MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release
27 November 2006
AUSTRALIAN SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS ANNOUNCED
One hundred and thirty Papua New Guineans have won awards to study in Australia next year, under the Australian Government’s Australia Development Scholarship (ADS) program.
The 2007 awards were announced at the inaugural Papua New Guinea-Australia Alumni Conference in Port Moresby.
Commenting at the announcement of the awards, the head of AusAID in PNG, Margaret Thomas, said that the scholarship program is an important component of development cooperation between Australia and Papua New Guinea.
“The students of today really are the leaders of tomorrow,” she said. “These are the people who will lead the way toward economic growth and stability for the future of PNG.
“Australia is proud to support the development of PNG in this way. It is another example of the close relationship between our two countries."
Mr George Oli, Director of Corporate Services with the Department of Lands and Physical Planning, is one of the 2007 ADS awardees focused on leadership for future development.
“As well as focusing on my MBA studies, I am keen to talk to and find out more about the empowerment of local people so they can genuinely participate in issues and decisions that affect their own lands”, Mr Oli said.
Mr Oli’s MBA at Southern Cross University in New South Wales will focus on human resource development.
“I’m really looking forward to next year and the opportunity to investigate in-depth issues of leadership, particularly in relation to workforce planning and development”, Mr Oli said.
Notes to Editor
• The Australian Government’s Australian Development Scholarship (ADS) program is currently offered in twenty-four countries.
• About 2500 students are supported each under ADS programs in Australia each year, and the main recipient countries are Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
• Half of the scholarships are awarded to women, in line with Australia’s policy on gender equity.
Media Inquiries: Anna Awasa, AusAID Public Affairs, Ph: 325 9333 ext 304
Mobile: 693 1097