Milestones achieved in social inclusion

Seventeen Masters Awardees with disabilities have been mobilised for the 2013 intake. The Disability Inclusion team has been working closely with the Australia Awards Office to develop policy guidelines aimed at removing barriers faced by Awardees with disabilities as they seek further education.

Australia Awards is setting up systems and processes, as well as working with universities and other educational institutions, to provide people with a disability equal access to award opportunities. The program’s work in this field is generally regarded as innovative. It is also assisting in setting the benchmark for the Australian Government’s policy development on disability inclusion.

A number of Awardees with a disability have already benefitted from Australia Awards’ disability inclusion initiative, and have successfully completed their studies.

Under gender inclusion, a number of significant milestones have also been accomplished. A Gender Inclusion Strategy (GIS) is being developed, which will provide guidelines towards gender mainstreaming in all Australia Awards activities. It will also clearly outline how the Gender Fund will be implemented to support Awardees.