PR YAKKUM (PRY), a partner of the Australia-Indonesia Partnership Towards an Inclusive Society (INKLUSI) and Australia Awards in Indonesia, hosted an information session in early 2024 in Yogyakarta to promote higher education opportunities for women and people with disabilities from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The event provided attendees with details on scholarships. PRY provided information on scholarships for bachelor and diploma programs in Indonesia, and Australia Awards presented options for pursuing master and PhD degrees in Australia. This collaboration is part of INKLUSI’s broader mission to support inclusive education.
Lia Marpaung, Australia Awards in Indonesia’s Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion Adviser, underscored the importance of these outreach activities. She noted that working with PRY helps Australia Awards promote educational programs that can make a real difference to the lives of women and people with disabilities.
“We believe that offering higher education opportunities through the Australia Awards in Indonesia program can significantly improve the quality of life for women and people with disabilities in Indonesia,” Lia said.
Nina Hendarwati, INKLUSI’s Partnership Coordinator, highlighted that the requirements to enrol in bachelor and master degrees are often a barrier for people with disabilities to pursue further education. PRY’s scholarships for bachelor and diploma programs and Australia Awards in Indonesia’s scholarship for master degrees help address this issue by providing a pathway to further education.
“The collaboration between Australia Awards Indonesia and PRY in Yogyakarta aims to bridge this gap and offer practical solutions. The principle of ‘no-one left behind’ is being realised here,” Nina explained.
Rani Hapsari, an Australia Awards alumni and PRY representative, shared that PRY offers scholarships for people with disabilities to pursue bachelor and diploma degrees. These scholarships help overcome challenges related to finances, access to information and suitable accommodation.
“For PRY, this session was a key step in reaching participants from various regions and spreading information about scholarship programs,” Rani stated.
Diwya Anindyacitta, Inclusion and Accessibility Manager at Australia Awards in Indonesia, emphasised the benefits of using PRY’s network to share information about undergraduate scholarships. PRY’s extensive connections with disability groups and marginalised communities align with Australia Awards in Indonesia’s equity goals.
“PRY’s work, especially in mental health awareness, is commendable and could be integrated into the Australia Awards program,” Diwya added.
Mohammad Ismail, an Australia Awards alumni and member of Sasana Inklusi and Gerakan Advokasi Difabel (SIGAB), pointed out that people with disabilities often face exclusion in the education system, especially those who are deaf or hard of hearing. He stressed the need for better communication and understanding to overcome these challenges.
Wahyu Triwibowo, a master’s graduate and advocate for the deaf community, called for an end to discrimination in higher education. He urged educators, medical professionals and society to work together to create a more inclusive environment.
Through these initiatives, INKLUSI continues to support inclusive education, helping women and people with disabilities access the resources they need to pursue higher education and improve their lives.
