“Just let that sink in,” Education Minister Prue Car today advised 131 students who topped an HSC course in 2024, from Aboriginal Studies to Visual Arts.

“This is a celebration of you, the outstanding students who have achieved first in a HSC course,” she said.

Ms Car personally rang 10 recipients to give them the good news and noted that all paid tribute to their teachers “who will be the proudest people today after your families”.

Blacktown Girls High’s Sukhmani Kaur flew back from India where she was visiting her grandmother when she found out she was first in NSW in the HSC Information Processes and Technology course.

Isaac Guymer, who attended Moss Vale High, was camping in Bungonia with limited mobile coverage when his mum texted him to “ring NESA”, about his first in the Human Services examination. Clarinettist Tobi Eeles, of Merewether High School, just burst into tears, overwhelmed at the support crew who helped her top the state in Music 1.

“I was crying because I had the most amazing support, from my family, my clarinet teacher, and my teacher Charissa Ferguson. Then Mum started crying,” Tobi said.

Ms Car, NSW Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar, and NSW Education Standards Authority CEO Paul Martin attended the ceremony where 131 students from 83 schools were awarded a first place. This included 26 students from 23 NSW public schools and 25 students taught by two Department of Education language schools, which accounted for more than half of the language awards (link).

NSW public school students came first in course in Biology, Community and Family Studies, Construction Examination, Design and Technology, Earth and Environmental Science, English Studies, English EAL/D, Entertainment Industry Examination, Food Technology, Human Services Examination, Information Processes and Technology, Mathematics Standard 2, Mathematics Extension 2, Music 1, Physics, Retail Services Examination, Society and Culture.

TAFE NSW students were first in Automotive Examination and Tourism, Travel and Events HSC subjects.

First place in Mathematics Extension 2 was James Ruse Agricultural High School student Warren Song.

His James Ruse classmate, Joshua Paik, came first in Physics.

Joshua said he struggled with Physics early in Year 12 but came to be fascinated about how it applied to everyday applications. He credited his success to teacher Morgan Gengaiah, who made Physics engaging for his class. Joshua hopes to study medicine at university after visiting family in South Korea.

Killara High School student Carla Florit Cuello, first in Society and Culture, thanked teacher Katie Sainsbury (who also studied the subject for the HSC), and a “great Year 12 cohort” for her success.

“We had a wonderful routine of all studying at the same library, sharing resources and supporting each other,” Carla said.

Minister Car said Carla’s Personal Interest Project (PIP) for Society and Culture “about parasocial relationships and celebrity worship and how this is perpetuated through social media”, was timely for government analysis.

Blacktown Girls High principal Maria Trimmis said Sukhmani Kaur’s first in Information Processes and Technology, a male-dominated industry, was a significant milestone for the partially selective school, the school community and “for young women everywhere”.

“It reflects the supportive teachers and innovative, caring environment we strive to foster at Blacktown Girls High School, encouraging all students to pursue their dreams, regardless of gender,” she said.

Sukhmani studied up to six hours a day for the HSC and was visiting her grandmother in the Punjab when she received the phone call about her first place. She flew back to Australia yesterday to attend today’s ceremony with her mother, Rattan, and Blacktown Girls High friend Srinidhi Srinivasan.

There was strong performance in Vocation Education and Training courses, which continue to grow in popularity with students. Public school students were first in Construction, Retail Services, Entertainment Industry and Human Services.

Dubbo Senior College Industrial Arts Teacher John Miller watched proudly as Year 12 student Mason Olney was awarded first place in Construction Examination. Mason was stunned to find out he was first in the state and hopes to study a double degree in environmental science and law at the University of New England.

Isaac Guymer, first in Human Services Examination, was two days into a three-day camp in the southern highlands when his mum texted to “ring NESA”. He had to find a hill on a private property to make the call but could not tell his mates until today. The course, which he attended at Bowral Hospital, includes clinical work experience in nursing.

In languages, the NSW School of Languages and the Secondary College of Languages – both run by the Department of Education – dominated the attainment lists, accounting for more than half of the first places, from Arabic Extension to Vietnamese Continuers. Students taught by teachers at these language schools and public high schools took home 30 first places in languages.