VCE Premier’s Awards 2026
Current Year 12’s – Eric Lin, Noahn Iwamoto, Alexander Fu, Siddak Bath and Alexander Ho.
The Premier’s VCE Awards recognise the previous year’s highest-performing students across Victoria who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement in the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE).
In 2025, 65,586 students completed the VCE. From this cohort, 339 Premier’s VCE Awards were presented, including just 23 Top All-Round VCE High Achiever Awards, recognising students whose outstanding results reflect exceptional dedication, perseverance and academic excellence. The awards were presented at a ceremony hosted by the Minister for Education on Tuesday July 21.
I am pleased to announce that Melbourne High School students received 10 Premier’s VCE Awards, an outstanding achievement given the size and strength of the statewide cohort.
Congratulations to the following students:
• Oliver Downing – Top All-Round VCE High Achiever Award (one of only 23 students across Victoria to receive this recognition). To achieve this award, students must attain study scores of 46 or above in at least five subjects. Oliver was also awarded a Premier’s VCE Award for Mathematical Methods.
Individual Subject Awards
• Starr Yang – Algorithmics
• Alexander Fu – Economics
• Joshua Ho – English
• Kanghao Yan – English
• Ethan Qian – English
• Siddak Singh Bath – Applied Computing: Software Development
• Alexander Ho – Applied Computing: Software Development
• Noahn Iwamoto – Japanese Second Language
• Eric Lin – Chinese Second Language (undertaken at Great Future Chinese Culture School Inc.)
These awards represent an extraordinary accomplishment and are a testament to the talent, commitment and hard work of these students, as well as the support of their families and teachers.
It is also worth noting that five of the students (pictured above) were in Year 11 whilst undertaking the subjects they won awards in.
I would also like to acknowledge that many students across our state achieve results of an equally remarkable standard and could be considered worthy of such recognition. With a limited number of awards available, selectors must recognise excellence across a broad range of subjects and schools throughout Victoria. Nevertheless, having 10 award recipients from Melbourne High School is a result of which our entire community can be immensely proud.
Japanese Exchange Program
This week, Melbourne High School had the pleasure of hosting 21 students, the Principal, and two teachers from Kasukabe High School in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, approximately 50 kilometres north of Tokyo.
Our long-standing partnership with Kasukabe High School spans more than three decades and remains one of the highlights of our annual international programs.
As I highlighted at Senior Assembly, this exchange provides our students with a valuable opportunity to gain firsthand insights into the traditions, perspectives and experiences of our Japanese counterparts. Likewise, our visitors are able to develop a deeper understanding of Australian life, our school community, and the culture that shapes it.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed to the success of this year’s program. This includes the staff who have worked tirelessly to organise and coordinate the exchange, the host families who have so generously opened their homes, and our host students who have welcomed their guests with warmth, kindness and enthusiasm.
Your commitment and generosity exemplify the very best of the Melbourne High School community and help ensure that this valued partnership continues to thrive for many years to come.
Chemistry Olympiad
Chemistry continues to be a highly popular subject at Melbourne High School, with many students choosing to extend their learning through competitions and enrichment programs that challenge and develop their scientific knowledge and skills.
One such opportunity is the Australian Science Olympiads (ASO) Chemistry Exam, a challenging and rewarding competition held annually. This year, the exam took place on Thursday 30 July. The two-hour examination is completed entirely online, with students across Australia sitting the exam simultaneously under supervised conditions.
Students who wish to be considered for the ASO Summer School and eventual selection in the Australian team for the International Chemistry Olympiad must sit the ASO Chemistry Exam. While Year 12 students are welcome to participate in the Olympiad examinations, they are not eligible for selection in the Australian team.
A sincere thank you to Ms Liu and Ms Lim for their work in organising and supporting our participants. We wish the 30 Melbourne High students who completed the exam the very best and look forward to hearing about their results.
10 E Camp
What a great week to be on camp. As you can see from these smiling faces they were having a great time. A sincere thank you to the Year 11 mentors Johnny Su, Kieran Yeo, Oliver Chuah, Mr Wang for coming up to Millgrove for the week and our Outdoor Education Team at Millgrove for the amazing work you do to enhance the boys’ confidence, teamwork and overall personal development and wellbeing.
Student Reflection – 2026 Sulawesi Indonesia Study Tour – Ethan SO 10K
The 2026 Sulawesi Indonesia Study Tour was truly an unforgettable experience. From the moment the group arrived, everyone was immersed in a vibrant world that was completely different from everyday life. Indonesia welcomed the students with the warm hospitality of its local people, rich culture, and delicious food. One of the earliest highlights was having the opportunity to practise Indonesian language skills by bargaining for local items in the bustling markets. It was a fun and authentic way to apply what had been learned in the classroom.
From there, the group travelled to Manado in North Sulawesi, spending several days exploring Indonesia’s incredible natural environment. Students had the opportunity to snorkel alongside sea turtles while learning about the history and importance of the region’s unique marine ecosystems. Another highlight was Day 4, when the group visited a local island and saw native wildlife, including the endangered Black Crested Macaques and nocturnal tarsiers.
Later, the journey continued to Gorontalo, which provided some of the most memorable experiences of the entire trip. Waking up at 5:00 am, everyone made their way to the coast for the incredible opportunity to swim and snorkel alongside whale sharks. Being so close to these magnificent creatures was an unforgettable experience that will always be remembered.
Overall, the 2026 Sulawesi Indonesia Study Tour was filled with laughter, learning, and unforgettable experiences. This trip is highly recommended to any student who has the opportunity to participate, as the memories and friendships made will stay with everyone for a lifetime.
Finally, the group would like to sincerely thank the teachers, Impact Adventures, the tour guides and local staff, and the Indonesian communities who welcomed everyone so warmly throughout the journey. Their support and generosity made this experience truly unforgettable.
Indonesian UN Model – Kenneth Kunaifi 12G
On Friday, 31 July, the Indonesian Culture Club attended the annual Indonesian Model UN, representing three different countries. Many schools also participated, with each school representing a different nation.
The day began with opening stance speeches, where each country presented its position on the topic. This was followed by a short break before we returned for both moderated and unmoderated caucus sessions. During these sessions, delegates had the opportunity to discuss ideas, negotiate with other countries, and work together to build alliances. Everyone was friendly and welcoming, making it easy to meet new people and form new friendships.
One of the highlights of the day was the USA delegation, which sparked the biggest controversy and led to lively debates among the participating nations. This made the discussions even more engaging and exciting.
Overall, the Indonesian Model UN was a valuable experience that allowed us to develop our public speaking, negotiation, and teamwork skills while making new connections with students from other schools.
A big thank you to Ibu Wantania for giving us the opportunity to participate in this event and helping us build our confidence in speaking and collaborating with others.
Dr Tony Mordini
Principal