Fiji Citizens to Depart for Australia for Study under Australian Scholarships

11 December 2009


Sixteen Fiji citizens will soon be departing for Australia to study under the Australian Scholarships Program.

The students attended a pre-departure briefing at the Australian High Commission today. They are preparing to travel to Australia to undertake demanding programs of study in areas such as public health, international trade, civil engineering, sustainable energy, bio-medical engineering, maritime management, economics and trade.

The new students learned about living and studying in Australia, including the support they will be given after graduation.

Australian Scholarships includes Australian Development Scholarships and Australian Leadership Awards, both of which promote sustainable development and excellence in education in the Asia-Pacific region.

There are currently 25 students from Fiji studying in Australia through these scholarships. They will be joined, from 2010, by the 16 students who attended today’s pre-departure briefing. The Australian Government will provide around F$3.5 million each year to support today’s cohort of students.

The Australian Scholarships initiative funds studies at levels ranging from Certificate to PhD. Selection is highly competitive and merit-based, with heavy emphasis placed on proven academic accomplishment and leadership abilities. These scholarships will help to build valuable partnerships and people-to-people links between Pacific island countries and Australia. The students will also become part of student alumni and regional networks that will enable them to make a real contribution to the development of the region.

Further information on scholarship opportunities is available at www.australianscholarships.gov.au. New scholarship opportunities for study in Australia, from 2011, will be advertised to the Fiji public next year, from February-April.

**ENDS**