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The Australia Awards page is moderated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Australia Awards are long-term scholarships, fellowships and short courses for study in Australia administered by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Moderation guidelines, including Replies, Comment Moderation and Terms of Use are available at: http://dfat.gov.au/about-us/about-this-website/Pages/disclaimer.aspx

The Australia Awards offer the next generation of global leaders

an opportunity to undertake study, research and professional development in Australia and for high-achieving Australians to do the same overseas. The Australia Awards are a whole-of-government initiative bringing together scholarships and fellowships administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade the Department of Education and Training and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).

07/09/2026

Meet Australia Awards Fellow Thamsanqa Khanye from Zimbabwe. As Program Manager and Nutrition Advisor at the Community Technology Development Organisation (CTDO), Thamsanqa has developed and led projects delivering school meals to more than 3,100 children, strengthening community resilience through agriculture and water sanitation, and improving accountability and inclusion in food assistance programs reaching more than 123,000 people in Zimbabwe.

Australian NGO Action on Poverty has partnered with CTDO to build community resilience, strengthen social safety nets, and improve food security and nutrition in Zimbabwe. Thamsanqa was chosen for the Fellowship due to her outstanding performance, commitment and passion to development and social inclusion, and her significant leadership potential.

Her Australia Awards Fellowship transformed how she approached leadership, donor engagement and project design, equipping her to deliver greater impact in vulnerable communities.

“Participation in the Australia Awards Fellowship was a transformative experience, which equipped me for the senior management position I accepted. I gained deeper knowledge and skills to positively contribute to policy development and institutional capacity building.”

Australia Awards Fellowships connect leaders with Australian expertise, strengthen institutions and partnerships, and support sustainable development outcomes across the region.

Read more: 👉 https://australiaawardsafrica.org/news/some-heroes-do-not-wear-capes-they-work-to-prevent-hunger-in-zimbabwes-rural-communities/

Australian Embassy, Zimbabwe

04/09/2026

Australia Awards scholar Mohamad Arekha Bentangan from Indonesia is showcasing how innovation, sustainability and international collaboration can help tackle global challenges.

🔥🦺 🍄Arekha's Mycelium Wildfire Jacket is featured in Plant Life: The Nature of Design, a world-premiere exhibition opening today at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). Developed in collaboration with researchers and designers at RMIT University, the prototype explores how fungi-grown materials could contribute to future protective clothing and fire safety applications.

Arekha says this work would not have been possible without the opportunity to study in Australia through an Australia Awards Scholarship. Learning from leading experts in mycelium materials at RMIT and building his academic, communication and collaboration skills through Australia Awards training helped lay the foundation for this interdisciplinary project.

📍 If you're in Melbourne, visit Plant Life: The Nature of Design at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia from 28 August 2026 to 7 February 2027 and discover how sustainable materials are shaping the future.

Read Arekha's full interview here: https://australiaawards.com.au/growing-the-future-exploring-sustainable-materials-through-mycelium-innovation/

03/09/2026

What happens when you step outside your comfort zone?

Through the Brunei-Australia Leadership Program, emerging leaders from Brunei and Australia took part in six days of challenge, reflection and learning. From outdoor leadership activities and teamwork exercises to conversations about communication, influence and emotional intelligence, participants gained practical skills to support their future careers and communities.

As one participant reflected: "I can overcome my fears and do anything I set my mind to."

📽️ Watch the video to learn more about participants' experiences of developing resilience, confidence and leadership skills while building lasting connections between Brunei and Australia.

02/09/2026

Nineteen Australia Awards alumnae from 13 African countries came together in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, las month for the Elevate Your Leadership Potential Professional Workshop.

Opened by Acting Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy in Addis Ababa, Michael Moryosef, the workshop reaffirmed the Australian Government's commitment to gender equality and women's leadership.

Through peer coaching, practical leadership tools, role-playing exercises and strategic communication training, participants strengthened the skills needed to navigate workplace challenges, increase their leadership visibility and advance their professional goals.

The workshop concluded with each alumna developing a practical 90-day action plan aligned with her Reintegration Action Plan and career aspirations, supporting their continued leadership journeys and impact across Africa.

01/09/2026

🎓 Congratulations to the Australia Awards scholars graduating from UNSW this term.

Graduation marks an important milestone and the completion of a significant chapter in each scholar's Australia Awards journey.

We also acknowledge the Australia Awards Scholarship Society Club at UNSW for fostering connections and strengthening the Australia Awards community.

Congratulations to all graduating scholars. We wish you every success in the future! 🎉🌏

31/08/2026

Every year, billions of dollars are stolen from innocent people through sophisticated online scams across the Mekong region. 🛡️

In Lao PDR, the rapid growth of digital spaces has brought a silent crisis of online fraud, identity theft and data breaches that target everyday citizens, local businesses, and families.

🎓🦘 By studying IT and Cyber Security at RMIT University Australia Awards scholar Pathana Hoymoune is developing the advanced skills needed to block malicious networks, protect community infrastructure, and build public digital literacy. Driven by a commitment to give back, Pathana plans to return to Laos and apply his expertise to help protect his community from online threats and build greater digital resilience.

📽️ Find out more about Pathana’s Australia Awards journey by watching his video.

Australia in Laos

RMIT HIVE

28/08/2026

From short course participant to Australia Awards scholar, Maseline Kamasara is turning learning into impact.

As a Principal Industrial Development Officer in Kenya’s Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, Maseline contributed to the development of Kenya’s draft National E-commerce Policy, helping shape opportunities for micro, small and medium enterprises to participate more effectively in the digital economy.

After completing the Australia Awards Short Course Enhancing Continental Trade Facilitation in Africa, Maseline applied the knowledge, networks and policy insights gained through the course to support the policy drafting process. The experience also inspired her to apply for an Australia Awards Scholarship.

Today, Maseline is pursuing a Master of Global Business and Public Policy at Monash University in Melbourne, building the skills and expertise to continue contributing to Kenya’s trade and industry agenda.

“The access to a wider pool of trade and related data has been instrumental in informing my trade and industry briefs,” said Maseline.

Her story demonstrates how Australia Awards alumni are applying Australian knowledge and connections to strengthen trade, governance and economic opportunities across Africa.

Read more 👉 https://australiaawardsafrica.org/news/drafting-kenyas-national-e-commerce-policy-how-australia-awards-alum-maseline-kamasara-is-helping-shape-the-future-of-digital-trade/

Monash University

27/08/2026

💡29 participants from the Australia Awards Papua New Guinea Entrepreneurship Short Course took part in a study tour at the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC), exploring entrepreneurship, business development, and cross-cultural learning.

Through workshops, discussions, and visits to Australian businesses including the Ginger Factory, Kenilworth Bakery and Coyo, participants gained practical insights into innovation, marketing, customer engagement and business growth.

Participant Sheillah Owade said the experience was both inspiring and practical. “This tour was more than just a study visit. It was an opportunity to grow, reflect, and gain practical knowledge that we can take back home and apply in our communities and professional journeys.”

She said participants returned home with stronger networks and a deeper appreciation of entrepreneurship as a driver of innovation, community development, and social impact. “The tour gave us knowledge, confidence, and inspiration that we can carry forward as we continue contributing to the development of our communities and our country.”

Australian High Commission Papua New Guinea

26/08/2026

Meet Australia Awards Scholars Bounhieng Sotapaserth, Thipphachan Phomphakdy and Sengduean Chirdchung.

Since arriving in Australia in 2025 to undertake master's degrees at The University of Melbourne, the three scholars have embraced university life, built lasting connections and developed new skills for Laos' future development.

Recently, they formed the Lao Student Association at the University of Melbourne, helping to connect and support Lao students while sharing Lao culture, especially their love of Lao food, with the wider university community.

📽Watch their story.

Australia in Laos

25/08/2026

🌎🌡Climate change challenges may be global, but solutions are being driven locally. From advancing heat stress policy for workers in Grenada to strengthening Jamaica's early warning dengue response, Australia Awards Fellows are turning knowledge into action to create lasting impact across Small Island Developing States.

An Australia Awards Fellowship delivered by Melbourne Climate Futures at the The University of Melbourne brought Pacific and Caribbean climate leaders together to share knowledge, strengthen partnerships and build climate resilience. In 2025, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) funded Direct Aid Program expanded to include the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), connecting leaders from both regions through learning and exchange.

During six weeks of training in Melbourne, Fellows explored climate governance, policy implementation, climate adaptation and resilience, green energy, and health issues affecting their local communities.

"The Fellowship strengthened not only my interests and capacity to address some of the climate issues back home but also gave me the capability to be able to educate and speak more confidently about climate change as something that is currently impacting our Caribbean Region and my country, Dominica," reflected Fellow Josie-Ann Le Blanc. She is working at the Caribbean Youth Environment Network and the Ministry of Environment in Dominica and has been given opportunities to share her knowledge on radio, at retreats and research symposiums since participating in the Fellowship.

Beyond building technical expertise, the Fellowship has strengthened regional networks and fostered collaboration between Pacific and Caribbean leaders committed to driving climate action and resilience across their communities.

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