MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Smith
I am pleased to announce the inaugural winners of the prestigious Allison Sudradjat Scholarships.
These scholarships honour the memory of Allison Sudradjat, the former head of the Australian aid program in Indonesia and senior representative in Papua New Guinea, whose life was tragically cut short in a plane crash in Indonesia on 7 March last year.
The six scholars, two from PNG and four from Indonesia, were chosen from among the highest-ranked recipients of the Australian Leadership Awards Scholarship initiative, which offers post graduate scholarships at Australian universities to outstanding individuals.
Recipients will undertake Masters or PhD level courses in essential areas including law, health, climate change and education. Awardees also receive additional funding for research or a professional work placement.
This year's recipients (see attached summary) have varied backgrounds including HIV/AIDS education, studies in inter-religious dialogue, paediatric and pre-natal medicine, and law of the sea.
Ms Sudradjat, who served with AusAID for 18 years, was deeply passionate about education as a fundamental priority, and providing access and opportunity to empower people in developing countries to participate in the leadership and future development of their nations.
The Allison Sudradjat Scholarships include a leadership development program in Australia, and are part of AusAID's Australian scholarship initiatives for emerging leaders in our region.
The scholarships announcement coincides with the 2008 Leadership Development Conference. Over 130 of the best and brightest from the Asia-Pacific region are meeting in Canberra to share valuable skills, knowledge and networks at the conference, the flagship event of the Leadership Development Program.
This unique leadership program is offered only to recipients of the prestigious Australian Leadership Awards scholarships, and is in addition to the scholarship award.
Media Contact: Courtney Hoogen (Mr Smith's Office) 0488 244 901
Sabina Curatolo: (Mr McMullan's Office) 0400 318 205
AusAID Public Affairs: 0417 680 590