Twenty-one Australia Awards scholars from Nepal to depart for Australia
December 2023
On 1 December 2023, Australia’s Ambassador to Nepal, HE Felicity Volk and Chief Secretary of Government of Nepal, Dr Baikuntha Aryal handed over Australia Awards scholarships to 21 Nepali recipients.
The recipients of the Australian Government’s prestigious Australia Awards scholarships include 15 from the public sector. Of the total, 14 are women and one is a person with disability.
Australian Embassy Media Release
Nepal - Australia Joint Advisory Committee on Water Resource Management
December 2023
The first Nepal-Australia Joint Advisory Committee (JAC) under a new Memorandum of Understanding on Water Resource Management took place on 23 November, 2023, in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Water and Energy Commission Secretariat’s Secretary Sushil Chandra Tiwari, together with Australia’s Ambassador to Nepal, HE Felicity Volk co-chaired the meeting.
Australian Embassy Media Release
First visit by an Australian Parliamentary Delegation to Nepal
October 2023
An Australian parliamentary delegation led by the Hon Milton Dick MP, Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives, will visit Nepal from 3-7 October 2023. This is the first ever Australian Parliamentary Delegation visit to Nepal in over six decades of diplomatic ties with Nepal, signalling the flourishing bilateral relationship. Other members of the delegation include Ms Libby Coker MP, Ms Joanne Ryan MP, Senator Dean Smith and Senator Ralph Babet.
Australian Embassy Media Release
अष्ट्रेलियाली संसदीय भ्रमण टोलीको पहिले नेपाल भ्रमण
अष्ट्रेलियाली संघिय संसदको तल्लो सदन प्रतिनीधी सभाका सभामुख मानिनीय श्री डीक मिल्टनको नेतृत्वमा एक संसदीय प्रतिनीधी मण्डलले यही १६ असोज देखि २० असोज सम्म नेपालको भ्रमण गर्दैछ । अष्ट्रेलिया र नेपालबिच रहिआएको दौत्य सम्बन्धको छ दशकमा अष्ट्रेलियाली संसदीय टोलीको यो पहिलो नेपाल भ्रमण हो र यस भ्रमणले हाम्रा दुई देशहरुबिचको सम्बन्ध सुदृढ हुँदै गएको देखाउँछ । यस भ्रमण टोलीमा प्रतिनीधी सभाका सांसदहरु लिब्वी कोकर र जोआन रियान र अष्ट्रेलियाली संसदको माथिल्लो सदन सिनेटका सदस्य सिनेटरहरु डीन स्मिथ र राल्फ वाबेट सहभागी छन् ।
Disability inclusive sports competition
September 2023
On Tuesday, Australia’s Ambassador to Nepal, HE Felicity Volk, awarded medals to people with cerebral palsy who had participated in an Australian Government funded community sports program, Sports for Children and Adults with Cerebral Palsy. The Association of Nepalese Alumni from Australia (ANAA) organised the event in partnership with the Self-Help Group for Cerebral Palsy (SGCP).
Australian Embassy Media Release
Ambassador Volk and MasterChef Shah award certificates
25 July 2023
On Tuesday, Australia’s Ambassador to Nepal, HE Felicity Volk, and winner of BBC MasterChef: The Professionals Rematch 2021, Chef Santosh Shah, awarded graduation certificates to participants of commercial cooking training organised by the Didi Foundation Nepal.
The Australian Embassy supported Didi Foundation to establish its cooking training centre and deliver a 390-hour course in commercial cooking, based on the curriculum of the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT). Fifteen women from disadvantaged communities comprised the first cohort of students.
Australian Embassy Media Release
Australian Minister hands over rescue equipment
17 May 2023
On Wednesday, Australia’s Assistant Foreign Minister, The Honourable Tim Watts, MP, handed over an Australian-made Portable Altitude Chamber (PAC) to the Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) for use at Pheriche Aid Post and the Everest ER Clinic at Everest Base Camp.
Australian Embassy Media Release
Australia returns 13th century Ratneshwar temple strut to the community in Patan
16 May 2023
Australia returned a 13th century tundaal (temple strut) to the head priest of the Ratneshwar temple, Mr Heramba Raj Rajopahdyay. The handover of this important artefact was made by the Director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW), Dr Michael Brand, at a ceremony attended by Australia’s Assistant Foreign Minister, The Hon Tim Watts, MP, Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Mr Suresh Adhikari, and Mayor of Lalitpur Metropolitan City, Mr Chiri Babu Maharjan.
Australian Embassy Media Release
Australian Assistant Foreign Minister Watts in Kathmandu on a two-day visit
16 May 2023
Australia’s Assistant Foreign Minister, The Hon Tim Watts, MP, has arrived Kathmandu on a two-day visit, 16-17 May 2023, to underline Australia’s close and growing relationship with Nepal and explore opportunities for future engagement.
Assistant Minister Watts will pay a courtesy call on The Right Hon Prime Minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal and The Hon Foreign Minister, Mr Narayan Prakash Saud. He will convey Australia’s appreciation of its close cooperation with Nepal over 63 years of diplomatic relations and thriving people-to-people linkages.
Australian Embassy Media Release
Australian government supports concert to #EmbraceAutism
16 March 2023
KATHMANDU: On 18 March 2023, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, AutismCare Nepal Society (ACNS) and the popular Nepali rock band, 1974AD, are partnering to stage a free Concert for Autism, 5pm, Tudikhel. The concert will raise awareness and celebrate people with neuro-developmental differences. The Australian Embassy is proud to be supporting the event.
It is estimated that 300,000 children in Nepal have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Autism affects all ethnic and socioeconomic groups. Early intervention can improve learning, communication and social skills, as well as underlying brain development.
Australian Embassy Media Release
Australian Ambassador launches women entrepreneurship project in Jumla
8 March 2023
JUMLA: Australia’s Ambassador to Nepal, HE Felicity Volk, has visited Jumla to launch a new project to support 380 women-owned agroforestry small businesses in Nepal’s north-west region.
The NGO, Business and Professional Women Nepal, is implementing the project with financial and technical support from its Australian partner, Assisi Aid Projects, and the Australian Government, through its Australian NGO Cooperation Program.