Australia Awards scholar Thaw Ni Ni Zaw is currently advancing her academic journey in the field of Environmental Science and Management at the University of New England. Her passion in agricultural science and extensive background in the agricultural sector in Myanmar has propelled her to pursue a Master’s degree in this discipline. To make the most of her time in Australia, Thaw is taking opportunities to participate in extra-curricular activities, including the recent Professional Linkages Workshop delivered by Australia Awards Myanmar over two days in Sydney.

In 2023, Thaw Ni Ni Zaw arrived in Armidale, a small regional city 500kms north of Sydney to study at the University of New England. Initially, she encountered challenges with adapting to new cultural norms and adjusting to a different time zone, whilst navigating an unfamiliar education system. Studying in a regional location meant extra effort was required to establish connections and engage with other international and local scholars who shared her enthusiasm for academic collaboration.

When the opportunity to participate in the Professional Linkages Workshop arose, Thaw immediately seized the opportunity to join other Myanmar scholars for the two-day immersive activity.

First Nations Cultural Immersion Day

Of particular significance for Thaw was the First Nations Cultural Immersion Day, held at Shaw’s Creek, Yarramundi, an hour’s drive out of Sydney. Hosted by the Muru Mittigar Enterprise, this day provided insights into First Nations society and culture in Australia. Thaw appreciated the two-way knowledge sharing as a means to learn about First Nations cultures whilst also sharing some of her own culture and history. The day started with a smoking ceremony, which is the Dharug practice used to welcome people onto their Country. From this ceremony onwards Thaw experienced a feeling of connectedness and reflected that,

“for the first time of my stay in Australia, I felt most welcomed and connected to the Aboriginal community”.

Thaw felt it serendipitous to be invited to this day, as the knowledge gained has helped significantly with her studies which look at ways of working with Aboriginal Peoples. Thaw chose this topic despite her limited knowledge of and interaction with Aboriginal communities in Australia. She is interested to explore whether there are parallels between the experiences and perspectives of Australian First Nations Peoples and Myanmar First Nations peoples. If there are lessons to be learnt, this will support her work when she returns home. Having the experience of implementing the research about ethnic minority groups living in the rural areas in Myanmar allows her to be relatable with the Aboriginal Peoples while learning about their culture and history. She believes this will be helpful not only to her study but also in her career advancement after completing her study. Having this opportunity has enabled her to proceed with her study with greater confidence and cultural awareness, leading to deeper engagement with Aboriginal peoples and organisations.

Scholars Symposium

At the Symposium, Thaw participated in lively discussions, networked with scholars and subject matter experts, undertook workshops and increased professional development skills through a series of panel discussions and interactive activities.

The benefits of this experience extend beyond professional and academic opportunities, with her social networks broadening as she was able to spend time and connect with other Myanmar scholars as well as scholars from across South Asia.Therefore, she highly recommends Myanmar scholars,

“Don’t be shy, be confident and grab any possible opportunities!” to enhance professional and social development skills.