Since starting his scholarship journey, Hein Htet Zaw had a dream to study in Australia – well-known for cultural diversity and plentiful growth opportunities for international students. Now, completing his Master of Public Health at The University of Melbourne, Hein can attest to the wide variety of opportunities and cultural immersion experiences while on the scholarship.

“An unexpected benefit of my time in Australia has been creating a connection with a group of scholars, activists and professionals at Myanmar Research Network as well as the diaspora in Victoria,” Hein shares. “Their social support while staying away from home helps me to feel empowered to balance my study and social life in Australia.”

“The University of Melbourne is also very supportive to students in several ways, including with mentorship programs, extracurricular activities, internship opportunities, networking and cultural events, as well as multidisciplinary supports for students’ health and wellbeing.”

In 2025, Hein has participated in two professional development workshops managed by Australia Awards Myanmar: the Professional Linkages Workshop: Staying Connected in Melbourne, and Emotional Intelligence at Work in Adelaide. Hein highlights that the opportunity to immerse in Australian history and cultural experiences, build his professional skillsets, and network with Myanmar scholars from other states will set him up for future collaborative work on the development of Myanmar.

“These workshops and activities add significant value from different aspects to my current studies and my long-term career goal of becoming a global public health policy analyst and health economist, which also requires soft skills in communication, teamwork, and collaboration with people from different backgrounds. Such experiences are also crucial for future adoption of good practices for working in Myanmar.”

Hein Htet Zaw attended the Professional Linkages Workshop held in Melbourne.

“My master’s degree has taught me technical skills such as data analysis and research. Conversely, these workshops focused mainly on building soft skills, such as emotional management, cultural understanding, and networking. I have learned about cultural differences, perceptions and value sets of different scholars, as well as reflected on my own leadership and communication styles. I believe the applied skills and methods introduced in the workshops are extremely useful for me to create healthier and more productive workplaces in the future.”

“I encourage Australia Awards Myanmar scholars to make the most of the opportunity, including joining such workshops, to co-create a learning environment and develop together as future leaders of Myanmar. I also believe every participant in these workshops has developed multidisciplinary action plans for Myanmar, through discussions and building strong networks and friendship.”

Having proactively taken on placements and volunteering in public health, Hein has shared about his activities on LinkedIn and created long term connections. “I spent some of my leisure time volunteering for social causes at the university and several student-led organisations. From these experiences, I have also strengthened networks with international students and scholars, which I believe can impact future collaborative work in the development of my home country. I also learned about different health system challenges faced by diverse communities in Australia as well as innovative project ideas that I can adopt in Myanmar’s context.”

Hein Htet Zaw engaged in the Indigenous Storytelling activity as part of the Professional Linkages Workshop in Melbourne.

Alongside his academic achievements, Hein has maximised the opportunity to stay in such a vibrant city where they have explored beautiful beaches, coastal regions, mountain ranges, and iconic heritage buildings while learning how advanced and accessible public transport and services are for the community. Hein has also been coordinating numerous group gatherings and coordinated an itinerary of social activities following their recent participation in the Emotional Intelligence at Work workshop.

Hein’s favourite activities during their time in Australia, especially in the cultural hub of Melbourne, has been “to explore cultures and foods from different countries, and artworks of the First Nations communities.” Living in Melbourne has required some adjustments, with Melbourne’s weather being the biggest challenge for adaptation!

So, what is Hein up to now? “Currently, I am undertaking an internship placement at a local think tank focussing on Australian health policies. From this, I also hope I can link my previous work experiences and current learning, and hone my skillsets in public health— both crucial for my future career aspirations.”