Flinders University postgraduate student Richard Kennedy is celebrating being named South Australia’s 2024 International Student of the Year.
In the annual StudyAdelaide awards last month, the legally blind lawyer from Indonesia scooped accolades in three categories – for academic excellence (postgraduate coursework), for supporting his peers and was highly commended for giving back to the community.
Three other outstanding students – from Singapore, Indonesia and Nigeria – also featured in the award presentations.
Sponsored by the Australian Government on an Australia Awards scholarship to study in Australia, Kennedy thanked Flinders University, his lecturers and support workers, peers and mentors for their support in completing a Master of Disability Practice and Leadership ahead of applying for a PhD at Flinders University.
His carer and mother Tety Janni and academic co-supervisor Dr Fiona Rillotta were among supporters at the award ceremony at the National Wine Centre in Adelaide, attended by distinguished Flinders University alumnus, the Lieutenant Governor of South Australia Dr Richard Harris.
His career goal is to combine his legal and disability studies to make laws and policies more inclusive and responsive to people with disability.
“My dream is to become an international disability rights lawyer and scholar,” he says. “The dominant groups in the legal profession are able-bodied and there’s still a strong stigma towards people with disabilities.
“Before I came to Australia, I had experiences where I was rejected. Many in the community believed that people with disabilities could only receive help and not contribute to society.”
The StudyAdelaide International Student Awards is a partnership between industry and government working to increase awareness of Adelaide as an international study destination and to deliver programs to support international students in Adelaide.
Multicultural diversity adds life to university
This year, StudyAdelaide received 140 entries for the International Student Awards, with more than 25 different nationalities represented among the entrants.
The winning students were presented with their awards by the Lieutenant Governor, His Excellency, Dr Richard Harris SC, AOM at a ceremony at the National Wine Centre in October.
The judges said Kennedy’s influence was “wide-reaching” both inside his university and in community organisations.
“These awards highlight talented and dedicated international students for their outstanding contributions to Flinders University, the South Australian community, and to their home countries,” says Flinders University Vice-President and Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) Sebastian Raneskold.
“As well as the students selected for these prestigious awards, our university benefits from the contributions of all our international students.
“We are delighted that Flinders can provide an ideal environment for these students to shine, both in their studies and community life.”
The other Flinders University students in this year’s awards were Shafa Amani Anargya Pragiwaka (Bachelor of International Relations and Political Science), also from Indonesia, who won the Academic Undergraduate award and Veanna Ranka (Bachelor of Clinical Sciences/Doctor of Medicine), from Singapore, who won the Community Engagement award.
Nigerian student Temiloluwa Ladipo, from the Flinders University Academy, was also highly commended in the Academic Pathways award category. Ms Ladipo is studying biomedical engineering at Flinders.
Born and raised in Madiun City in East Java, Kennedy graduated in law at Soegijapranata Catholic University in Semarang, Central Java after losing his sight at the age of 16.
His master’s study at Flinders University comprised an 18-unit research project on Indonesia’s guardianship system and the legal capacity for people with psychosocial disabilities.
Through persistence and demonstrating assistive devices such as a screen reader application, Kennedy has taken on numerous leadership roles to ‘give back’ to the community.
“Many were amazed, as it was their first time interacting with someone with a disability and seeing how technology could enable effective work,” he says.
“Fortunately, I had an opportunity to study here in South Australia and it has opened doors for a future career.
“Adelaide is a nice city for international students to study, work and build our dreams. It’s a very loveable city – I love the multiculturalism in Adelaide.”
Dr Rillotta, a Senior Lecturer in Disability and Community Inclusion at Flinders University, praised Kennedy for his study ethic and willingness to support others in his university and community life.
“He is clearly focused on his ambition to really make a difference to the rights of people with psychosocial disabilities in Indonesia,” she says.
StudyAdelaide chief executive Jane Johnston says Kennedy’s academic and community contributions are an example of the broader social contribution made by international students.
“Outside of their study, international students give back to South Australia in their free time, with 37 per cent of them volunteering in the community,” Johnston says.
“Richard’s outstanding academic results, his commitment to supporting and mentoring fellow students, and vast contribution to improving the lives of people with disabilities make him a deserving winner of this year’s International Student of the Year Award.”
