New Colombo Plan

Last night, we celebrated our NSW and ACT 2026 NCP scholars at Sydney's MCA. This event is the first in a series - bringing together NCP scholars, alumni, leaders from academia, the diplomatic and consular corps, and the business community.

From tourism to biomedical research, Adelaide University founding alum and NCP alum Rebecca Kerstens demonstrates the transformative impact of the #NewColomboPlan. Click the link to read the full story: bit.ly/RebeccaKersten…

Meet the 2026 #NewColomboPlan scholars! This year's outcomes represent an almost 50 per cent increase on the number of scholarships awarded since last year. Scholars will undertake study, language training and internships in the Indo-Pacific. Read more shorturl.at/rhCFt

Meet our 2026 NCP Alumni Representatives. These Representatives, drawn from each Australian university, will share their #NewColomboPlan experiences to promote the value of undertaking studies, and immersive experiences in the Indo-Pacific.

@UTSEngage alum Quentin Liew is relying on the language and cultural skills he gained during his #NewColomboPlan experience in Japan, to thrive in an Asia-focused career. Read Quentin's story bit.ly/QuentinLiewNCP…

2022 NCP Scholar to the Republic of Korea and @Deakin alum Izabella Spizick's global career started with an internship in Seoul that turned into a full-time role. Read more about Izabella's inspiring journey bit.ly/IzabellaSpizic…

Do you want to share your #NewColomboPlan experience with future cohorts of NCP students and develop your leadership capabilities? Applications are now open for the 2026 Alumni Representative Program. Apply now forms.office.com/r/bdKuRw8pwT

Applications for the 2026 round of the New Colombo Plan (NCP) are now open: bit.ly/NCP2026roundop…

RMIT students gain new insights into social work through work placement in India: tinyurl.com/4bzy5zw7

This #NAIDOCWeek we're talking with @CQU student and 2024 NCP First Nations Fellow Amy Mann, "Being a First Nations person didn’t just shape my NCP experience - it deepened it. Your story, your strength, and your connection to culture are not only valid, they’re powerful.’’

Ricky’s NCP experience helped him sharpen the skills needed for an international consulting career: bit.ly/NCPNewsRickyRa…

Young people are our future! Delighted to catch-up with bright Australian @NewColomboPlan alumni and learn how the 2025 NCP Vietnamese Language Study Program has deepened their understanding of Vietnam to strengthen 🇦🇺&🇻🇳people-to-people links.

@NewColomboPlan scholar Claudia Wijaya chose 🇲🇾 to study International Law & Political Economy after interning at the ASEAN Foundation. “I wanted to understand how (🇲🇾 & 🇮🇩 ) differ in their ties with 🇦🇺.”

New Colombo Plan series 🌏 “I’ve been fortunate to learn about the people, culture and landscape" - 🇲🇾 @NewColomboPlan scholar Natalie Mullins. Watch to hear about her passion for sustainability & upcoming internship in the Perhentian Islands. More: dfat.gov.au/people-to-peop…

New Colombo Plan Series 🌏 Hear from Suraya Newell, a 2022 @NewColomboPlan Scholar, on how she made the most of her time in Malaysia: “I knew this country had so much diversity to explore” More information: dfat.gov.au/people-to-peop…

The Australian Government is now in a caretaker period in advance of the forthcoming election. Until a new government is sworn in, government operations are conducted in accordance with the Caretaker Conventions.

Congratulations to the NCP Alumni Consultative Group (ACG) who launched their Victoria State Chapter! With thanks to the panel members from @AsiaSocietyAus, Mitsubishi Australia Ltd. and the ACG for their support and insights on continued engagement in the Indo-Pacific.

Two weeks ago, the 2025 Scholarship Evening Reception was held at Old Parliament House in Canberra, bringing together scholars, alumni and the NCP community to celebrate the next generation of Australians deepening their engagement with the Indo-Pacific.

What an honour! Foreign Minister Wong and Assistant Foreign Minister Watts celebrated the 2025 New Colombo Plan Scholars in Canberra last night alongside the diplomatic corps and our NCP community.

Introducing Taylor Fletchett, 2025 New Colombo Plan Language Fellow. As a Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Criminology student at Monash University, Taylor plans to gain insights into Thai justice policies and approaches to transnational crime.