Archived Media Release

19 March 2008

Allison Sudradjat Awards Support Emerging Leaders in Indonesia

Australian Chargé d’Affaires, Louise Hand, said she welcomed yesterday’s announcement by the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon Stephen Smith MP, of the inaugural winners of the Allison Sudradjat Awards.

Louise Hand said that four of the six scholarship recipients are from Indonesia, and they were chosen from among the highest-ranked recipients of the Australian Leadership Awards Scholarship initiative, which offers post graduate scholarships at Australian universities.

“I’m pleased that four outstanding Indonesians have been chosen for the prestigious scholarships,” Ms Hand said. “I’m confident that on their return from Australia they will contribute to Indonesia’s social and economic development.”

These scholarships honour the memory of Allison Sudradjat, the former head of the Australian aid program in Indonesia whose life was tragically cut short in a plane crash in Indonesia on 7 March last year.

“Allison loved Indonesia, and she was passionate about the use of education to empower people in developing countries to shape the future of their nations. The recipients are undertaking areas of scholarship in which she had a very strong interest and saw great value,” Ms Hand said.

Recipients will undertake Masters or PhD level courses in essential areas including law, health, climate change and education. Awardees will also receive additional funding for research or a professional work placement (see attached summary of Indonesian winners).

The Allison Sudradjat Awards include a leadership development program in Australia, and are part of AusAID’s Australian scholarship initiatives for emerging leaders in our region.

Information for media:
Mia Salim (Public Affairs Officer, AusAID Jakarta): 2550-5490 or 0812 1070237

(Attachment)

Summary of Indonesian Scholars