Australia Awards Scholarship

In just a few months since starting her cadetship, Topaz has already witnessed the advantages of her studies and participation in the Australia Awards program.

She acknowledges the program's high standards and appreciates the financial support she receives, enabling her to focus on her education.

Topaz aspires to emerge from the program as a mentally resilient individual, equipped with critical decision-making and thinking skills.

She believes that the cadetship presents an excellent opportunity for personal growth and aims to make the most of it.

In 2020, she was working as a nurse at Bililo Health Centre on an island off the south coast of Kandrian-Gloucester when a mother with an abnormal foetal presentation was brought in.

Fainny was expected to attend to the delivery, but she had no idea what to do. Fortunately, she found an Obstetrics and Gynaecology Manual Guide in the clinic and was able to deliver the baby.

Despite their efforts, the mother died while waiting to be attended to at the nearest district hospital. It was a devastating experience for Fainny, who then made the promise to become a midwife.

Seeing crops affected by pests and diseases inspired Noah to pursue plant protection studies.

While studying a Master of Agriculture in Plant Protection at the University of Queensland, Noah attended a symposium that was held in Melbourne in December 2022.

The 34-year-old was the only Papua New Guinean among plant scientists from Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe and America.

“Therefore, I applied for the Australia Awards Scholarship to study a PhD, so that I could do research and contribute to new knowledge in curriculum delivery,” says Dr Irene Semos, lecturer at Divine Word University (DWU) in Madang Province.

The DWU lecturer, from Manus and Bougainville, has a Master of International Public Health and recently obtained a PhD in Public Health from the University of Queensland (UQ) through Australia Awards PNG.

“Each of my parents have PhDs. They are my greatest inspiration.”

Fast forward to today, and Norris is at the frontline.

As a team leader for quarantine services at the Milne Bay Provincial Health Authority, Norris works with colleagues and local communities to foster COVID-19 awareness, preparedness and prevention.

“My organisation is a leader for COVID-19 preparedness and response efforts in the province,” Norris explains.

The awardees are attending a three-week pre-departure workshop at the Gateway Hotel in Port Moresby.

The event is designed to maximise opportunities for awardees to succeed.

Australia Awards represents the continuing commitment by the governments of Papua New Guinea and Australia to build human capacity in Papua New Guinea through investment in education.

The awardees will be attending a three-week pre-departure workshop designed to maximise opportunities for awardees to succeed in their studies.

These awards represent the continuing commitment by the Governments of Papua New Guinea and Australia to build human capacity in Papua New Guinea through investment in education.

The awardees, drawn from the public, private and civil society sectors, all have plans to contribute to Papua New Guinea upon graduation.

Australia Awards Papua New Guinea is receiving applications for scholarships to commence study in Australia in 2019. Development priorities are aligned with the Government of Papua New Guinea, and the program is seeking candidates who can demonstrate an effective contribution upon their return.

This intake is targeting experienced professionals with a vision to drive change in the health, education, governance, law and justice, transport and infrastructure, agriculture or social support sectors.