But his joy is tinged with sadness when he thinks of his family back home in COVID-ravaged India.

Mr Singh, 20, received a scholarship to study at Deakin and said he loves the Australian way of life.

"Australia is gorgeous, the beauty just takes you in," he said.

"I love Warrnambool and exploring nature."

Mr Singh arrived in Warrnambool in 2020, just weeks before the first lockdown.

But he knows he is lucky to be living in Australia with its first-class health system.

Mr Singh's nonna, aged in her late 80s, was recently confined to bed for eight days when she contracted coronavirus.

He said he was extremely concerned about her and his family.

Mr Singh said his immediate family was luckier than many other residents.

His father Karamjit works as an engineer for the government in Punjab, which allows him and his wife Satwinder and younger son Harrattan, 11, to live in a secure "pre-built colony".

Mr Singh said this lessened their chances of contracting coronavirus.

However, the pandemic has disrupted his brother's education.

"They didn't come up with online education as quickly as they did over here," he said.

Mr Singh said during the height of the pandemic, his parents did not go to a supermarket for about six months.

Luckily, they buy in bulk and had enough supplies to get them through.

Mr Singh said while he loved being in Australia, he missed his family.

"Unfortunately I can't go back to visit my family," he said.

"It's been extremely difficult.

"If I had the opportunity to get on a flight today and check on my family, I would."

Mr Singh said he hoped to settle down in Australia and would love if his brother could follow in his footsteps.

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