Australia Awards scholarships back up and running

Australia Awards scholarship recipients are departing for Australia for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic started in early 2020.

They will be studying at Australia’s word-class universities in areas of health, infrastructure, governance, and economic growth.

At a recent Australia Awards farewell dinner, the Australian High Commissioner, Dr Lachlan Strahan, and the Minister for Education and Human Resources Development, Honourable Lanelle Tanangada, warmly congratulated recent and returning Australia Awards Scholarship recipients and gifted the 2021 Ed Smith Memorial Prize to new scholar, Grace Kako. “Earning an Australia Award is a big achievement. You have shown us that you have what it takes to succeed, and we are proud to support you to reach your full potential as you pursue your study and career dreams.

“Through the Australia Awards program, we are supporting the long-term development needs of Solomon Islands. Australia Awards alumni return home on completion of their studies to apply their skills, knowledge, and networks to contribute to the sustainable development of Solomon Islands.”

“Building the human resources capacity of Solomon Islands is a key part of Australia’s development cooperation and we are pleased to continue this work by providing Australia Awards Scholarships,” Dr Strahan remarked.

Minister Tanangada congratulated the scholars and highlighted the important role that they each play as ambassadors representing not only Solomon Islands but their families who have supported them throughout their education journey.

The 2021 Ed Smith Memorial Prize was presented to Grace Kako for her strong academic results in her previous studies at King George-VI Secondary School, and her goal to address climate change and natural resources exploitation, and promote environmentalism and social justice through advocacy, legal or policy work.

Grace will undertake a Bachelor of Social Science majoring in Environment, Society and Law at Macquarie University in Sydney, New South Wales.

The Ed Smith Memorial Prize was developed to honour the life and work of Ed Smith, an Australian High Commission officer who passed away while serving in Solomon Islands in 2014.

The Prize assists one outstanding Solomon Islander each year to develop their leadership and professional skills in the fields of education, the environment, fisheries, or agriculture.

The new cohort of Australia Awards Solomon Islands scholars are excited to undertake undergraduate and postgraduate study in areas of health, infrastructure, governance, and economic growth.

They will engage with Australia’s diverse people and cultures to further strengthen deep links and networks between our two countries. Since 2006, more than 480 Solomon Islanders have achieved tertiary qualifications under the Australia Awards program, returning home to contribute to the development of Solomon Islands and the Pacific.

For more information on Australia Awards, please visit www.australiaawards.gov.au.