The outgoing Australian High Commissioner Emily Luck will soon embark on her next diplomatic posting but she leaves knowing that Samoa will continue to impress her in the way women are being empowered.

In an exclusive interview with the Samoa Observer, Ms. Luck said women empowerment in Samoa is something Australia and other Pacific island countries can learn.

"That's a unique story in Samoa and it's something I've loved getting to know. I can't believe how many strong women are doing amazing things here," she said.

"I see more women graduating in Samoa in STEM subjects, (Science, Technology, Maths), more women graduating in those subjects than we would see in terms of ratios in Australia.

"And I think there's quite a lot that Australia can learn from Samoa in that aspect and always been impressed to see women graduating in engineering or accounting, and I think that's wonderful.

"And the rates I've seen women in the public service are very impressive and in the private sector, better than across the Pacific so I think Samoa is doing a lot in that aspect so I think the Pacific including Australia can learn from how Samoa is doing that.

"It's not to say that there are continuing barriers, I think that's the case for all of these issues including Australia and across the world. We still have barriers we need to continue to break down but I feel like Samoa's trajectory is very positive it's just a matter of sticking to those plans and getting on with it."

Meanwhile, having spent three years in Samoa felt like home not only for herself but also for her family especially having to go through the lockdown and other shenanigans in Samoa and having helped Samoa through her diplomatic role during the downturn.

"Nearly three years in Samoa which has been really nice. Having the opportunity to work here as Australia's High Commissioner and being here with my family has been a wonderful experience for us," she said.

"I had a unique time and enjoyed Samoa's history so we're priviledged to have the opportunity to spend some time here.

"When we came in 2021, Covid was still very much a thing so it was a real priviledge to be able to support Samoa's response to Covid including being a partner in the vaccine roll-out which was very effective and it's been nice also when the borders reopened to see families reunite.

"We love exploring Samoa but I think the thing that we love the most in Samos is the people and Vaiala Beach School, we just love getting to know Samoans."

One of the great things that she loved was meeting so many Samoans who were doing things for their families, communities, and country.

"Meeting cocoa farmers in Savaii or chicken farmers, people who are looking to create a future for their families and communities, I loved getting to know people who were doing practical and good things such as addressing climate change, or reef monitoring in partnership with Australia," she added.

"There's been some memorable moments from a perspective with connections between our two governments. It was wonderful welcoming Foreign Minister Penny Wong here 10 days after she became a cabinet minister. She was keen to get to Samoa and the Pacific quickly in her role and it was wonderful to enable that connection between our foreign ministers and the government of Samoa and Prime Minister Fiame.

"Equally it was wonderful to travel with Prime Minister Fiame to Australia and witness the signing between our two Prime Ministers for the 'Folasia i lo ta Va', the bilateral partnership arrangement that we share which which elevates our relationship to partnership.

"It was a real priviledge to bring to Australia Prime Minister Fiame and Samoa's voice to Australians to hear from directly from the Pacific and Samoa, how Samoa sees the world, is something that I cherish.

"It was tough just meeting people who were doing it tough during the Covid, businesses that struggled with economic activity, it was hard to witness but it's wonderful to see how they're growing and how people pivoted and the innovation to just get through that very difficult time.

"We know the personal connections there are between Australia and Samoa as there are many Samoans in Australia and there are other Samoans around the world so that was pretty tough but it's been wonderful to see that people reunited.

"Australia's bilateral vaccine contribution was the biggest of any contributions in Samoa, over 100,000 vaccines from our Australian doctors and I was pleased to be able to deliver those vaccines at the time when Samoa needed them.

"Including a time when the first real threat of Covid in Samoa, we were able to get a defense plane within two days to deliver our 10,000 vaccines so it was a good enough supply here when it was needed so that was pretty memorable.

"One of the things that I'm proud of is the way that Australia works with Samoa is that we work to support Samoa's development objectives and I think there's a really good plan in place through the pathway for the development of Samoa, sector plans which underpins the pathway for the development of Samoa so we're quite pleased to see how that supports the sectors.

"I think there are some really good ideas there that I can take forward from Samoa's perspective in those sectors. The key will be implementations, so continuing with the plans and sticking with the plans."