Four international exchange scholarships are available each year for dependents of employees in Defence.

One scholarship is available for a child from a Navy, Army, Air Force and Defence civilian family.

The scholarships provide opportunities for personal development and study overseas.

The scholarship winners will depart for their overseas destination in 2001.

The exchanges, funded by Defence, will be organised by AFS Intercultural Programs, an organisation with 52 years experience in the field of assisting youth to live in another culture.

The availability of the scholarships embodies the commitment Defence has to promoting educational improvement, international understanding and the importance of its workforce.

Four successful students have been awarded scholarships from this program which was introduced last year.

They depart during 2000 to destinations in Sweden, Brazil, Belgium and Germany.

To be eligible, an applicant must be:
the daughter or son of a Navy, Army, Air Force or Department of Defence employee. Reserve members on full time service are also eligible;
currently attending school in Australia in years 9, 10, 11 or 12;
mature enough to meet the challenges of living in another country;
able to demonstrate through school records a willingness to work consistently and perform to their best ability; and in good health, and have a desire to learn and live in a different culture.

Request for Application forms are available from the education section of the Defence Community Organisation (DCO) web site located at the following: http://www.dco.dod.gov.au or by calling the Family Information Network for Defence (FIND) on 1800 020031.

Requests for applications must be submitted directly to AFS by 30 April 2000.