Scholars come and go

Australian Awards Scholarship recipients were acclaimed at a recent event on Casuarina campus.

Departing for home after completing their studies at Charles Darwin University (CDU) were Julia Gaio and Angelo Trias, while Marebu Flood, from Kiribati, and Thurein Tun, from Myanmar, were welcomed to the university as they embark on their courses.

Julia is returning to her education career – in which she has worked since 2003 – in Timor-Leste after completing a Bachelor of Education (Primary). She is currently undertaking her final placement at Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School in Wanguri.

Angelo returns to the Philippines where he plans to contribute to disaster preparedness programs that increase the resilience of that nation’s vulnerable agriculture sector.

He has added to his Bachelor of Psychology, which he gained at De La Salle University in Manila, with a Master of Emergency and Disaster Management from CDU.

Marebu Flood’s scholarship is facilitating her undertaking a Bachelor of Education, and Thurein Tun has joined CDU to study for a Master of Emergency and Disaster Management.

The Australia Award Scholarships provide opportunities for people from developing nations – particularly in the Indo-Pacific region – to participate in full-time undergraduate and postgraduate study at Australian universities and TAFE institutions.

They are administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Australia Awards Scholarship program manager at CDU, Brett Smith said most of the scholarship students had left young children at home in the care of loved ones to take up the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study in Australia.

“The collective dedication and strength of resolve exemplified by this group in order to make a significant contribution to their home country, to give back, is truly inspirational,” he said.

“I am very proud of everything Julia and Angelo have achieved and I can't wait to see what they do next.”