Settling In: Addressing Homesickness - VIC DoE

The Victorian Department of Education came to Punchy to help international students settling into life and study in Victoria, with a video addressing homesickness as part of a broader student wellbeing series. International students often experience a difficult adjustment period in the early months, and the brief was to normalise the experience, offer practical coping strategies and signpost to support services. Punchy produced an animated explainer that acknowledged homesickness as a normal part of the international student experience, then worked through evidence-informed strategies for managing it: routine, connection, cultural anchors, and seeking support when needed. The animation used a warm, character-led style that reflected the diversity of Victoria’s international student cohort, paired with a friendly voiceover. Services included scripting, storyboarding, illustration, animation, voiceover and audio mix. The video was deployed across Victorian Government international education channels and partner institutions.