Indonesian alumnus receives 2009 Australian Alumni Award

The 2009 Australian Alumni Awards, organised by the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, has recognised a USQ alumnus for her inspirational achievements.

Ms Khairiah Syahabuddin, who completed a Master of TESOL from USQ in 2006, received a 2009 Australian Alumni Inspirational Award from the Australian Ambassador for Indonesia, Mr Bill Farmer.

Irene Pingkan-Umboh, Acting Deputy Director of Australian Education International (AEI) Indonesia said that the Inspirational Alumni Award is given to outstanding alumni, whose work, either in their profession or a voluntary capacity is truly and inspiration for others.

‘These are people who have worked tirelessly towards a particular cause driven by their passion for contributing to improving the lives of others,' she said.

Eileen Hjertum, AusAID Liaison Officer at USQ, agrees that Ms Syahabuddin's journey from Indonesia to Australia and back has truly been inspirational, especially her intensive contribution to Indonesian education in Banda Aceh.

‘Khairiah obtained an AusAID scholarship as part of the Australian Government response to the Indonesian Tsunami which devastated Banda Aceh in December 2004, Ms Hjertum said.

‘Whilst in Australia, Khairiah saved meticulously in order to be able to rebuild the family home once she returned to Indonesia. She also collected many textbooks which she planned to donate to the teachers' library of the school she worked at, which was being reconstructed in her absence.'
 
Apart from teaching, Ms Syahbuddin provides academic support and advice, supervises final year students and presents papers on English pedagogy and teaching methodology. She also finds time to write English teaching articles and maintains her close community connections by teaching English to the local children.

The Australian Alumni Awards is an annual awards scheme designed to recognise outstanding talent, achievements and contributions made by Indonesians who have studied in Australia. If you would like to be nominated for the 2010 awards, please let us know.

Further details on the awards can be found on OZMate, the online networking community for Indonesians who studied in Australia.