Australia Awards South and West Asia

In the lead-up to International Women’s Day, Australia Awards – South Asia & Mongolia has launched a podcast series called ‘Spotlight on Gender Equality and Social Inclusion’. The series aims to inspire ideas about how every individual can apply a gender equality and social inclusion lens to their work. In each episode, Australia Awards alumni will be sharing the innovative ways they are building gender equality and social inclusion into their projects. The entire series will be available to listen to for free on the Australia Awards – South Asia & Mongolia website and Spotify.

The first episode featured a conversation with Jhuma Dewan, an Australia Awards alumna from Bangladesh.

In the second episode, we hear from alumna Nurjan Khavdsyelyem, who, until recently, worked as a Program Officer with Australia Awards – Mongolia. The episode was recorded when she was still in this role. You can listen to it here:

Alternatively, you may be able to access it on Spotify:

Nurjan’s journey in promoting gender equality and social inclusion began when she undertook a Master of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) at La Trobe University, which she completed in 2015. Studying in Australia was her first international experience. Engaging with students from diverse backgrounds and cultures not only advanced her teaching approach but also fostered meaningful cross-cultural exchanges, emphasising the importance of cultural awareness.

In her role at Australia Awards – Mongolia, Nurjan was responsible for alumni engagement activities. She planned and implemented innovative initiatives to build a supportive community of alumni, empowering them to leverage their skills and experiences.

Nurjan (far left) participating in a speech with fellow alumna Ariunaa Lkhagvasuren during an event to mark the 2023 Regional Alumni Workshop and celebrate the 30th anniversary of Australian Government Scholarships for Mongolia.

Nurjan believed that bringing a gender equality and social inclusion lens to her work at Australia Awards was crucial. She recognises the systematic marginalisation and exclusion faced by certain groups, and highlights the complexity of power structures.

Listen to the episode in full to learn how Nurjan integrated gender equality and social inclusion into her work, and to hear about what she considers the key lessons she has picked up from her Australian master’s degree and her work with Australia Awards. She draws on these, and her teaching experience, to offer valuable tips for others.

Nurjan’s work exemplifies the impact of thoughtful and inclusive practices in creating equitable opportunities for all.

Listen to the full series via–