Clonard College dux Khushi Madaan’s dream of studying medicine shattered by visa delay

A Geelong dux says delays processing her permanent residency are holding her back from pursuing her medical dream.

Khushi Madaan was the Clonard College 2024 dux with an ATAR of 97.85, but without a permanent residency, she can't afford to study a uni degree. Picture: Alison Wynd

A Geelong teenager who topped her class fears she will be unable to pursue her dream of studying medicine due to delays processing her permanent residency.

Last week Khushi Madaan was named VCE dux of Clonard College with an ATAR of 97.85.

But without permanent residency, she can't afford to study a university degree.

“Knowing that I am so close to achieving my dream, it feels extremely bittersweet, it is not my abilities but rather my circumstances that are holding me back,” Khushi said.

“The only thing that is standing between me and my dream is the processing time for our permanent residency.”

With her impressive results, she has already received an early offer to study medicine at the University of Queensland next year – and the offers are likely to keep coming.

But on a temporary residency visa Khushi, who has been in Australia for seven years, is still considered an international student in tertiary education.

“Any course that I want do I’m going to have to pay upfront upwards of $85,000,” she said.

“So it doesn’t really matter what course I get into or where I get an offer from, I just can’t do anything next year.

“We just don’t have the money.”

She will need to have her permanent residency processed by mid-January if she is to start studying medicine next year.

Khushi Madaan says its hard to watch her friends getting into university, while she still has work to do. Picture: Alison Wynd

When Khushi was 10, she moved from India with her family to Australia.

They applied for temporary residency visas, which allowed her and her brother to complete high school while her parents worked regionally.

“Australia is the only home I know and can remember,” she said.

Khushi said she, along with her brother and parents, applied for permanent residency in May but were still awaiting a response.

“(My parents) have been working multiple jobs to support both of us,” she said.

“My family and I have worked hard to meet the requirements that accompany our visa status.

“But currently, according to the estimated visa processing time, by the day our permanent residency arrives, I will have missed out on my university intakes.”

She said permanent residency would provide her family with the much-needed support to be eligible for a place at university.

Khushi said she couldn’t get into a medical course as an international student even if she did have the money.

She sat the University Clinical Aptitude Test expecting her permanent residency by now, rather than the International Student Admissions Test.

Her results had been impressive – but she’ll have to resit the annual exam next year if she hopes to get into university in 2026.

She said it was difficult watching her friends get into university, knowing she still had work to do.

“To know the score I go this year isn’t even going to count, it’s a bit disheartening,” she said.

“And it’s not just our family that is stuck in the middle.

“It’s a shame that so many students out there have got everything they need and still can’t study want they want.”

The Department of Home Affairs has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Clonard College dux Khushi Madaan’s dream of studying medicine shattered by visa delay