MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Gambaro
Australia's ties within the Asia Pacific region will be strengthened with the opening of the inaugural round of the Australian Leadership Awards Fellowships Program by Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs Teresa Gambaro today.
Ms Gambaro encouraged Australian organisations to become involved in the program that would bring over 1700 Fellows to Australia over five years.
Australia's international aid agency, AusAID will manage the Australian Leadership Awards Fellowships Program that will develop the abilities of current and aspiring leaders from the Asia Pacific to address key regional issues and challenges.
'Australian community, civil society, private sector, research, academic and government organisations with existing links within the Asia Pacific Region will be able to host Fellows for study, research or professional attachments,' Ms Gambaro said.
As Fellowships are short term, they will be able to respond to ever changing regional priorities and allow participants to explore common policy issues. In 2007, priorities will include economic management, trade policy and trans-national challenges such as pandemics, diseases, security and clean energy.
The ALA Fellowships are a component of Australian Scholarships which will double the number of educational opportunities to 19,000 available in the Asia Pacific region.
Further information, application forms and guidelines can be found in the Scholarships section of the AusAID website.
Media Contacts:
AusAID Public Affairs 0417 680 590
Dean Savage (Ms Gambaro's Office) 0438 171 330