Molly Lasker, Holly Gregory and Kathleen Taylor awarded University of Wollongong New Colombo Plan Scholarships

Nowra's Molly Lasker and Kathleen Taylor and Wollongong's Holly Gregory will each travel to a different location as part of the Federal Government's prestigious New Colombo Plan, which supports Australian undergraduates to study and undertake internships in the region.

The aim of the program is to create strong relationships between Australia and Indo-Pacific nations, with a number of UOW students taking part in the initiative since it launched in 2014.

Molly, who is studying a Bachelor of Social Sciences, with a major in Human Geography and minor in Indigenous Studies, will spend nine months in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam in 2021; Holly, who is studying a Bachelor of Commerce (NCP Fellow), majoring in Marketing, will head to the Cook Islands; while Kathleen who is currently studying a Bachelor of Communication and Media, and will next year expand her studies to include a double degree Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Indigenous Studies and minoring in Sociology is off to Fiji.

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Molly will attend the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, where she is aiming to learn more about the country's approach to public health.

"I was considering Japan and Vietnam, but I became interested in studying in Vietnam after watching the country's response to the coronavirus. I think there is a lot to learn from Vietnam's approach to public health and the way the community bands together and helps each other out," she said.

The second-year student was delighted to find out she was selected to be a New Colombo Plan Scholar, saying it highlights how important social sciences are to the community.

"I think I'm still in shock. I'm excited that I can be a social science student taking part in New Colombo and travelling to Vietnam. There is such a focus on STEM subjects, and I'm looking forward to showing others that the social sciences are just as important as degrees in the hard sciences and mathematics."

Kathleen is a Yuin woman and is the first Aboriginal student from UOW to be named a New Colombo Plan Scholar.

It is for her second degree, Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Indigenous Studies and minoring in Sociology, that Kathleen secured a spot in the New Colombo Plan.

She will spend up to a year in Fiji at the University of the South Pacific.

The second-year student from Nowra was thrilled at the opportunity and said Jaymee Beveridge from Woolyungah Indigenous Centre and her lecturer, Dr Kate Bowles, were instrumental in helping her to discover and apply for the program.

While in Fiji, Kathleen will study how the South Pacific nation has incorporated traditional knowledge into its university system.

"The University of the South Pacific has adapted the Western-style university structure by creating a framework that really supports the Indigenous students' cultural needs. I admire their continual efforts to celebrate Fijian culture within an educational space," Kathleen said.

"At UOW only 2.22 per cent of students identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander but Indigenous retention rates are still much lower than non-Indigenous students.

"Therefore, I believe there is so much to learn from our Fijian brothers and sisters regarding improving the tertiary education experience for Indigenous students.

"I'm looking forward to bringing that knowledge back to Australia, and looking at how we can incorporate Indigenous culture and knowledge systems into our universities."

Holly, whose interests lie in marketing and tourism, is hoping to learn as much as she can in the South Pacific paradise and will spend six months at the University of the South Pacific's Cook Islands Campus.

"I've loved to travel from a young age. I've been very fortunate to be able to do that throughout my life," she said.

"One of the reasons I was drawn to the New Colombo Plan was the chance to study in places like the Cook Islands, which is not offered by other scholarships.

"I'm really interested in the importance of marketing to tourism, so I'm looking forward to learning more about that and hopefully interning with the tourism department of the government of the Cook Islands.

"Having the opportunity to study at the University of the South Pacific Cook Islands will be incredible as it would allow me to learn more about their culture and gain key insights into tourism in the South Pacific.

"Being able to learn how a country like the Cook Islands promotes themselves would be invaluable. Through my time their I hope to develop my skillset and capabilities and will aim to strengthen the relationship between Australia and the Cook Islands."

UOW Vice-Chancellor. Professor Paul Wellings, congratulated the three students on their success.

"I am delighted to see such high-achieving students selected to represent the University of Wollongong and Australia," Professor Wellings said.

"It's a wonderful opportunity for the students to expand their minds and gain a once-in-a-lifetime experience studying and working in a new place and a new culture.

"I extend my congratulations to Molly, Kathleen and Holly. I am sure they will benefit immensely from this experience and I wish them every success."

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