Sydney, 19 November 2014 – This week the Australia Indonesia Association NSW (AIA NSW) announced the winners of its Indonesian scholarships for high school students. The AIA offers scholarships to support and encourage students who are committed to the study of Bahasa Indonesia.
“This year only 190 NSW students sat Indonesian for their HSC. While this number is small it is up 10% on last year and we want to encourage this upwards trend with our scholarships,” says Mr Eric de Haas, President AIA NSW.
The winners of the Australia Indonesia Association Commonwealth Bank 2015 Scholarship are:
Caitlin O’Brien, Yr 11 (2014) Indonesian Beginners Student, Tumut High School.
Carson McGovern, Yr 10 (2014) Indonesian Continuers, Merewether High School.
The winner of the AIA “Lottie Maramis” Scholarship is:
Kiara Thomson, Yr 12 (2014) Indonesian Continuers, Woolooware High School – planning to study at Sydney University.
“We can’t understand why there aren’t more students studying Bahasa Indonesia,” says Miriam Tulevski, Education Convenor, AIA NSW.
“We’re friends with Indonesia – over 1 million visits are made by Australian tourists each year. We do business with Indonesia supplying their population of 240 million and importing natural resources.”
“Indonesia presents Australia with opportunities for growth as it seeks to become the worlds 7th largest economy - Indonesia will always be Australia’s largest, non-English speaking neighbour.”
“Our winners can see this opportunity. Bahasa Indonesia in a student’s toolkit will give them a competitive edge in the Asian Century and we congratulate our winners,” concludes Ms Tulevski.
“Education has been part of Commonwealth Bank’s strong commitment throughout the years. We employ almost 3,000 people in Indonesia and we are very supportive of this great initiative to improve understanding and engagement between Australians and Indonesians,” says Mr Ian Whitehead, Executive General Manager, Indonesia, Commonwealth Bank.
The AIA CommBank Scholarship is an expenses paid 2 week immersion course in Yogyakarta. Students will stay in a home stay with an Indonesian family. It is delivered by the Australian Indonesian Association of Victoria and will take place in January 2015. Last year the award was won by Maire Playford who became School Captain at Macarthur Anglican School.
Named after our enthusiastic patron who passed away in 2013, the “Lottie Maramis” Scholarship is a $500 cash prize for a year 12 student continuing with the study of Bahasa Indonesia at University.
The Australia Indonesia Association of NSW is a not-for-profit, non-government organisation established in 1945 to encourage cultural exchange and to promote friendship and understanding between Australians and Indonesians. Activities include education initiatives, talks, tours, dinners, fundraising and an annual AIA Awards night celebrating contributions of Australians to the relationship with Indonesia.
Source for student HSC numbers: http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/news-media/media-guide-2014/stats/enrolments-course.html