THE Australia High Commission in Brunei Darussalam is excited to welcome the first New Colombo Plan mobility grant recipients to Brunei this week.
Eight students and two staff from the Flinders University Disability and Community Inclusion Unit arrived recently to commence a three-week placement with a local non-governmental Autism organisation, Society for the Management of Autism Related issues in Training, Education and Resources (SMARTER) Brunei.
During their stay, the Australian students will learn about SMARTER’s innovative treatment methodologies and work hand-in-hand with SMARTER therapists and experts from the Brunei government at SMARTER treatment centres across the country.
Their programme will conclude with the 7th Brunei National Conference on Autism on October 9-11 in Bandar Seri Begawan.
The three-day conference will showcase the participant’s findings and feature presentations from Bruneian, Australian, Filipino and regional experts including Debbie Smith and Charmaine Mahar, lecturers of disability and developmental education at Flinders University; Aida Damian, Doctor of Education and Chair of the Special Education Department, Perpetual Help College of Rizal and St Joseph’s College; and Rose Clark, founding member of Autism Tasmania. SMARTER students will also have an opportunity to share their artistic flair through musical performances at a gala dinner on October 10.
Australian High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam, Todd Mercer said, “The high commission is pleased to be welcoming these Australian students to Brunei for this fantastic collaboration.
The group from Flinders University in a group photo with the founder and President of Society for the Management of Autism Related issues in Training, Education and Resources (SMARTER) Brunei and its officials. – PHOTO COURTESY OF AUSTRALIA HIGH COMMISSION
They will return to Australia not only with new expertise in their field, but also valuable insights and understanding about Brunei and new friendships that will last a lifetime.”
Smith, who will be leading the Flinders group throughout the programme said, “We are so excited to be coming to Brunei to work with SMARTER, who provide high-quality programmes for individuals living with autism and their families. We have just secured funding for this programme for a further three years so this will be just the beginning of an ongoing collaboration for Flinders University and Brunei Darussalam.”
Malai Haji Abdullah bin Malai Haji Othman, founder and President of SMARTER Brunei, noted, “We are very grateful to be recognised by the Australian government and to have the opportunity to collaborate once again with Flinders University through the prestigious New Colombo Plan.
“We hope that this will be a long-term collaboration and a win-win learning experience where everybody will benefit. The programme we have prepared during their work attachment and the upcoming 7th Brunei National Conference on Autism is holistic, including all stakeholders in the community.
“It will focus on planting the seed that will grow to become the TREES of Knowledge which is to exchange knowledge in the (Technical, Resources, Expertise, Experiences and Strategy) sub-fields.”
The New Colombo Plan is a signature initiative of the Australian government to lift knowledge of the Indo-Pacific area by supporting Australian undergraduate students to study and undertake internships in the region.
Mobility projects are open to students from any discipline, and range from short-term study tours to semester-based study and internships. The New Colombo Plan also includes a scholarship programme, which will support around 100 students in 2016. Currently one student, Alana Tolman, is studying in Brunei at Universiti Brunei Darussalam under the scholarship programme.
For further information regarding the upcoming conference, members of the public can contact the SMARTER Autism Edge Centre via their 7172991 hotline or send a facsimile to 2420225 or contact Brunei Autism Centre for Adults (BACA) via telephone at 2654812.
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