We are pleased to announce that Flinders University and the NCGRT have been awarded funding for the 2017 Australia Awards Fellowships. This program is designed to complement Australia’s individual bilateral aid programs and long-term scholarships by offering short term flexible Fellowship placements which address current and emerging groundwater issues.

The Vietnamese delegation of 15 mid-career hydrogeology professionals will visit Australia from 2-21 November 2017. The fellows will bring their specific groundwater management issues and case studies to Australia to further their knowledge on how to address their issues and to work with some of the country’s leading groundwater experts.

During their three weeks in Canberra and Adelaide, our Fellows will participate in training and mentoring, including:

• intensive industry training at the Australian Groundwater School in Canberra;
• field site visits between Canberra and Adelaide to significant regional hydrogeological locations including the Murray-Darling Basin; and
• meetings and lectures with groundwater experts from around Australia.

Delegates will also enrich their cultural knowledge and understanding of Australia by attending significant events such as Remembrance Day and the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, among other local activities.

At the conclusion of the three-week program, our Fellows will present their “findings” on how they will address their groundwater case study management issues. Australia Awards Scholars and Fellows return home with new ideas, knowledge and networks, and the ability to make a significant contribution to their home countries as leaders in their field.

A follow-up workshop will be conducted in Vietnam in April 2018. This workshop will assess how the Fellows have implemented their training in Australia to their specific issues in Vietnam. This meeting will help identify knowledge gaps for further professional development opportunities and linkages.

The Flinders University and the NCGRT are looking forward to welcoming our Vietnamese colleagues to Australian and helping them to tap into Australian groundwater expertise, gaining valuable skills and knowledge.

Australia Awards are an Australian Government initiative bringing together prestigious international scholarships, fellowships and short courses administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the Department of Education and Training (DET), and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). Australia Awards managed by DFAT are provided as part of Australia’s overseas aid program.