Samoans benefit from Australia awards

By Ivamere Nataro 14 December 2018, 12:00AM

Fifty-six Samoans will have the opportunity to further their studies and acquire new skills in Australia and Fiji in 2019. 

The Australia Awards is a prestigious international scholarship funded by the Government of Australia. 

Acting Australian High Commissioner, Amanda Jewell said during the pre-departure briefing at the Taumeasina Island Resort yesterday that they have increased the number of awardees travelling to Australia from 28 (last year) to 36. 

Of the 36, under the open category, which includes working people who will be doing Bachelors, Postgraduates and Masters, there are 15. 

 “Thirty-six will travel to Australia to study, which is most of you in attendance this morning (yesterday), 10 who will partake study in Fiji, and another 10 will study online with Australian Institutions,” Ms. Jewell said. 

The 10 people going to Fiji include eight Foundation students and two for the open category. 

 “It is interesting that you all will be undertaking study in a variety of industries, including engineering, biomedical science, cybersecurity, education, management and business, medical laboratory and hospitality management – all areas that are priorities for Australia and Samoa.” 

The Australia Awards in Samoa is guided by the Australia Awards Global Strategy and the tripartite partnership Australia has with the Governments of Samoa and New Zealand. 

 “I commend the Government of Samoa for their leadership in our partnership and for engaging in the scholarships platform, which is an important component of our aid program,” Ms. Jewell said. 

 “It (Australia) recognises that tertiary education is an important investment in your future.  It offers you — the next generation of global leaders — an opportunity to study in Australia and to return home with newfound knowledge that will greatly contribute to the development of Samoa.

 “I encourage you to make the most of your time in Australia – make friends, exchange cultures, join clubs, learn new skills but never lose focus of the number one reason you are there – to complete your degrees successfully.” 

Ms. Jewell told the recipients they are the future leaders of Samoa in their chosen fields and the skills they will acquire will support the development of their families, villages and country. 

 “The Australia Awards build invaluable people to people links and trust between our nations. I look forward to continually building on this understanding of one another’s cultures, politics, economies and societies.”

To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be 18 years old and above, a citizen of Samoa, and their programmes are offered in Australia. 

By Ivamere Nataro 14 December 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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