Secretary: Scholarship bid closing dates extended

 CLOSING dates for all overseas learning and development aid bids for Australian and New Zealand scholarships has been extended to April 14.
Department of Personnel Management secretary John Kali said a large percentage of public servants lived and worked in provincial areas where communication is a big challenge.
DPM, in partnership with staff from the Australian High Commission and the Australia Awards – PNG Facility, recently conducted provincial roadshows for the Australia Awards information sessions.
Some of the provinces visited included the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Milne Bay, Eastern Highlands, Western Highlands, Morobe, Sandaun, East Sepik, Western, East New Britain and Manus.
“Public servants such as teachers, nurses and law enforcement officers in the provinces are vital to ensuring service delivery,” Kali said.
“It is paramount for bid nominations from the provinces to be submitted on time in order to be considered for overseas Learning and Development training.” 
Jointly approved by the governments of PNG and Australia, fifty per cent of Australia Awards Scholarships will be given to women, and all chosen study programmes must be in line with key development priority areas.