News and Events

2005 Media Releases

La Trobe University supports students affected by Tsunami disaster

International students seriously affected by the Boxing Day Tsunami disaster are being given a helping hand to continue their study at La Trobe University.

The University has established a $1 million Tsunami Relief Scholarships program to assist existing students with study costs. The University is also providing five new full postgraduate scholarships targeting students from south-east India, eastern Sri Lanka, the Phuket region in Thailand and Aceh Province in Indonesia. The scholarships hope to attract students to study subjects of particular relevance to reconstruction to help re-build these communities.

For Ali Shareef from the Maldives, the support program has made all the difference to his study experience at Bendigo this year.

Mr Shareef, who comes from the city of Male’ said the past few months had been very difficult for himself and his family.

“My wife, son and parents survived the tragedy, but the economic effects on the region are severe. The source of income that was funding part of my study in Bendigo has dried up which has placed pressure on my study here.”

Shareef, who is completing a PhD in Science, was able to access funds through the University support program to help him meet the costs of renewing his VISA, and has also received scholarship assistance to help meet some of the costs of his tuition fees.

Mr Shareef’s PhD focuses on an area of environmental research which is gaining increased interest in Australia. His research examines a group of chemicals known as Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals or EDCs – most commonly found in pesticides, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, detergents and polycarbonate plastics often used in the food and beverage industry. EDC’s have been linked to abnormalities in the sexual development of aquatic animals and wildlife.

Mr Shareef’s research has involved developing methods to analyse EDC‘s in drinking water, rivers, municipal and industrial effluents and is also studying the fate of such chemicals in soils and sediments in order to better understand risk-management strategies.

He has already published some of his research in the Journal of Chromatography and has attended and presented his work at a number of conferences including a recent International Conference on Pharmaceuticals and EDC’S in Water in Minneapolis in the United States.

“I am very grateful for this financial support from the University. These past three years in Bendigo have been a wonderful opportunity for me to further advance my skills and knowledge. I hope to complete my PhD in the next six months and then return home to teach with the view of gaining a research position sometime in the future.”

Pro-Vice-Chancellor Peter Sullivan said Ali Shareef was a truly dedicated student with an outstanding academic record.

The Maldives Government sponsored Mr Shareef through his undergraduate studies at Bendigo where he achieved a Bachelor of Teaching with Distinction and a Bachelor of Education with First Class Honours.

He was then awarded a La Trobe University Postgraduate Research Scholarship and La Trobe University Overseas Postgraduate Research Scholarship to take up PhD study.

“The University is pleased to be assisting students such as Ali Shareef through the Tsunami Relief Scholarships fund which also makes a contribution to the reconstruction of communities devastated by the Tsunami disaster.

“As a PhD and educator, Shareef will return to his home with a high level of skills and expertise that may help to advance education and teaching opportunities in Maldives’ communities.”

For further information:

Please contact Professor Peter Sullivan 03 5444 7460.