How one student went from global learner to local champion of NSW international education: Meet Thomson Ch’ng

Once an international student himself, Tong Sheng (Thomson) Ch’ng came to work at Study NSW with an interesting personal connection. He describes his experience coming from a small town in Malaysia to study in Sydney as ‘transformational’.

Having made a life for himself here, Thomson is now finding meaning through his work on advocacy and engagement projects that impact other overseas students. Here, he shares his journey moving through the NSW international education sector, to his role promoting it.

What was your experience as an international student like? Why did you choose to study here??

Coming to Sydney and NSW was a turning point in my life. I was born and raised in a town called Butterworth in the State of Penang, Malaysia. I lost my mother at an early age and suffered from depression. Prior to her passing, both she and my father worked hard for me to have a study abroad opportunity. A family friend who lives in Sydney also encouraged and motivated me to consider the city as a study destination. He gave me a beautiful wooden souvenir of Sydney Harbour which lit the spark for my dream to study in Sydney.?

In 2009 I arrived in NSW to start living my dream, studying a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance and Management) and Master of Science (Project Management) at Curtin University x Navitas’ Sydney campus.?

I found that having supportive lecturers and staff, wonderful classmates and friends is what enabled me to thrive there. While there are many benefits about studying in NSW, my favourite has been the opportunity to connect with people from around the world — from Asia-pacific and Africa, to Europe and the Americas, all in one place!? ?

What do you love about your role???

As a former international student, my personal experience brings a lot of meaning to the work I do. I feel so lucky to be working with Study NSW as Project Officer – Advocacy and Engagement. By connecting our initiatives with the international education sector, it’s making a difference in the lives of not just international students, but the NSW community we become a part of.? ? It’s been my mission to strengthen our digital engagement with the sector, either through in-person events like the Study NSW Careers Expo or through initiatives like our Top 5 to Thrive campaign. I’m interested in making sure we’re always communicating effectively to our audience — looking strategically at the structure of our information architecture and our channels including website, newsletters and social media.

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Can you tell us about your division/ team or area??

The Study NSW team sits within Investment NSW as part of the NSW Government’s Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport . We’re working to enhance the experience of international students in NSW and promote the state’s strengths as a study destination. We work on policy and international market development to achieve this, and run development programs and events for students, government and industry collaborators in the international education sector. We also recognise excellence through the International Education Awards every year – which I was a past winner of during my studies!?

What attracted you to your current role??

My story has an interesting tie to the creation of Study NSW. Since my student days, I’ve always been passionate about creating a positive experience for international students in Australia.?

In 2011, I was the National Secretary of Australia’s international student peak body, the Council of International Students Australia (CISA). I got to participate in something called the NSW International Education and Research Taskforce consultation, which aimed to design a 10-year strategy for the state’s international education sector. The first recommendation of the report was to establish Study NSW as a dedicated unit within the department, helping to coordinate strategies, policies and programs!?

2023 is a special 10th anniversary year for me in this industry. I was elected to lead the Council of International Students Australia (CISA) as National President in July 2013. And on 10 October 2013, I was also announced as the winner of the NSW International Student of the Year (Higher Education).??

Is there a project you are working on now that you’re excited about??

I'm passionate about empowering our international students and equipping them with information and knowledge is the best way to do that.??

Right now, I’m working with the team on improving the website to achieve this. It’s exciting work to ensure we effectively communicate information to our stakeholders, especially international students.??

I've recently been supporting our offshore team with marketing and communications support for our growing number of education missions abroad — in May, we took about 30 NSW education organisations to Indonesia for a three-day roadshow engaging with nearly 2,000 prospective international students. We’re looking forward to replicating the model on other continents. Watch this space and sign up to the Study NSW newsletter to find out where we’re going next!??

What’s been the most rewarding experience of your career??

Landing a role at Study NSW has been a dream come true for me. Every day I get to exercise my ongoing passion and interest in both the international education sector and the public service. This is such a great place to create a positive impact on the lives of international students.??

The team’s positive and goal-driven culture, strong leadership and having a great manager are the reasons I’m jumping out of bed every morning eagerly wanting to start my day at work.??

Study NSW is more than just a job for me. I find a sense of purpose in my everyday tasks.?

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What do you love about living and working in NSW??

The work-life balance! NSW is an economic powerhouse and the leading state of Australia. I can feel the passion and energy from the people on the street, especially in the Central Business District (CBD) where our office is located. It’s an inspiring place to work.??

The beautiful beaches, weather, the multicultural food and the mountains have added so much vibrancy to the lifestyle, making life after work so interesting. There is no other better place to call home than this.??

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And finally, what’s one great piece of career advice you’ve been given??

Everyone has a purpose in life. Once you have found your purpose, you will find your passion. Passion is a powerful force and if properly directed, is unstoppable.?