Some 348 professionals from 25 African countries are in the final stages of preparing to depart for Australia to begin Australian Government-funded postgraduate Scholarships that commence this month.

The Scholarships are part of the Australia Awards initiative in Africa that funds postgraduate degrees in Australia and Fellowships for professional development training in both Australia and Africa.

Australia Awards is the cornerstone of the Australian Government’s development assistance program for Africa. It provides enhanced leadership, knowledge and technical skills to partner governments, tertiary institutions and strategic organisations that are driving sustainable development.

The successful Awardees have been selected from a pool of over 6,000 applications. They recently participated in pre-departure briefings designed to prepare them for life and study in Australia and to assist them to develop reintegration plans outlining how their newly acquired skills will contribute actively to their country’s development on return.

The briefings were conducted in Ethiopia, Ghana, Mauritius, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.

Addressing a pre-departure briefing session in South Africa, HE Mr Graeme Wilson, Australia’s High Commissioner, noted that the participants were chosen to take on challenging and exciting roles leading development and growth in their countries.

“Australia Awards provide unique opportunities to nurture leaders who can contribute to the development of their countries and regions through high-quality education experiences in Australia and Africa,” he said.

Applications for the latest round of Australia Awards opened on 1 September 2013. Information is available on the following website: www.australiaawardsafrica.org.

Australia Awards promotes equal participation by both women and men, also ensuring that people with disabilities are given a fair and equal opportunity to compete for the Awards.

Australia Awards covers the full cost of travel, tuition, training materials, accommodation, living expenses and health insurance for basic medical and hospital care in Australia.

For more information, please contact: Gaye Moore, First Secretary – Development Cooperation

Email:

Tel: +27 12 423 6174

or

Caroline Nenguke, Communications Manager, Australia Awards – Africa

Email:

Tel: +27 12 362 4360