About Palladium
Palladium is a global development and consulting firm, part of the GISI Consulting Group, working alongside some of the world’s leading project management and engineering organisations. We partner with governments, businesses, investors and communities to design and deliver complex programs that create lasting impact. With a presence across more than 90 countries, Palladium offers the opportunity to work on meaningful challenges, alongside talented colleagues, in environments where your work can truly make a difference.
About the Program
The New Colombo Plan (NCP) is an initiative of the Australian Government that provides opportunities for Australian undergraduate university students to develop their Indo-Pacific capability and Asia literacy through immersive, structured learning and internships in the Indo-Pacific region. The program fosters deeper people-to-people and education relationships and increases Australia's economic engagement with the region by supporting NCP participants to build job-ready skills, and supporting NCP alumni to maintain their ties to the Indo-Pacific. The strategic objective of the NCP is to advance Australia’s interests and bilateral relationships through enduring people-to-people, institutional and business links with the Indo-Pacific region.
The strategic objective of the New Colombo Plan is to advance Australia’s national interests and bilateral relationships through enduring people‑to‑people, institutional and business links across the Indo‑Pacific. In doing so, the program seeks to build long‑term connections between Australia and the region while strengthening cultural understanding and professional capability among future Australian leaders.
The intended outcomes of the NCP are for participants to acquire Indo‑Pacific capability and Asia literacy; to foster deeper people‑to‑people and education relationships between Australia and Indo‑Pacific countries; and to increase Australia’s economic engagement with the region. This is achieved by supporting participants to develop job‑ready skills and by assisting NCP alumni to sustain their professional, educational and cultural connections with the region after completing the program.
The NCP is delivered through three distinct program streams. The NCP Scholarships Program supports Australian undergraduate students to undertake extended study, language training and internships in the Indo‑Pacific through programs of up to 19 months. The NCP Semester Program leverages Australian universities’ partnership arrangements to provide one‑to‑two semester experiences that may include language study and internships, enabling students to further develop their regional capability. The NCP Mobility Program focuses on shorter‑term, credit‑bearing experiences of four to nine weeks, including structured learning, internships, mentorships, practicums and research activities.
Palladium has been appointed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) as the Service Provider for the NCP. In this role, Palladium delivers an integrated suite of services to support the effective delivery of the program and engages individuals and organisations to provide goods and services required to support NCP activities.