Papua New Guinea and Australia share a long and prosperous diplomatic and regional partnership. Australia supports Papua New Guinea’s economic development through the Australia Awards Papua New Guinea scholarships program, managed by Tetra Tech International Development.
Situation
Papua New Guinea and Australia share a long and prosperous diplomatic and regional partnership. Australia supports Papua New Guinea’s Medium Term Development Plan and Vision 2050 through the Australia Awards Papua New Guinea (AAPNG) scholarships program.
The AAPNG program is designed to promote knowledge, leadership and enduring ties between Australia and PNG. It aims to build knowledge and skills to address PNG’s economic and development challenges through international scholarships to Australia, and the provision of PNG scholarships.
Solution
The AAPNG program offers the next generation of leaders in Papua New Guinea opportunities to acquire professional and technical knowledge and skills relevant to the priorities of the Government of PNG. The program fosters people-to-people links between Australia and PNG and ensures opportunities are provided for women, people with disabilities and people from remote locations. The Awards program also supports alumni to use their skills, knowledge and networks to drive change and innovation when they return home.
Tetra Tech have managed the AAPNG program since 2016, and in 2023, The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) selected Tetra Tech (COZ) to continue implementing the program. Tetra Tech will provide management of tertiary scholarships; professional short courses for PNG government officials; a new monitoring, evaluation, and research knowledge hub; and gender equality, disability, and social inclusion across all program components and activities.
Results
Through the AAPNG program, recipients are equipped with the knowledge and skills to make a difference to the development goals of PNG. Within the program there are four streams, including the Australia Awards, PNG and Pacific Awards, Outreach and Alumni, and Professional Development and Partnerships, and includes three study options, including:
- Australia Award Scholarships for Papua New Guineans to study primarily postgraduate courses in Australia
- Australia Awards Fellowships – Papua New Guinea (short courses) for Papua New Guineans to undertake study in Australia, receiving an Australian qualification
- Australia Awards Pacific Scholarships for Papua New Guineans to study in PNG to meet critical workforce gaps.
The focus of program is strongly aligned with the goals of the Government of PNG’s newly released Medium Term Development Plan 2023-2027 which aims to build a stronger and more skilled professional and technical workforce that enables PNG’s economic and social growth and development.
The program will provide educational opportunities for diverse cohorts of individuals through scholarships and short courses, and will provide targeted support to PNG’s tertiary education sector to strengthen educational outcomes.
The new AAPNG team draws strongly on local talent, including many personnel who have worked for Tetra Tech since 2016, with 88% of program roles filled by local professionals. Over the first four years, this will increase to 91% of roles ensuring strong representation of local expertise and leadership across all technical and program management functions.
Client
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)
Location
Papua New Guinea
Duration
2016 – ongoing
For all delivery enquiries please contact:
Neil Trivett, Head of Clients, Pacific Regional Manager, [email protected],
or
Melanie Reddaway, Head of Operations, [email protected]
For more information, visit the Australia Awards PNG website
