Sesi Informasi Australia Awards di Medan: Mendorong Akses Inklusif ke Pendidikan Tinggi
Australia Awards in Indonesia (AAI) has held an information session in Medan, North Sumatra, to highlight its support for people with disability and women from disadvantaged backgrounds who face barriers to pursuing higher education.
Held on 12-13 February 2026 in collaboration with Indonesia’s National Disabilities Commission (KND), the event was AAI’s annual visit to support key groups and encourage them to apply for scholarships. The event was previously held in Yogyakarta and Makassar in 2024 and 2025.
A Chance to Convey and Listen
The session provided comprehensive insights into the inclusive Australia Awards Scholarships, including eligibility criteria, application process for masters and PhD programs and highlighted the accessibility supports for scholarship awardees with disability.
The session was held in a hybrid format to allow more people to attend. A representative from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Tetty Naibaho, was present, along with KND Chairperson Dante Rigmalia and Commissioner Kikin Tarigan, who shared their experiences as Australian alumni.
‘Australia Awards Scholarship aims to improve the quality of Indonesian human resources by creating inclusive opportunities and closing gaps to access for people with disability and women from disadvantaged backgrounds,’ said Lia Marpaung, AAI’s Adviser for Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI).
‘The session also provided the opportunity for us to hear directly from potential scholarship awardees, including their challenges. It's crucial to hear these issues to make our program adaptive and truly inclusive.’
Representatives from AAI and KND also visited the North Sumatra provincial government and were received by Sulaiman Harahap, SH, M.SP. CGCAE, CFrA as representative of Governor Bobby Nasution, alongside F. Nasution as Secretary of North Sumatra Provincial Social Services and Terang Dewi Susantri Ujung as Secretary of North Sumatra Provincial Education Office. The team then visited Universitas Sumatera Utara, to promote Australia Awards Scholarships to the academic community.
Targeted Support for Women and Applicants with Disability
Diwya Anindyacitta (Nindya), Inclusion and Accessibility Manager at Australia Awards in Indonesia, explained that people with disability and women from disadvantaged backgrounds were equity target groups, which had different entry requirements to applicants in the non-target group.
For example, applicants from the equity target groups could use Indonesian to fill out their application forms and during the interviews. Applicants from the equity category also would not compete with those in the non-target group, Nindya said.
Tetty explained that a diverse range of support was available.
‘Support for people with disability is provided throughout the scholarship process, from promotion and selection, through departure preparation, during their studies in Australia and upon their return to Indonesia as alumni,’ said Tetty. ‘This support includes both physical facilities or equipment and non-physical support, such as mentoring, special requirements, a disability-friendly selection process, training and various alumni activities.’
Nindya added that women awardees would receive several benefits while studying in Australia, such as subsidised childcare and free primary school fees for their children.
Insights from the Lived Experience of the Australian Study
Dante, who is hard of hearing and has dyslexia, shared how reasonable adjustments for her needs had allowed her to participate in and enjoy her Short Course. The support included assistance with filling out the application form, using a mobile phone in class to convert voice to text, receiving written learning materials in a certain font and size, and a buddy to help explain some lectures.
‘The lecturer also understood how to create an inclusive space for everyone to participate and to ask questions. It was such a positive environment,’ she said.
Kikin added that the general public in Australia had respect and awareness of people with disability.
‘Accessibility is something we rarely see in Indonesia, or educators perceive disability as a barrier,’ he said, ‘In Australia, disability is not seen as a burden but as a challenge to the educators’ ability to deliver knowledge. Furthermore, the excellent transportation and public facilities make studying in Australia easier.’
Significant Collaboration with Impactful Outcomes
The partnership between AAI and KND began in 2023, when Dante and Kikin participated in the Australia Awards Short Course on the Role of Government and OPDs (Organisations of People with Disability) in the Implementation of Policy Reform for Inclusive Development.
‘We are grateful that AAI involves KND in its scholarship outreach efforts, which includes people with disability,’ said Dante, who expressed hope that the partnership will continue. ‘The collaboration allows us to encourage meaningful participation of people with disability, asserting that they are not merely seen as objects but have a voice in the planning process.’
Dante believes that education is one of the most effective ways for people with disability to flourish, to contribute and participate in a meaningful way to their immediate environment and, ultimately, their country.
She recalled the dialogue with the North Sumatra Provincial Government about the fulfilment of the right to higher education for people with disability. Dante emphasised how it could not be separated from prior education, from elementary to high school, which should be inclusive for people with disability.
‘The government was very open, and we will submit a letter of recommendation to the provincial government based on the results of the discussion. It will include points such as reviving English teacher trainings to improve students’ English language skills,’ Dante said.
Enthusiastic Interest in Australia Awards Scholarships
Despite the rainy season in Medan, the session was at full capacity. Participants asked so many questions that the session had to be extended, and some stayed afterwards to speak with Lia and Dante.
‘Even when I was at the lobby waiting to be picked up, there were still participants who showered me with good questions about the scholarship,’ Lia said with a laugh. ‘It gave me so much joy and made me feel certain that sessions like this should be held more often.’
Lia hoped the event would inspire people with disability and women from disadvantaged backgrounds to enrol in Australia Awards Scholarships.
‘I am thankful that Ibu Dante and Bapak Kikin provided encouragement. Many people with disability are afraid to dream, and they regularly experience discrimination. This is what we want to convey to our friends with disability in Indonesia: Don't be afraid to pursue a dream, to make it happen and to invest ourselves in good education,” Lia said.
Nindya added that she hoped the Australia Awards Scholarship program would continue to evolve to become more inclusive and accessible to all—including people with various disabilities, women from disadvantaged backgrounds and other marginalised groups.
