Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced the top university students from Australia, Asia and the Pacific to receive a 2013 Prime Minister's Australia Award at a presentation dinner at the National Gallery of Australia last night.
The Prime Minister's Australia Awards provide 40 Australian and 50 international students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the academic and social culture of their host country through research, study and work placements, including internship placements for some award holders.
The awards are provided annually to 40 of Australia's highest achieving undergraduate and postgraduate students; 20 of the top Australia Award Endeavour Postgraduate Award recipients from Asia; and 30 high achieving Australia Award recipients from the Pacific.
Ms Gillard said the awards develop enduring education, research and professional linkages between Australia and the Asia-Pacific region, as well as promote leadership skills.
In congratulating the recipients, Ms Gillard said the awards recognise emerging leaders from Australia and participating economies in the Asia-Pacific region.
'In this, the Asian Century, the Australian Government is committed to deepening Australia's relationship with its neighbours by enhancing linkages and strengthening people-to-people ties. The Prime Minister's Australia Awards play an important role in achieving this.'
Awardees from the Pacific receiving the Prime Minister's Pacific Australia Awards are selected from outstanding Australia Award scholarship holders from the Pacific, Papua New Guinea and East Timor.
This year's awardees are studying and working in the areas of health, education, food security, infrastructure, mining, trade, climate change, environment, governance and social development.
They will undertake work placements and participate in leadership development workshops to enhance their ability to contribute to the development priorities of their home country.
Their work placements include state and federal government departments, research institutes, university centres, city councils, sporting organisations and non-government organisations.