Young WA ambassadors named

13/3/00
Primary Industry Minister Monty House has praised the achievements of three Agriculture Western Australia staff for becoming Australian Youth Ambassadors.
They are part of the new Federal Government program Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development (AYA), designed to place 500 young people in development assignments around the Pacific Rim during the next two years.
WA participants include land conservation officer Brendan Moore, from Esperance, who has been selected for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) eastern steppes biodiversity project in Mongolia.
Agriculture Western Australia Woolpro officer Kate Brown, from Albany, has been accepted for a communication project in Fiji and extension officer Andrea Hills, from Esperance, has been chosen for a farmer education project in the Maldives.
The host countries participating in the AYA program include those countries in South, North and South East Asia and the Pacific which are eligible for official Australian aid.
Mr House said the AYA program provided an excellent opportunity for both personal and professional development of young staff and was conducive for meeting objectives of both the individual and the agency.
"Through AYA there is potential for younger staff to gain valuable developing country experience," he said.
"This in turn will be of future value in AGWEST International (a division of Agriculture WA) consulting projects."
Mr House said it was important to note that youth ambassadors carried out assignments in an essentially volunteer capacity.
"It is most pleasing that our young staff are keen and willing to use their experience and knowledge voluntarily to help agriculture and economic and social development in less developed countries," he said.

Mr House said the AYA program was beneficial to WA because it allowed possible identification of opportunities for improved trade, investment and scientific collaboration.
"It also promotes new, or expanded, relationships with host organisations in recipient countries, establishes networks with other partner organisations in Australia and enables international promotion of the State's products and the capabilities of Agriculture Western Australia," he added.
Media contacts:
Peter Jackson (Minister's office) 9481-2044
Kate Brown, Albany 9892 8490
Brendan Moore, Esperance 9083 1111
Andrea Hills, Esperance 9083 1111