Two University of the Sunshine Coast students are preparing for the global study adventure of a lifetime after being awarded Australia’s most prestigious international study scholarship.

Marli Malherbe and James McMurray have joined an elite cohort of high-performing Australian university students selected to receive a 2024 New Colombo Plan Scholarship from the Australian Government, that will support them to live, study and intern in the Indo-Pacific region next year.

Officially presented on 5 December at a ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra, the scholarship provides students with opportunities to build employability, create global connections, and establish themselves as emerging leaders with experience in the Indo-Pacific.

UniSC Business and Psychology student James, who will study at Doshisha University in Japan and complete an internship with a leading Japanese neuroscience institute, said it would be a transformative opportunity.

“I plan to gain a deeper understanding of Japanese culture and the stigma associated with mental health issues, in the hope to provide future value to workplace culture in both Australia and Japan,” James said.

“I have a great love for Japanese culture, history and language and this program will allow me to surround myself in a supportive environment to come closer to reaching my goals and utilise my skills and experience to get the best out of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Marli, who is studying Environmental Science, said she was excited to increase her understanding of the environmental value of the Indo-Pacific region, specifically in relation to its influence and interconnection with Australia, through her studies next year at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji.

“I am eager to be involved in the process of providing solutions to current and ongoing climate change issues, equipped with a foundational understanding of both Australian and Indo-Pacific dynamics,” Marli said.

More details on the New Colombo Plan Scholarship available here.