Update on the 2009 Travel prize

In 2009 The Australia West Papua Association offered a travel prize of $2000 for travel to West Papua. There was much interest in the prize and the winner who was announced in November 2009 plans to travel there in the middle of 2010.

On their return we expect to invite people to hear all about the trip.

At that stage we will be able to evaluate the project and decide if we will be running another Travel prize in 2010 or 2011.

If you would like to be kept up to date about this project please email info@awpa-sa.org.au

The information below is for information only. Entry has closed and the prize has been awarded.

Cultural Tour to West Papua

In 2009 The Australia West Papua Association SA (Inc) is offering a prize to a young person to travel to West Papua.

The Prize

The value of the prize is $2000 to be used for travel to West Papua.

The prize is restricted to people aged 18-30 years, who are Permanent Australian Residents who have predominantly lived in South Australia for the last 2 years.

The application period commences 15/07/2009 and entries will close 30/09/2009

Judging will take place between 1/10/2009 and 1/11/2009

The successful applicant will be required to travel to West Papua between 1/11/2009 and 31/08/2010.

If the winner is not able to travel within that timeframe, the prize will be reallocated to the next on the selection list.top

Panel of Judges

The panel of judges is

  1. Vicki Jacobs
    Member of Amnesty International SA/NT Branch Committee
  2. Assoc. Professor Felix Patrikeeff
    School of History and Politics, University of SA
  3. Vera Green
    Member of Australia West Papua Association SA Branch Committee
  4. Alison Dunn
    CEO, Helpmann Academy for Visual and Performing Arts
  5. Dr Michael Sullivan
    School of Politics and International Studies, Asian Studies Centre, Flinders University
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How To Apply

Applicants will need to:

  • Complete the application form available from AWPA-SA's Website at www.awpa-sa.org.au
  • Complete a General Knowledge (multiple-choice) quiz and achieve a score of 70% or more.
  • Complete an essay of approximately 500 words explaining to the panel "why I would like to travel to West Papua and where in West Papua I would like to visit".

    • And post these together to:
    AWPA SA (Inc)
    PO Box 29
    KILKENNY SA 5009

    Applications will need to be received by close of business 30/09/2009. No late applications will be accepted.top

    Terms and Conditions

    1. Information in the "Application Form" as well as this document, including under "The Prize", "How To Apply" and "Candidate Expectations", form part of the Terms and Conditions and applicants are expected to read and understand the whole of these documents.
    2. Applicants must be aged over 18 years and under 31 years as at 15/07/2009.
    3. Applicants must hold Permanent Australian Residence and have resided in South Australia for the 2 years preceding 15/07/2009; proof will be required.
    4. Relatives of the judging panel and AWPA SA committee of management are not eligible to enter.
    5. Members of Parliament who would otherwise meet the eligibility criteria of age and residence are also deemed not eligible to enter. They already have subsidised travel available.
    6. The winner is responsible for ensuring that they provide for their own travel and health insurance, passport and visa fees for the trip to West Papua.
    7. AWPA-SA accepts no liability for costs of health, injury, loss of income or etc due to the travel undertaken by the winner. The winner will need to sign a legal waiver of liability to this effect.
    8. The successful winner will be expected to travel to West Papua between 1/11/2009 and 31/8/2010.
    9. In the event that the first winner is unable to meet the travel requirements, then the next person selected by the panel of judges will be offered the prize.
    10. The decision of the judges will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.top

    Candidate Expectations

    The Australian West Papuan Association of South Australia is offering the prize as a way of encouraging young people to find about more about Social Justice and Human rights in West Papua by visiting and observing the country as a tourist.

    We are not asking you to travel to known dangerous parts of West Papua where there are higher risks than others. You might be aware that an Australian worker was recently killed near the Freeport mine, the first death of a foreign visitor since 2002. The mining area is one of the No Go Zones in West Papua, access is only allowed by being granted special permission from Freeport McMoran mining company. Travel is also not allowed in some areas in the highlands.

    In the last 10 years since the fall of Soeharto, greater democracy has come to Indonesia and West Papua and there has been encouragement to open tourism in the country. Many Australians travel there every year and visit the Lake Sentani Festival where last year an Australian indigenous person was part of the entertainment playing the didgeridoo. This festival and the Lembah Baliem festival are both promoted on travel websites. West Papua has lots to see. From its pristine beaches , its exotic birds of paradise ,diversity of fauna and flora , its cultural diversity with over 250 different tribal groupings , adventure trekking and its glacier on Puncak Jaya.

    Travel to any foreign country can be exciting, enjoyable, fun and interesting but it can also be risky. There are health risks from malaria and tropical diseases. Travel to more remote and less developed parts of the world often carry greater risks. Transport safety and availability of health care are usually less than in first world countries. As with travel to any part of the globe visitors must heed travel warnings and make informed decisions.

    5 Australians, nick named the Merauke 5 were detained in West Papua because they did not have any visa or entry permits to enter the country. They were detained for 9 months. If you state on your passport that you are a journalist, you might be denied access to the country. If you have been very vocal about human rights in West Papua you could be on a banned list of visitors. However if you are just a tourist then you are likely to have an enjoyable time. We can put you in contact with several South Australians who have travelled there and brought back great scenic photos and souvenirs and can give you lots of travel hints.

    In offering the travel prize, AWPA SA wants the winner to learn from and enjoy the vibrant cultural experience awaiting them. We want them to come back and tell other what they saw. Finally, the association hopes that the winner will be prepared to share their experiences at forums organised by AWPA-SA. top