Alumni of the Year 2024
The Australian High Commission in Vanuatu recognises and honours Australia Awards alumni who have made an outstanding contribution to their profession, community and country through exemplary leadership, integrity and innovation.
The Australia Awards Vanuatu Alumni of the Year is the most distinguished honour given to alumni who have demonstrated achievements at a local, national or international level.
Vanuatu citizens who have graduated from a tertiary institution with the Government of Australia’s long term scholarship program, including Australia Awards Scholarships, Australia Awards Pacific Scholarships and predecessor programs including Australian Development Scholarships and New Colombo Plan can be nominated for the Alumni of the Year 2024.
Anyone who knows of a deserving Australia Awards Vanuatu alumnus or alumna, whether as a fellow classmate, acquaintance, colleague, friend, family member or a current/former member of a community, is invited you to submit a nomination.
A link will be provided for 2024 nominations closer to the application round opening. The Australian High Commission in Vanuatu and Australia Awards Vanuatu are committed to gender equality and social inclusion and supports applications for the Alumni of the Year from women, persons with disabilities and other individuals contributing to the diversity of Vanuatu society.
If you are an alumnus or an alumna, you are encouraged to nominate yourself for the Alumni of the Year or you can nominate an alumnus or an alumna who you think is deserving of the Prize. With your nomination, you can help recognise alumni who have attained distinguished career success and performed outstanding service to their community and Vanuatu.
Self-nominations are permitted. When submitting a nomination, it is mandatory that you provide supporting documents, failure to which your application may be disregarded. The documentation required include, but is not limited to:
- Brief Curriculum Vitae details (max one page)
- A personal story – for example how the Australia Awards experience contributed to the achievements of the nominee
- Soft copy of award or certificates of the nominee’s achievement; and
- Other items of interest – for example links to research publication, news articles, multimedia/audio-visual content and project websites.
- Your contact details and the contact details of the nominee
Nominees must demonstrate any outstanding achievements and identify where leadership has been demonstrated. In addition, the following criteria are used to assess applications:
Skills and Experience 20%
The nominee must demonstrate how the alumnus or alumna has utilized the skills, knowledge and experience related to their Australia Awards study area, to achieve an outstanding result in Vanuatu.
Strategic contribution 20%
Contribution is occurring in an area of strategic value to Australia and Vanuatu.
Demonstrated development outcome 20%
Able to clearly state what development outcome has been achieved/facilitated by the alumnus or alumna.
Ongoing linkages 20%
The alumnus or alumna is able to demonstrate contribution to linkages with Australia and/or Fiji (or other regional linkages).
Public diplomacy 20%
Ability to represent AAV in an extremely positive light, in the general community, within the professional community and to the Governments of Vanuatu and Australia.
The selection panel may also consider:
- Degree of challenges of the achievement and efforts invested;
- Whether the stated achievements have occurred as an individual or as part of a group or organisation; and
- The magnitude and significance of impacts.
What is the selection process for the Alumni of the Year?
A representative from the Australian High Commission in Vanuatu in conjunction with a representative from the Government of Vanuatu and the Australia Awards Vanuatu Alumni Committee, will shortlist applications for final consideration by the Australian High Commissioner. A list of finalists will be determined and a winner and a runner-up identified.
Applicants, nominees and nominators will be advised of the outcome of their nomination by Australia Awards Vanuatu. The finalists will be invited to attend the announcement of the Winner and Runner-Up of the Alumni of the Year at the Australia Awards Vanuatu Wrap-Up Event in December 2024.
| Nominations close | TBC |
| Announcement of Awards (at the 2024 Wrap-Up Event) | December 2024 |
For more information, please read the FAQs here.