Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong has announced sweeping reforms to the New Colombo Plan (NCP), aimed at equipping the next generation of Australians with deeper Asia literacy and stronger Indo-Pacific capability.
Unveiling the next phase of the signature program on Tuesday, Senator Wong said the reforms will prioritise long-term immersive experiences, a significant increase in scholarships, and a renewed focus on Asian language learning.
“I am pleased to announce the next phase of the New Colombo Plan, which will further strengthen Australia’s Indo-Pacific capability and Asia literacy,” she said.
Since its launch in 2014, the NCP has supported more than 55,000 Australian undergraduates to undertake study, internships, and language training in the Indo-Pacific region.
The revamped program will kick off from 2026, aligning with key recommendations from Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040. The reforms aim to build a cohort of Australians better equipped to understand and engage with the region’s economies, cultures and communities
Senator Wong said these changes will help grow a “generation of Australians with the skills and capabilities needed to deepen our national understanding of the region, strengthen ties between our people, and increase engagement with Australian businesses operating in the Indo-Pacific.”
Special Envoy for Indian Ocean Affairs, Tim Watts MP, who chaired the NCP External Advisory Group, also welcomed the announcement.
“These reforms are designed to enable NCP participants to deepen their Asia capability and support Australian universities to empower them to do so.”
Highlighting the key elements of the reforms, Watts thanked the External Advisory Group members for their expertise and insights during last year’s consultation process.
- Increasing NCP scholarships to 500 annually by 2028;
- Introducing a new Semester Program to support longer-term study experiences;
- Establishing a program-wide language learning target focused on priority Asian languages;
- Expanding access to NCP programs through Australian offshore campuses in the region;
- Providing dedicated support funding to universities and consortia to build Indo-Pacific expertise and language offerings.
The next round of grant guidelines for the NCP Scholarship, Semester, and Mobility programs will be released in August 2025. The reforms mark a significant step in preparing Australia’s future leaders, professionals and innovators to thrive in the increasingly interconnected Indo-Pacific region.
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