“Work hard, play hard”: Alumni Ambassador Dr Philips Vermonte’s advice to new Australia Awards scholars

Ahead of their departure for Australia as new Australia Awards recipients, hundreds of Indonesia’s best and brightest scholars got some very good advice from Alumni Ambassador Dr Philips J. Vermonte.

“Work hard, play hard - absorb yourself in Australian culture, and push your comfort zone limits,” keynote speaker Dr Vermonte told more than 200 commencing Australia Awards scholars at a pre-departure briefing hosted by the Australian Embassy at Jakarta’s JS Luwansa Hotel Kuningan. 

Australia’s Deputy Ambassador to Indonesia Justin Lee introduced Dr Vermonte at the 29 September event as “one of Australia’s twelve Global Alumni Ambassadors, and represents the depth and breadth of talent of Australia’s Global Alumni.” 

Dr Vermonte is an internationally-respected foreign policy analyst, and the youngest-ever Executive Director of respected Jakarta-based think-tank, the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. He graduated from the University of Adelaide in 2001 with a Master’s Degree in International Studies under an Australia Awards scholarship.   Dr Vermonte illustrated his advice to the departing scholars with some well-received stories and anecdotes about his time studying at Adelaide.

Last week, the Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Paul Grigson announced that 592 Indonesians will study in Australia with the Australia Awards.

He said 300 of Indonesia’s brightest minds had been selected to undertake masters and doctoral studies across a range of disciplines at one of Australia’s world class universities. A further 292 Indonesians have been chosen as Australia Awards Fellows for short-term training and professional development in Australia. Indonesians have won the lion’s share of Fellowships on offer globally.

"Australia Awards Scholarships enable Indonesia’s future leaders to strengthen their knowledge, expertise and leaderships skills, and the skills to drive change in their home country upon their return," Ambassador Grigson said.

The original article was published on Australia Global Alumni website: https://globalalumni.gov.au/News/Details?ArticleId=199