148 Australian Scholarships Awardees Are On Their Way

A group of talented Indonesians is about to embark on the personal and professional journey of a lifetime, with 148 Australian Scholarships awardees officially farewelled by the Ambassador to Indonesia, Bill Farmer, before heading for Australia to commence their studies.

“I wish the postgraduate students much success in their fields of study,: said Mr Farmer. “I am excited about the new experiences that await the Australian Scholarships awardees on their arrival in Australia,” he added.

“Each one of them is about to commence a challenging and enriching journey, that will allow them to make a personal contribution to Indonesia’s ongoing development on their return,” Mr Farmer said.

“Australia will welcome them as part of its strong academic community, knowing the important role these goodwill ambassadors will play in increasing understanding between our two countries, and in furthering Indonesia’s goals of political and economic reform and good governance.”

The scholars preparing to leave for Australia come from 23 provinces across Indonesia, and include a mix of students from state and private universities, the government, international organisations, non-government organisations and the private sector.

“The knowledge they gain, the experiences they share with fellow students and the networks they build will be invaluable legacies for these scholars, who will return and contribute to the shaping of Indonesia’s future,” Mr Farmer said.

Australian Scholarships will provide 19,000 scholarships over five years to the Asia-Pacific region. The Australian Government has provided scholarships for Indonesians to study in Australia since the 1950s, and there are now over 10,000 alumni in Indonesia.

Further information:
Steven Barraclough (Counsellor Public Affairs) mob. 0812 1053 989