Australia Awards
Australia Awards Papua New Guinea are designed to promote knowledge and leadership, and enduring ties between Australia and Papua New Guinea. Our goal is to contribute to building a qualified workforce, filling critical human resource gaps, and supporting good leadership in Papua New Guinea, thereby assisting with addressing the nation’s economic and development challenges.
Australia Awards Papua New Guinea offers three study options:
- Australia Awards Scholarships for Papua New Guineans to study primarily postgraduate courses in Australia;
- Australia Awards In-PNG Scholarships for Papua New Guineans to study in PNG to meet critical workforce gaps; and
- Australia Awards Short Course Awards for Papua New Guineans to undertake short-term professional development study in Australia.
Australia Awards
Australia Awards Scholarships aim to contribute to the development needs of Australia’s partner countries. The opportunities provided develop the skills and knowledge of individuals to drive change and contribute to development in their own countries.
Equal opportunity
Australia Awards are merit-based scholarships. We are committed to ensuring an equal representation of women and men and that persons with disability and people living and working in rural areas are provided fair access to pursuing further studies under an Australia Award.
PNG priority sectors
Every year, both the Governments of Australia and Papua New Guinea agree on priority sectors that will target key development areas in PNG these include: agriculture, education, governance, health, law and justice, and transport and infrastructure.
Australia Awards PNG Stories
Signing to make a difference
On International Day for Persons with Disability (PWD), we celebrate the journey of Clare Guria, an Australia Awards alumna and champion for PWDs.
Clare’s story is a remarkable one, depicting strong determination to achieve goals despite having a hearing impairment. Her journey began in the heart of Wewak town, where she grew up and attended primary and secondary education.
Empowering individuals and strengthening communities
Mary Balupa is an ambitious advocate for the elimination of violence against women, girls and children. She has contributed enormously not only to the training of nurses on counselling skills but also to the establishment of Family Support Centres in Southern Highlands Province since last year.
Surviving the Tsunami and became a teacher
Gethrude Amunti survived the tsunami that swept away the whole Sissano village in West Sepik Province 25 years ago. She obtained a Diploma in Primary Teaching through an Australia Awards Scholarship and is now teaching at Olbrum Primary School. The school currently sits on land that was a place of refuge for Gethrude and her family when fleeing from the tsunami that claimed more than 2,000 lives.