TCI welcomes Australia Awards recipients

Strengthening Regional Cooperation through Learning and Dialogue
The Northern Australia Universities Alliance (NAUA) proudly hosted the DFAT Australia Awards – Northern Australia 2025 Thematic Event, “Northern Australia-Indo-Pacific Connectivity: Doing Regional Cooperation Differently.”

Led by Professors Hurriyet Babacan, Allan Dale and NAUA Director Brook Orr, the highlighted the importance of “relational engagement” in the Indo-Pacific, a model built on trust, mutual respect, and culturally responsive partnerships. The Australia Awards Scholarships, funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), are among Australia’s most prestigious long-term development opportunities. These scholarships invest in talented students and professionals from partner countries who demonstrate the potential to become future leaders.

Through study, research, and professional development in Australia, recipients are equipped with the skills and networks needed to drive positive change and deliver development outcomes in their home countries. The Cairns visit was supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and delivered in partnership with the Northern Australia Universities Alliance (NAUA), which includes JCU, CQU and CDU.

Around 40 Australian Award recipients attended the seminar and the pre seminar tours in Cairns. Four recipients also presented at the Developing Northern Australia Conference as part of the designed program.
Beyond individual achievement, the Australia Awards program plays a vital role in strengthening regional cooperation, building people-to-people connections, and promoting growth, security,
and sustainability across the Indo-Pacific. The seminar brought together Australia Awards recipients from across the Indo-Pacific, who contributed their diverse perspectives and expertise. These participants are emerging leaders across sectors such as public policy, community health, education, environmental governance and security.
The seminar aimed to foster a new approach to international cooperation—one that focuses on relational engagement built on trust, respect and cultural understanding, rather than purely transactional models.

Discussions explored:
• How Northern Australia can work more closely with Indo-Pacific nations
• Shared challenges such as climate change, health, education, and inequality
• Opportunities for building lasting collaborations through research, skills, and people-to-people partnerships 

Speakers included a diverse range of experts and leaders such as Distinguished Professor Stewart Lockie, Gavin Singleton, Rhona McPhee (DFAT), Professor Allan Dale and Professor Hurriyet Babacan, Associate Professor Santoso Wibowo, Associate Professor Taha Chaiechi, Professor Delwar Akbar and Sonja Johnson (RDATN). Industry and education leaders including Adam Douglas (Jet Zero), Sam Doyle-Wiaaczek (Cairns Regional Council), Brook Orr (NAUA), Jodie Duignan-George (CQU), Dr Brian Fairman and Maria Camille Chen also contributed, bringing insights from across sectors and the Indo-Pacific region.

This partnership underscores the value of connecting Northern Australia’s expertise and capabilities with the priorities of the Indo-Pacific, fostering impactful cooperation and connectivity between Northern Australia and the Indo-Pacific. We look forward to continuing these valuable conversations and forging strong partnerships for regional prosperity.
The delegates also participated in a tour of the Ideas Lab and CAVE immersive learning environment, or the campus and Australian Tropical Herbarium guided by Gerry Turpin, Australia’s only Indigenous ethnobotanist.

Images: Courtesy of J.McHugh & DFAT/Palladium

JULY 2025