Darwin student Monishi Tripura wins NT’s first Hansen scholarship after overcoming early challenges

A Darwin student has achieved an incredible academic milestone, proving that perseverance and hard work can lead to extraordinary opportunities.

The 2025 Hansen Scholars with University of Melbourne Chancellor and Program patron Ms Jane Hansen (middle row, far left); University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor Professor Emma Johnston (middle row, second left) and Program Director Dr Gayle Allan (back row, far right). Picture: Drew Echberg / Supplied.

When Monishi Tripura arrived in Australia in 2017, he barely understood the local Darwin accent.

At just 10 years old, he struggled with English so much that he failed the subject in primary school.

Now, the 18-year-old from Wulagi has become the Northern Territory’s first recipient of the prestigious Hansen Scholarship at the University of Melbourne.

The scholarship, awarded to 23 outstanding students nationwide, provides full tuition, accommodation, and financial support for high-achieving students who have faced barriers to higher education.

For Monishi, the moment he received the acceptance call was overwhelming.

“I cried when the benefactor, Paul Little, called me up. I had just come home from school, waiting for the call, and when it came, it was a huge relief,” he said.

Mr Tripura’s family moved from Bangladesh to Darwin due to his mother’s work as an Indigenous rights activist.

Adjusting to life in a new country wasn’t easy.

Breaking new ground: Darwin High School’s Monishi Tripura is the first-ever recipient of the prestigious Hansen Scholarship. Picture: Drew Echberg / Supplied.

“English was the hardest part, especially the Darwin accent,” Mr Tripura admitted. “In Year 5 and 6, I failed English miserably.”

Determined to improve, he threw himself into his studies, inspired by the sacrifices his parents made as new immigrants.

“It wasn’t just me adjusting to a new life, it was my whole family,” he said.

A key figure in his transformation was his middle schoolteacher, Miss Rebecca Pan.

“She really inspired me to do my absolute best at everything I did,” Mr Tripura said.

Beyond academics, he built an impressive resume of extra-curricular achievements, including representing the NT at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles, attending the International Science School in Sydney, and winning the NT Young Historian Award.

Now in Melbourne, Monishi is studying a Bachelor of Commerce in Actuarial Studies, combining his interests in finance, economics, and mathematics.

Although he sees his future on Australia’s east coast or even overseas, he hopes to one day return to the NT.

“There are no actuaries in Darwin right now, and I’d love to help build something there,” he said.

For aspiring students, his advice is simple: “Apply for everything, take every opportunity, and push yourself. You never know where it might lead.”

Originally published as Darwin student Monishi Tripura wins NT’s first Hansen scholarship after overcoming early challenges