21 November 2012

 Papua New Guineans awarded Australian scholarships

Twelve Papua New Guineans have been awarded elite scholarships to study in Australia.  Nine were awarded Australian Leadership Awards Scholarships, and three received the Australian High Commissioner’s Education Awards.

The awardees, five women and seven men, will study subjects including education, health, the environment, governance, infrastructure, management and development. 

Australian High Commissioner to PNG, Ian Kemish, congratulated the awardees, saying their study and work is important to the future development of PNG.

“Studying overseas provides an opportunity to learn and exchange ideas about leadership issues and challenges in the region, and talking about how these challenges can be addressed,” said Mr Kemish.

The High Commissioner made special mention of two awardees, Miriam Supuma and Wawaf Labuan, who were also awarded the prestigious Allison Sudradjat awards.

“Allison Sudradjat worked for AusAID in PNG and tragically lost her life in a plane crash in Indonesia in 2007. These scholarships honour her memory and her passion for education as a development priority,” said Mr Kemish.

The High Commissioner made special mention of the three awardees for the Australian High Commissioner’s Education Awards.

“The Australian High Commissioner’s Education Award seeks to enhance the capacity of leaders, or emerging leaders, in Papua New Guinea to drive positive change and facilitate sustainable development. These scholarships are awarded to Peter Niesi, Michelle Hau’ofa and Ruth Javati,” said Mr Kemish.

“Through the Scholarships PNG Facility, AusAID and the PNG Government work together to ensure awards for study in Australia are targeted to PNG’s priorities under the Papua New Guinea Development Strategic Plan 2010 – 2030.”

Also present were five former Allison Sudrajat awardees who currently hold senior roles in Telikom, World Bank and the National Health and Education sectors.  Former President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, James Tanis, who was the innaugaral recipient of the Australian High Commissioner’s Education Awards, also attended the ceremony.

The awardees for the Australian Leadership Awards Scholarships are:

*  Ms Miriam Supuma: (Allison Sudradjat Award Winner) Doctor of Philosophy in Natural & Physical Sciences, James Cook University

*  Mr Wawaf Labuan: (Allison Sudradjat Award Winner) Doctor of Philosophy in Education, University of Melbourne

*  Ms Ellen Kulumbu: Doctor of Philosophy International, Political & Strategic Studies, Australian National University

*  Ms Janet Gagul: Doctor of Philosophy Natural & Physical Sciences, James Cook University

*  Mr Joshua Ryan: Master of Environmental & Research Economics, Australian National University

*  Mr Cherket Jerry: Doctor of Philosophy in Infrastructure, University of Queensland

*  Mr Richard Simbil: Master of Law, Governance & Development Australian National University

*  Mr Gibson Winston: Master of Applied Science (Medical Science), Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University

*  Mr Naus Kamal: Master of Project Management Technology, Australian National University.