FEDERAL Member for New England Barnaby Joyce has congratulated Duval High School student Charlee Jayne Law on recently being announced as a winner of a prestigious New Colombo Plan scholarship.

The New Colombo Plan is a signature initiative of the Australian Government to lift knowledge of the Indo-Pacific in Australia by supporting Australian undergraduates to study and undertake internships in the region.

He said new Colombo Plan scholarships are highly contested and Ms Law is among only 69 students across Australia to be awarded a scholarship in 2015.

Mr Joyce said the people of New England Electorate can be proud of Ms Law’s achievement and that he looked forward to her contribution to the community and the nation in the years ahead.

The New Colombo Plan’s scholarships program is complemented by a mobility program that supports a larger cohort of undergraduate students—3150 in 2015—to undertake both short and longer-term study, internships, mentorships, practicums and research in the region.

Mr Joyce encouraged other students from throughout the Electorate of the opportunities to live, study and undertake work placements in the region through the New Colombo Plan.”

Information on the program can be found at www.dfat.gov.au/new-colombo-plan