At the Victorian International Education Awards ceremony in Melbourne on the evening of September 29, Nguyen received the International Student of the Year - Research award. He then went on to receive the Premier's Award - International Student of the Year, the highest honor in this year's awards for international students.

Organized by Study Melbourne, the awards recognize international students and recent graduates who have made outstanding contributions to the Victorian community, education and international engagement.

The International Student of the Year - Research award recognizes an international postgraduate research student who has demonstrated outstanding research achievements and made a clear impact on academia, industry or society. The Premier's Award is selected from among the winners of the student categories.

Nguyen's research focuses on using artificial intelligence and machine learning to predict and prevent suicide and self-harm among young people and groups that have inadequate access to support services, with particular attention to multicultural and LGBTQ+ communities.

In a 2024 interview, Nguyen said his experience working in clinical psychology led him to pursue this field of research. One issue of particular interest to him is the ability to predict future suicide risk, which could help professionals identify people at risk earlier.

From international student to psychology researcher

Josh Nguyen, whose Vietnamese name is Nguyen Duc Duy, moved to Australia to study at the age of 18. He completed undergraduate and master's programs in clinical psychology in Australia before pursuing his PhD at the University of Melbourne.

While still in high school, Nguyen was particularly interested in the human brain and emotions, although he did not yet know that the field he was drawn to was called psychology. It was only after moving to Australia that he clearly identified the path he wanted to pursue.

During his early years of study, Nguyen encountered considerable unfamiliarity with the field of psychology. He believes that, in addition to professional knowledge, psychologists need to understand the culture in which they practice, as applying theory appropriately to individual patients requires sensitivity and practical experience.

Psychology PhD programs in Australia typically last three to four years. In the first year, candidates focus on reviewing academic literature, exploring their research field and presenting their proposed research to a panel. The following years are primarily devoted to data collection, writing academic papers and other activities related to their research.

Research grounded in mental health practice

Nguyen's experience working in clinical settings also provided part of the foundation for his current research direction. In his view, theoretical knowledge provides the foundation, but applying it in practice requires psychologists to understand individual patients and their cultural backgrounds.

During his studies and research, Nguyen has attended numerous psychology conferences in Australia and internationally and has had opportunities to work with researchers from various countries. In 2023, he also helped coordinate a discussion session on suicide and self-harm at a conference in Ho Chi Minh City.

Professor Jane Gunn AO, Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne, congratulated Nguyen and said his achievements, along with those of the other finalists, demonstrated the important contributions international students make through leadership, advocacy and their commitment to excellence.

Nguyen said he was honored to receive the two awards.

"I feel fortunate to be able to support people experiencing mental health difficulties through my research, and I am grateful for the opportunities higher education has given me to support others when they need it most," he said.

Winners of each individual category receive AUD3,000, while the recipient of the Premier's Award receives an additional AUD5,000.

Hoang Linh