In an extraordinary achievement, 15 Griffith University students have been offered New Colombo Plan scholarships for 2025 – the highest number the University has seen in a single year to date.  

This record-breaking milestone underscores Griffith’s commitment to fostering global connections and empowering students to become leaders in the Indo-Pacific region and their future careers. 

The New Colombo Plan is an initiative by the Australian Government which aims to enhance knowledge of the Indo-Pacific among Australian university students through scholarship programs for study of up to one year, language training and internships or mentorships, plus flexible mobility programs for both short and longer-term study, language study, internships, practicums and research.  

The 2025 cohort will embark on diverse experiences across countries such as Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, and South Korea. 

  • Rafe Binskin, Bachelor of Languages and Linguistics, will head to Japan to study at the Nagoya University of Foreign Studies 
  • Paula Bonner, Bachelor of Design, will head to Japan to study at Waseda University 
  • Anna Brandon, Bachelor of Biomedical Science, will travel to Chiang Mai University in Thailand 
  • Tom Burgess, Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Business, will study at the Islamic University of Indonesia; Parahyangan Catholic University in Indonesia 
  • Brittany Case, Bachelor of Languages and Linguistics, will study at The University of the South Pacific in Cook Islands 
  • Declan Corner, Bachelor of Science, will head to Singapore’s National University of Singapore 
  • Cayla Deane, Bachelor of Environmental Science, will be welcomed by the National University of Samoa in Samoa 
  • Isla Gainfort, Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, will travel to the University of the South Pacific (Laucala Campus) in Fiji 
  • Vanessa Girling, Bachelor of Architectural Design, will embark on her journey with the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore 
  • Jackson Hillier, Bachelor of Computer Science, will head to Singapore to study at the National University of Singapore 
  • Benjamin Holland, Bachelor of Computer Science, will be at Ritsumeikan University in Japan 
  • Claire Jukes, Bachelor of Biomedical Science, will travel to the Maldives to study at the University of the South Pacific 
  • Elisha Pettit, Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Environmental Science, will be studying at Thammasat University in Thailand 
  • Elizabeth Thomas, Bachelor of Laws (Honours), will be in Singapore, at Singapore Management University 
  • Ella Toomey, Bachelor of Design/Bachelor of Business, will join students at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji 

It was a very competitive process and the University was proud to see these 15 scholars embark on these new adventures.  

The experience they gain will contribute to their academic growth and personal development while strengthening Australia’s ties with Indo-Pacific neighbours.