia back in 2011.

Jayden — Malaysia

My name is Jayden and I go to Darwin High School. I love it.

Heather — China

The wonderful experience I have had in the Northern Territory presented me a beautiful vision for my future.

Renu — Nepal

Knowing every day that I am living my dream and living a meaningful life surrounded by beautiful Mother Nature is one of the most wonderful things that I enjoy about living in Darwin.

Vaishali — India

The outdoor lifestyle really suits me and I’m looking forward to continuing to explore this wonderful place that I now call home.

Portrait shot of Sadeepa

Sadeepa — Sri Lanka

I chose the lush city of Darwin and this turned out to be one of the best choices I have made in my life.

Hector — Colombia

Hola a todos and hello my name is Hector and I am from Colombia.

Maria — Indonesia

My reasoning for coming to Darwin was simple, I was looking for a great aged care program and professional training that I could gain a variety of experience and work with many diverse people.

Joshna — Nepal

I was nine years old when I first saw a picture of the Sydney Opera House.

Linh — Vietnam

Chao, my name’s Linh, I’m 18 years old and I’m originally from Vietnam.

Akansh — India

Darwin is a perfect balance between city life and the outback life.

Varuna Yasas Sri Sumanasena

Vick — Sri Lanka

My life in Darwin has been remarkable from day one. I enjoy the amazing landscapes, warm weather, friendly people, and amazing food in Darwin.

Wahaj — Pakistan

I always wanted to come to Darwin for studies.

Frank — Peru

After living in Darwin for one year, I can say honestly is a great place to live - the weather is great, people are super friendly and it is very easy to settle into.

Ruizhe — China

G’day, Ni Hao! My name is Ruizhe but you can call me Ruiz for short. I grew up in the city of Nanjing, the capital of China’s eastern Jiangsu province.

Marina — Japan

I am looking forward to come to Australia’s Northern Territory to study English with Navitas English Darwin.

Novaldo — Indonesia

Hi, I am Novaldo and I’m a year 11 student at St John’s Catholic College in Darwin.

Po Yan — Hong Kong

Hello everyone! I’m from Hong Kong and I’m a first-year student at Charles Darwin University (CDU) pursuing my Master of Information Technology (Cyber Security).

Ben — Colombia

Hi my name is Ben and I am passionate about connecting cultures, student engagement and helping people transforms their lives.

Cindy — Australia

Cindy is an Australian citizen studying business and accounting stage 2 in year 12 at Darwin High School.

Geraldine — Australia

I have lived in Darwin for over eight years, having travelled around the world to places in Asia and the Middle East, Darwin has always been my home.

Niki — China

After travelling through several continents, I still find this is the most beautiful and unique place for me to pursue further study.

Clarice — Brazil

My name is Clarice and I started my journey in Darwin 2017.