After leaving his family behind in Beijing two years ago to complete high school in Sydney, Year 12 student Zehao Li knows what it's like to miss the comforts of home.
"When I see those kind of symbolic items or anything related to my culture I get homesick."
But rather than complain about homesickness, the Knox Grammar School boarder has focused on helping fellow international students cope and settle into Australia.
The 18-year-old was this week honoured in the NSW international student awards, winning the schools category for his efforts to introduce culturally inclusive activities at the Sydney north shore boarding school. 
Earlier this year he arranged a huge Chinese banquet for 57 of the senior boarder, as well as a series of games to celebrate Chinese New Year.
Zehao Li has helped other international students settle in. Source: Supplied
He says his studies in Australia have changed his life.
"I was able to learn how to judge, how to learn the different opinions from others and make my own choice. That I think is one of the most important abilities that people need to learn during their lifetime," he said.
He now hopes to stay on in Australia and study secondary education with the aim of becoming a maths or science teacher.
"Being a teacher can maximise my value to society," he said.
Making Australian farms more sustainable
Brazilian student Gustavo Martins took out the Vocational Education and Training international student of the year for his work with Australian farmers.
Mr Martins is studying permaculture, a regenerative agricultural technique created in Australia in the 1970s, in Albury.
"It's beautiful, but more than beautiful it's something necessary and the farmers are awakening to that with the daily difficulties, like rain is not so reliable any more. We have a big drought in Australia, so I think it's nice to work with natural processes," he said.
Mr Martins encourages farmers to plant trees on their land which can be pruned and used as organic material to help grow their crops, rather than having to bring in other products.
Gustavo Martins is helping farmers become more sustainable while studying permaculture. Source: Supplied
He said the regenerative practices helps the soil retain moisture.
"People usually have a bit of resistance to changing, all over the world. But step by step they are trying to do more and more and seeing what's possible."
The International Student Legal Service, based in Redfern, was also recognised for its efforts to help students who have experienced sexual assault.
The service's resource titled Your Body, Your Choice provides information in 11 different languages about the law in relation to sexual assault and key contacts for free counselling, legal, medical and interpreter services.
