A diverse group of 81 Australia Awards alumni have returned to PNG after completing studies in Australia in late 2018 and early 2019.
A reception was held recently in Port Moresby for 52 of the graduates who were taking part in a workshop to deepen links with other alumni and future employers.
They have studied at 33 Australian institutions, where most of them have completed a master’s degree while a few have returned with PhDs and bachelor degrees.
Australian High Commission Minister Counsellor for Governance, Andrew Egan, says 51 of the 81 alumni are women.
“And I’m also glad to say that three awardees, with a disability, have also completed their studies in this group,” he said. “And this diversity amongst that cohort is very important because the Australia Awards program promotes gender equality and social inclusiveness.
“Now out of all 81 alumni returning to Papua New Guinea, there were 12 distinct areas of study, and a few that caught my eye were chemical and biological sciences, computed tomography – I’m not sure if anyone knows what that is,” Egan said with a smile, “and natural and physical sciences. And in that mix, we also had someone studying human welfare studies; so what a superb, diverse group of scholars.
“Congratulations to all of you in succeeding in your studies, and what a great contribution you will now make to your country.”
Meantime, Secretary of the Department of Provincial and Local Government Affairs, Dickson Guina, relayed the Prime Minister’s vision to the graduates.
“His vision and his statement is that we must take back Papua New Guinea,” he said. “You and I are the agents of this change. You and I can make this vision of the prime minister in the next 10 to 15 years.
“We have 89 districts in this country, we have 22 provinces and we have more than 6,000 wards. Unless we change our village, we will never change this country.”
(Some of the members of alumni in Port Moresby)