Bob Carr (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Over the next five years, in fact, the government will provide 12,000 scholarships under the Australia Awards for Asian students to study in Australia. Under the plan, young Australians will also be given the opportunity to live and study in Asia.

The Australia Awards, 10 times larger than the former Colombo Plan, allow for both formal study and professional development opportunities. Students under the awards are studying in fields critical to their governments' future: health, education and rural development. Women receive almost 50 per cent of all long-term awards, confirming Australia's commitment to improving the lives of women through education. And the government will expand work and holiday programs in Asia, starting with 1,000 places for Indonesians.