Neel, who is in year 10, passed a series of heats, finals and state finals in Sydney before he was given an all-expenses paid trip to Melbourne for the national "class clowns'' final.

"I've always been interested in entertaining,'' Neel said.

"I've done a lot of acting, but this is the first time I did stand-up comedy.''

He said his main inspiration was Russell Peters, a comedian of Anglo-Indian descent.

"My first joke was an Indian one,'' Neel said.

"I was talking about the Indian students who were getting bashed up in Melbourne.''

The judges said they were impressed by Neel's take on violence against the Indian community and his proposal to revolutionise the TV industry by switching TV show Bondi Vet from Bondi to Broadmeadows, a suburb in the north of Melbourne.

Competition judge Wes Snelling said Neel and other students who performed in the final could put some professionals to shame.

"The standard was very high,'' he said. "It's comforting and exciting to see comedy that's so fresh, original and tight but most of all hilarious.''

Dave Callan, master of ceremonies, agreed.

"I was loving it this year from the side of stage,'' he said.