AUSTRALIAN LEADERSHIP AWARDS 2011 SUPPORTING RI LEADERS

Jakarta, March 10 (ANTARA) - Indonesia's current and future leaders are being invited to study in Australia in 2011 through the prestigious Australian Leadership Awards scholarships.

According to an Australian Embassy media release made available to Antara on Wednesday, the Australian Leadership Awards are a regionally competitive scholarship program offering 150 awards annually.

The program supports high achievers from across the Asia Pacific to undertake masters or doctoral study in Australia.

"It is testament to the leadership talent here that, every year since 2008, Indonesia has received the highest number of awards of any one country," said Australia's Charge d'Affairs in Indonesia, Paul Robilliard.

"The scholarship recipients will not only contribute to the economic, social and community development of Indonesia but also strengthen the ties that bind our two countries," Robilliard said.

In addition to studying for postgraduate qualifications, awardees discuss and debate emerging leadership issues with their regional neighbors through a tailored leadership development program.

The priority themes for 2011 are highly relevant to development in Indonesia and the region. They include disability, economic growth, education, environment, food security, gender, governance, health, human rights, infrastructure, regional stability, rural development, and water and sanitation.

Applications for 2011 open on 10 March 2010 and close on 30 June 2010.

Further information about the scholarship program is available on the Australia Awards website www.australianscholarships.gov.au
(O001/B/H-NG/B/S012)