Australia’s Foreign Minister, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, has announced funding of 494 scholarships to equip Solomon Islanders with the skills and qualifications they need to get jobs, at home in Solomon Islands and abroad.
Since 2021, Australia has helped to create more than 14,700 jobs through its development partnership with Solomon Islands, including through the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.
Minister Wong was joined by Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Hon Peter Shanel, and Minister of Education and Human Resource Development, Hon Tozen Leokana.
Australia’s support for the 494 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) scholarships for Solomon Islanders recognises of the importance of skills training for economic development.
“These scholarships will provide Solomon Islanders with fully funded qualifications that equip them with work-ready skills and experience in sectors such as construction, tourism, hospitality and agribusiness, to boost job readiness and grow the Solomon Islands economy,” Minister Wong said.
The TVET Awards scholarships are in addition to Australia’s long-standing skills program, the Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC), which has trained over 2,566 graduates in Rural Training Centres in Guadalcanal, Malaita, Western and Isabel Provinces.
Source: Press Release, Australian High Commission