PHNOM PENH— For 30 years, the Australian Awards Scholarship has given over 1,000 Cambodians the amazing chance to pursue postgraduate studies in Australia. By helping people from all walks of life, the program is empowering Cambodians to build a better future for their country.

Australian Ambassador to Cambodia Derek Yip on December 11 highlighted the achievements of the Australia Award in enhancing Cambodia’s human resources. This initiative addresses Cambodia’s needs by fostering human capital, which is essential for sustainable growth.

“One of the amazing things about the Australia Awards is that it is an enormous investment in human capital here in Cambodia, and we've done it for three decades, and really, it's been an opportunity to invest in the best enterprises and Cambodia’s young people,” Yip said.

“Our development program in Cambodia has changed a lot over the last three decades in response to the changing structure of Cambodia, the changing nature of its economy, and the changing needs of the country,” he added.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Hang Choun Naron joined the celebration and praised Australia’s contribution to Cambodia’s development, particularly human capital, through the scholarship program.

“I appreciate the significant role of scholarships in developing high-quality human resources, and I am grateful to the Australian government for increasing the number of scholarships available to Cambodians," Naron said, adding that he has been impressed by individuals with knowledge, positive attitudes, and skills returning from Australia and other countries to transform Cambodia over the past decades.

Chan Seyha, a 2023 graduate of the University of Melbourne with a degree in marketing communications, was thrilled to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Australia Awards. He's incredibly grateful to the Australian government and people for the amazing opportunity to study abroad and develop his skills.

“It’s such an honor to be part of the prestigious Australia Awards Scholarship program,” Seyha said. “As an alumnus, I’ve gained valuable experience in Australia and continued to benefit from capacity development programs, networking events, and initiatives supporting education in Cambodia.”

Hun Sinuon, who graduated with a Master of Social Policy from the University of Melbourne, noted the biggest accomplishments have been that over the past three decades, individual alumni have contributed to Cambodia's development across various sectors. 

"This benefits Cambodia's human capital and strengthens the bilateral partnership between the two countries through the scholarship program," Sinuon said. 

Australia began offering scholarships to Cambodians in the 1950s under the Colombo Plan. The program was reintroduced in 1994 as the Australian Development Scholarships (ADS).

In commemoration of the program's 30th anniversary, the Australian Government has elevated the number of scholarships available to Cambodian students from 45 to 62 for the current year. Over the past three decades, the program has supported over 1,000 Cambodians, with over 430 female recipients.

Equity and Inclusivity at Heart

What makes the Australia Awards special is its strong focus on equity and inclusivity when it comes to offering scholarships.

Ambassador Yip shared that the scholarship program is committed to gender equality and ensuring opportunities for everyone, including people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those from Indigenous communities.

“This year, 38 out of 62 awardees are women, and an impressive five out of six PhD candidates are women,” he said. “We’re also excited to welcome our first awardee from an indigenous community background.”

Yip highlighted the program’s support for inclusivity: “We have two Cambodian students with visual impairments studying in Australia. With generous support and accessible learning environments, they’re thriving.”

He emphasized the program’s broader goals: “We’re not just about gender equality. We’re committed to creating equitable opportunities for everyone, including people with disabilities, indigenous and ethnic minority groups, and those living in rural areas. We want to empower these marginalized groups and give them the chance to study in Australia.”

Yip emphasized that Australia’s commitment to equity reflects the nation’s values and identity.

The ambassador also outlined the Australian Awards’ pragmatic reason for focusing on equity and strong development.

“The reason for doing that is that if you do not bring the entire force of your country and what your country’s population can bring to development, then you're only going to achieve a very subtle outcome,” Yip elucidated.

However, it is not just the scholarship program; Australia has a strong focus on gender equality, social inclusion, and disability across all its development programs.

Ambassador Yip continued, “The best development outcomes will result from everyone's involvement in shaping the country’s future.”

 

Chhourkimheng Tol, an LGBTQ+ student studying Public Policy and Management at the University of Melbourne through the Australia Awards program, emphasized the scholarship's inclusivity and equity.

“I have been an LGBTQ activist working to promote the LGBTQ community, and I worked on advocating for their rights through information and education before I came to study in Australia,” Chhourkimheng said.

“As a member of the LGBTQ community, I am grateful for the support of the Australian government, and I urge the government to continue upholding this principle. Regardless of who we are, we are granted equal opportunities.”

Studying in Australia has given Chhoukimheng a unique opportunity and practical experience that will equip her with the knowledge and skills to further her advocacy for LGBTQ rights and tackle the challenges they face.

“I have learned a lot here in Australia over the past one-and-a-half years of my studies, including public policies, LGBTQ rights, marriage equality, and many more,” she explained.

“But what I wanted to emphasize is the practicality of engaging with LGBTQ activists here who have been working hard to protect their rights through lobbying and advocacy,” she said, demonstrating her commitment to bringing this knowledge and these skills back home to contribute to tackling the existing challenges facing LGBTQ communities in Cambodia.

Envisioning the Next 30 Years

Though 30 years has been a long journey, the Australian ambassador envisions a more exciting journey looking ahead in terms of assisting Cambodians to achieve better in shaping the country’s future.

“We want more success; we want more abilities for it, really giving opportunities to the most promising, the brightest, the most determined and driven young Cambodians to be able to achieve their dreams,” Yip stressed.

He continued that the Australian government also wants the skills that Cambodians bring back to keep pace with Cambodia's ambitions regarding the economy's direction and other priorities.

For awardees like Seyha, the role of the Australia Awards extends beyond merely providing opportunities to newcomers; it also continues to assist alumni like him in further enhancing their capacities and further unlocking their potential.

For the next 30 years, he envisions the scholarship empowering more Cambodian intellectuals to become leaders in fields like gender equality, climate action, governance, and inclusive economic growth.

“I also expect stronger alumni networks to foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing between Cambodia and Australia, leading to innovative solutions for both countries,” he added.

Sinoun said the scholarship would remain the best program for Cambodian people, particularly for marginalized groups.

"I hope to see it continue to exist and further support the Cambodian people in the future as far as it can," she said.

On a personal level, he hopes to leverage the scholarship to grow as a leader and professional, enabling him to initiate impactful projects in digital media, marketing communications, and youth empowerment.

He also aspires to inspire future awardees by sharing his journey and demonstrating how education can be a powerful catalyst for personal and societal transformation.