Jakarta (Antara) - The Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Greg Moriarty, said in a press statement here on Tuesday that 93 Indonesians have been selected as Australia Awards Fellows and will receive training and professional development opportunities in Australia. Australia Awards Fellowships provide senior officials and mid-career professionals from developing countries with the opportunity to undertake short-term study, research and professional development within Australian organisations. "The Australian Government is committed to helping our closest neighbours respond to a wide range of development issues, while building people-to-people links," said Ambassador Moriarty. Australia Awards Fellowships provide education and training to professionals who are in a position to advance the development of their countries when they return home. At the same time they strengthen links between organisations and individuals in Australia and developing countries in our region. "This latest round of Fellowships will build capacity in a variety of sectors across Indonesia including: border management and people movement; sustainable local water provision; improved HIV responses; and human resource development in Papua," Ambassador Moriarty said. Close to three quarters of the Australia Awards Fellows selected through the latest round are from Asia, contributing to the Government¿s commitment to provide 12,000 `Asian Century¿ Australia Awards over the next five years. "Australia has an enormous amount of experience to share with the world and Australia Awards Fellowships are an ideal way to share that expertise and make a difference to the lives of people overseas," Ambassador Moriarty said. The Australian Government is providing $13.4 million to support this latest round of Australia Awards Fellowships and has invested more than $126 million to support Fellows from developing countries since 2007. There are two funding rounds per year. The first of the 733 Fellows will arrive in July 2013. The next round, for programs beginning in 2014, opens on 13 May 2013 and will close on 19 June 2013. (*)
