Hannah Sutton's scholarship in Indonesia paved the way to an international sustainability career.
Hannah studied Sustainable Development at Murdoch University in Western Australia.
In 2017, Hannah's New Colombo Plan (NCP) scholarship saw her completing her honour's research on alternative tourism in the northern sea community of Desa Les, Bali.
'Thankfully, the NCP Scholarship includes a language learning component, and I was able to study the language more thoroughly during my time at the Parahyangan Catholic University, where I took formal classes while living in Lombok.
'I came to Indonesia with no formal training in Bahasa Indonesian but was able to pick up a bit of the language in my first placement,' she said.
Immersing myself in the language was rewarding on many levels.'
'That's not to say it wasn't challenging, but as language is a key to culture and to the way a people understand their world, it is so important when you are working and studying in another country.
'In many ways it is the work you do to overcome language and cultural barriers that enriches your experiences and builds personal and professional growth.'
Hannah's research in Indonesia culminated in a project that looked at alternative models of tourism.
The 7000-strong farming and fishing community is tackling marine conservation problems and has been exploring more sustainable models of volunteer tourism.
'Local NGOs, particularly LINI and Sea Communities, introduced me to dedicated volunteers and leaders and gave me an insight into their dedication and love for their community and passion to preserve its culture,' Hannah said.
On her return to Australia, Hannah took on an exciting role with Parks and Wildlife Tasmania and the Bureau of Meteorology.
She looked after a remote lighthouse on Maatsuyker Island off the southern coast of Tasmania.
'The position involved working in isolation with only one other person, monitoring weather patterns, tracking wildlife like seals, and maintaining heritage trails, and I think the experience I gained in the remote Indonesian community prepared me well because I had already learned to deal with isolated environments,' she said.
She returned to Perth to take on a sustainability consulting role, working on major infrastructure projects as its sustainability manager, before joining ARUP as Western Australia Sustainability Leader.
Eight years on from her NCP Scholarship, Hannah said the impact of her NCP program was undiminished.
'My NCP experience was transformative,' Hannah said.
'It shaped not only my career path, but also my personal outlook,' she said.
'It gave me vital skills, including language acquisition, cultural immersion, and skills like negotiation, which I now apply in my work every day.'
'For anyone considering applying for an NCP scholarship program, I cannot recommend it enough.
'It provides a unique opportunity to develop meaningful relationships, skills, and insights into international work.'