Australia’s development partnership with Samoa
Overview
The Australia Awards provides Samoans with opportunities for tertiary study locally, and in Australia, and fosters people-to-people linkages. The program works in collaboration with Samoa’s Public Service Commission to ensure that scholarships on offer align with Samoa’s human resource capacity needs.
Applicants are assessed on their professional and personal qualities, academic competence and, importantly, their potential to impact on development challenges in Samoa.
Related initiatives
Australia Awards Scholarships
2018-22
Australia Awards scholarships are prestigious international awards offered by the Australian Government to the next generation of global leaders for development. Through study and research at Australian tertiary institutions, recipients develop the skills and knowledge to drive change and help build enduring people-to-people links with Australia.
Related documents
Australia Awards - Samoa Profile
Australia Awards Pacific Scholarships
2018-22
Australia Awards Pacific Scholarships provide people from Samoa with opportunities to study at selected education institutions in the Pacific region. The purpose of the Australia Awards Pacific Scholarships is to give people the opportunity to gain and build the knowledge and skills to drive positive change, and influence their home country's development.
Australia Online Study Scholarship Program
$1.8 million, 2019-25
The Australia Online Study Scholarships (previously known as Distance Flexible Learning Scholarships) provide Samoan professionals the opportunity to undertake part time postgraduate online study at an Australian tertiary institution. Through postgraduate study the recipients develop the skills and knowledge to drive change in their fields of expertise while still working in Samoa.
Australia Awards Alumni
Profile: Pearl McFall
Scholarship recipient, Pearl McFall is proof that education can create employment opportunities. In 2011, Pearl returned to Samoa after completing her Bachelor of Engineering (HON) majoring in Civil Engineering from Victoria University. She was able to quickly apply her skill and knowledge in her field. Within a week Pearl was employed at the Electrical Power Corporation. She was appointed assistant civil engineer for a major power station development project. 'It was a challenge to work on such a large project', said Pearl. 'I needed to coordinate between many different contractors to get the job done. It was a good experience'.
After establishing major components of the power station project, Pearl's interest in water led her to work for Samoan Water Authority. As Planning and Design Engineer she is responsible for providing engineering requirements for implementing infrastructural works. 'The most rewarding part of my job is the satisfaction I get knowing I am working for the people of Samoa', says Pearl. 'Even a small project like laying a pipe into the ground can change lives. It's a great feeling that a pipe will distribute water to families who never had access to water before'.
Pearl looks back at her time in Australia fondly and appreciates the opportunity she had to study engineering abroad. 'I was very lucky to receive a scholarship to study in Australia. Not many people receive this opportunity to study abroad like this', said Pearl. She encourages anyone interested in the Australian Awards program to apply.
Profile: Ainsof So'o
Ainsof So'o completed his Master of Information Technology (Software Architecture) at Queensland University of Technology in 2012. His studies have given him an internationally-recognised qualification in computer programming.
Ainsof said 'the experience has been a big eye-opener both in my leadership journey, academic and personal development'.
As part of the scholarship, recipients are given support to develop their leadership skills. This included a three-day conference in Canberra, which brought together scholars from all over the world. The conference allows them to learn from each other and develop their leadership skills through workshops, coaching and practical training. 'I found the workshop module especially satisfying as I got to know my fellow awardees better and had hands on experience with key leadership principles', Ainsof said.
Ainsof has returned to Samoa and works for the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) as a Systems Developer and Analyst. SPREP is a regional organisation responsible for protection and sustainable development of the region's environment. 'With the knowledge I gained I hope to increase Samoa and the region's accessibility to Information and Communications Technology,' Ainsof said.
How to apply
More information, including applicant eligibility criteria can be found at: