The Government’s New Colombo Plan is investing in Australia’s future.
In July, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs, announced reforms to the New Colombo Plan (NCP) to deepen Australia's engagement with the Indo-Pacific and strengthen our Asia capability.
A total of 328 Australian undergraduate students from universities across the country have been offered NCP scholarships for 2026. This represents a 50 per cent increase on last year and reflects the government’s commitment to grow the program to 500 scholarships by 2028. These scholars will undertake study, language learning, and internships in their host countries, including a record number to Indonesia and India, and the first cohort to Timor-Leste.
The new Semester Program has provided 1,247 grants across 160 projects, giving young Australians the opportunity for longer-term, immersive experiences that combine study and language learning.
Language learning has been strengthened under the NCP, with more students than ever training in Asian languages, such as Bahasa Indonesia, Mandarin, Japanese, and Vietnamese, equipping them with skills that will help build enduring relationships and strengthen Australia’s Asian capability.
2026 Indonesia Scholar and Australian National University Bachelor of International Security Studies student Lily Kelsey has been selected as the 2026 New Colombo Plan Language Fellow.
As part of her NCP Program, Lily will be undertaking full-time language training in Bahasa Indonesia and language immersion courses at Universitas Gadjah Mada in Yogyakarta, and undertaking an internship related to trade policy.
“The practical and immersive nature of my NCP program presents an opportunity for me to transform my Indonesian language skills. This will allow me to build lasting relationships in the region, strengthen my knowledge of Indonesia’s culture and economy, and prepare me for a career of meaningful engagement with Southeast Asia,” she said.
Through the Mobility Program, 1,635 student mobility grants have been offered for projects across the Indo-Pacific, including Indonesia, Vietnam, Fiji and China. These projects range from 4 to 9 weeks and provide valuable exposure to the region. For the first time, programs can also be undertaken at Australian offshore campuses in the Indo-Pacific, offering participants a genuinely immersive experience while building on Australia’s transnational education presence.
The Indo-Pacific capabilities our students develop, including language skills, will deepen links, broaden Australia’s understanding of the region and deliver essential capabilities for our future prosperity.