Australia Awards Cambodia

04/09/2025

🎓 Returning for Cambodia’s Development 🇰🇭👨🏻‍🎓 🇦🇺✨

I’m deeply grateful to my family and to the people and systems that supported me throughout my journey in Australia. The Australia Awards Scholarship was a life-changing opportunity that transformed me. I’m proud, amazed, and confident in how far I’ve come. I learned to push my limits, stay persistent, and trust myself.

Switching into a new discipline tested me in every way. My last semester was the turning point. I completed two research projects that drew on everything I had learned since day one while working part-time, taking on new adventures, and balancing social events. There were moments when I thought I wouldn't make it, but I kept going and finished with better results than I had expected. Guidance from professors, encouragement from friends, seniors, and the Australia Awards community made the difference.

I’ll miss the mix of demanding study and big adventure: late nights finishing assessments, quiet walks home, paragliding at the Great Ocean Road, skydiving in Cairns, winter treks and camping, summer river swims, and that icy ocean dip where I spotted a stingray.

Study tours to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, plus Australia Awards enrichment activities, helped me build a cross-disciplinary network. I made friends across cultures, learned from classmates and seniors, and was welcomed by New Colombo Plan alumni into Christmas and Easter traditions. The small moments mattered too, from drives between Canberra and Geelong to help move cattle to spotting kangaroos in the bush.

Working part-time sharpened my cross-cultural communication at school and at work. The load was heavy at times, but the support around me turned long weeks and the occasional emergency into lessons I’ll carry home.

I can’t wait to make my signature customised dish for my family and hug them tightly when I see them. I want to show how much I’ve grown, not only in my studies but also in everyday skills like cooking and practical problem-solving. I’m ready to contribute my expertise, inspiration, and wide range of experiences from Australia, starting by listening, learning more on the ground, and offering my skills where they are most useful to make an impact on Cambodia’s development.

Pheng Sokmai
Master of International and Development Economics
The Australian National University

02/09/2025

🌏 Cambodia leads the way in linking social protection with climate action—anchoring it in its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

🎧 Hear from our Australia Awards Scholarships alumnus Sreng Sophornreaksmey, Deputy Secretary General of Cambodia’s National Social Protection Council, in a latest podcast: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-zrjvz-191c549

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

01/09/2025

We’re looking for a new team member!

After more than 2 years, our Equity Pathways and Inclusion Coordinator, Reasmey Cheut, has found himself a new and exciting role to which to apply his many talents and interests in the education sector. Therefore, we are looking for a talented individual to continue his great work in strengthening the Equity Pathways Program and inclusion across all Australia Awards Cambodia activities. We will greatly miss his passion, commitment and energy to support those who are less fortunate, but we look forward to a new talented individual joining the AAC family!

For details, please click here https://tetratech.referrals.selectminds.com/intdev/jobs/equity-pathways-and-inclusion-coordinator-51052.

We thank Reasmey for his invaluable contributions to Australia Awards Cambodia and look forward to celebrating his achievements before he departs in mid-October. We also look forward to seeing him at future alumni events!

AAC team

01/09/2025

Energy Solutions for a Sustainable Tomorrow

Four of our scholars—Sour Leangsraing, Hon Naven, Huon Pengsan, and Khieng Sokanhchana—joined policymakers, industry leaders, and innovators at the Clean Energy Summit 2025, hosted by the Clean Energy Council. The two-day summit explored Australia’s clean energy future, from financing renewable projects to long-duration storage, community engagement, and just transition.

“Large-scale renewable projects must genuinely benefit communities. Models from Australia can inspire Cambodia,” shared Huon Pengsan.

Hon Naven added: “Australia’s progress in solar, wind, and storage shows how clean energy can also create many jobs.”

For Khieng Sokanhchana, the key message was: “A just energy transition means communities must be partners, not just stakeholders.”

Sour Leangsraing reflected on financing mechanisms: “Stable policies and innovative financing structures are essential to accelerate large-scale clean energy projects. Lessons from Australia can inform Cambodia’s renewable energy strategies.”

Australia Awards Cambodia is proud to support scholars in gaining knowledge and networks that contribute to Cambodia’s journey toward a sustainable and resilient future.

29/08/2025

Driving Better Development through Evidence and Collaboration

Eight of our Australia Awards Cambodia scholars recently joined the RDI Exchange Conference 2025 at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), which brought together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to share evidence that can shape more inclusive and sustainable development.

A highlight was seeing Australia Awards scholar Pichpisey Sovan and Australia Awards alum Arunremfa Lim present their joint research on “Investigating Digital and Financial Capabilities among Women in the Informal Economy in Cambodia.”

Funded through the Alumni Research Grant Scheme, their work shed light on the barriers women face and opportunities to strengthen their participation in the digital economy.

For many scholars, the conference was a reminder of the power of collaboration and listening. As Nyta El reflected, “The discussions reminded me how collaboration across sectors and countries is key to tackling shared challenges.”

Sokmai Pheng added, “Development should not be a one-way effort led by outsiders; it needs to involve deep listening, trust-building, and respect for the local community and knowledge.”

👏 Congratulations to our scholars for showcasing Cambodian perspectives and contributing to global conversations on development!

28/08/2025

🎉 Congratulations, Prof. Keuk Chan Narith! 🎉

Sincere congratulations to Prof. Keuk Chan Narith on his promotion to Deputy Director of the Institute of Foreign Languages, Royal University of Phnom Penh. 👏

Not only is Prof. Chan Narith a distinguished Australian alumnus, but also a valued partner who has been assisting our provisional awardees with English language training, helping them to obtain the required test scores to pursue their studies in Australia.

Thank you, Prof. Chan Narith, for your hard work, expertise, and commitment to helping the next generation of Cambodian leaders.

28/08/2025

🎓 Returning for Cambodia’s Development 🇰🇭👨🏻‍🎓 🇦🇺✨

They say time flies when you’re having fun, and my journey in Australia truly flew faster than I could have imagined. I’ve unlocked new achievements that once felt out of reach, rediscovered myself through both challenges and triumphs, and met friends who have become like family, sharing support and laughter along the way.

I will always be in awe and deeply appreciate Australia’s incredibly diverse wildlife and strong nature conservation programs. From the songs of magpies and kangaroos grazing at sunsets to tiny penguins waddling across the beach, I am grateful for the opportunity to experience Australia’s Mother Nature and the fruits of hard-earned conservation efforts. These experiences resonated deeply with my studies, inspiring me to think more critically and compassionately about the type of development practitioner I want to become.

My heart is full, having proudly completed this chapter of my life in Australia. I can’t wait to be back with my family and friends and use the knowledge, skills, and inspiration I’ve gained from my time in Australia to develop projects and initiatives for more sustainable and resilient communities.

Khieng Sokanhchana
Master of Environment and Sustainability
Monash University

27/08/2025

27/08/2025

Improving maternity care experiences of women with disability in Cambodia

Australia Awards PhD scholar, Ven Champamunny (Munny), is passionate about improving the lives of women with disability in Cambodia.

Her PhD is exploring the maternity care experiences of women with disabilities in Cambodia and examining the challenges that Cambodian midwives encounter when providing maternity care services to women with disability.

Currently in Cambodia to collect and verify data for her PhD, Munny was delighted to share her research findings to date with interested stakeholders from the ACCESS2 Program, Cambodian Disabled People’s Association, Legal Aid Cambodia, UNICEF Cambodia and Australia Awards Cambodia.

Big thanks to the attendees for their active engagement and constructive feedback, and to ACCESS2 for hosting the event.

26/08/2025