LAA mobilise through events, professional development, business and research opportunities.
Women in Leadership Program
The Australian government is committed to supporting Australian alumni to contribute to development in Laos and aims to ensure women and girls benefit across the broad range of its development cooperation with Laos.
In July 2019, the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade launched the Women in Leadership for Gender Equitable Human Resource Development in Laos program involving the second cohort of 20 emerging LAA women leaders (including five based in the provinces). The program includes LANS students/alumni and men (AAS and LANS) in relevant extracurricular activities. Over 2019 and 2020 these women participated in activities which have helped them build the skills and confidence they need to tackle the challenges for women leaders in Lao PDR.
Watch a video here.
Alumni Innovation Grants
Launched in May 2020, the Alumni Innovation Grants were a mechanism to support Laos Australia Alumni implement projects which responded to the COVID-19 crisis. Implemented over a three-month period, the four successful grantees delivered a diverse range of projects. Whether renovating handwashing stations in schools, providing people living with a disability an alternative income stream, or engaging teenagers to support COVID-19 awareness campaigns, each of these innovative projects has been designed with the Lao community in mind.
Alumni Innovation Grants are open now! For more information, visit
Read more about these Laos Australia Alumni Innovators and their work below.
AIG Recipients in 2021
AIG Recipients in 2020
Alumni COVID Connect
From May to July 2020, the Laos Australia Institute implemented a series of online workshops, seminars and Q&A sessions to keep connected with the vast alumni network throughout the unfolding COVID crisis. The target audience were Laos Australia alumni, including Laos Australia National and Disability Inclusive Development alumni. The overarching theme for the series was “Building resilience in the Time of COVID-19”.
The desired outcomes of these workshops included supporting Lao communities through the COVID-19 crisis; supporting the Australian Government’s response to the crisis; supporting alumni to build and maintain resilience; and strengthening and facilitating ongoing alumni networking and professional development.
The final webinar in the series, “Resilient Alumni Stories”, was a panel event featuring two exceptional alumni – Manoly Sisavanh and Souksan Thavikham, and one on-Award student – Thathsphone Lerththavone. Through talking about challenges and opportunities they have experienced during COVID-19, we were able to gain insight into the Lao COVID-19 journey. This panel discussion can be viewed here.
#OzTalks
#MeetThinkShare
OzTalks is a regular panel discussion and Q&A event run by the Australian Embassy through the Laos Australia Institute. These talks provide space for Australian experts, Australian alumni, and the wider Lao community to meet, think and share about issues that matter.
Recent OzTalks
OzTalk: Breaking the Silence – Open Hearts and Minds
Vientiane, 16 July 2020 – In conjunction with Proud to Be Us Laos, Community Health […]
OzTalk: Rainbow Stories
Vientiane, 26 November 2019 – The Australian Embassy and the Laos Australia Institute hosted OzTalk: […]
Children & Youth Mental Well-Being
Vientiane, 12 September 2019 – The Australian Embassy and the Laos Australia Institute hosted a […]
Let’s Talk Disability Inclusion!! #MeetThinkShare
Australia lends support for greater inclusion of people with disabilities Vientiane Times The Laos Australia […]
