BY RICHARD MENANOPO
Five Australian university students are working alongside the Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport (SINIS) to support local athletes through a practical sports science placement under the Australian Government’s New Colombo Plan.
The Australian High Commission (AHC) announced the initiative in a recent social media post, saying the students are gaining valuable hands-on experience while contributing to the development of high-performance sport in Solomon Islands.
The students—Jean Stump, Josh Coulton, Rory McFarlane, Jacqueline Hamilton and Simone Dyer—are Exercise and Sports Science students from Macquarie University in Australia.
They are undertaking their placement at SINIS, where they are working alongside institute staff to help Solomon Islands athletes perform at their highest potential while also building their own practical experience in sports science.
The placement forms part of the Australian Government’s New Colombo Plan, which supports Australian university students to study and undertake internships across countries in the Indo-Pacific region.
“The students are working alongside SINIS staff to support Solomon Islands athletes in reaching their highest potential,” the Australian High Commission said.
The High Commission said the students have appreciated the warm hospitality they have received since arriving in Solomon Islands.
“They have been grateful for the warm welcome they’ve received and have loved the opportunity to learn from and work with such talented and dedicated athletes,” the statement said.
The initiative highlights the growing partnership between Australia and Solomon Islands in sport, education and people-to-people exchanges, while providing valuable knowledge-sharing opportunities for both the visiting students and local sporting personnel.
The New Colombo Plan is an Australian Government initiative that provides opportunities for Australian university students to study, undertake internships and gain practical experience across the Indo-Pacific region.
Through partnerships with host organisations such as the Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport, the programme aims to strengthen regional ties while promoting skills exchange and professional development that benefit both participating students and local communities.
Photo credit: Australian High Commission (AHC)
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