Australia Awards Alumni South Asia

Kajal Shrestha is a Master’s graduate in Clinical Pharmacy from the University of Curtin, Perth,Western Australia – she is also an awardee of the AusAID scholarship program. Prior to her departure to Australia, she was working in the industrial pharmacy sector. Now, she is only the second person in Nepal to hold a degree in Clinical Pharmacy.

On her return from Australia, she quickly found a position at CIST College in Kathmandu as a Lecturer and Coordinator of their Bachelor of Pharmacy Program. According to Kajal, the teaching and learning methods in Australia are very different and advanced compared to those in use in Nepal, being more professional and technical knowledge skills. She has adopted similar teaching styles and methods, an approach which has made her immensely popular among her students. She is now involved in designing a Master’s level course in clinical pharmacy.

Australia’s multicultural community, lifestyle, food and beautiful landscapes also enriched Kajal’s experience as a student in Australia, and she believes these memories will forever be a part of her life. She considers herself very privileged to have received the scholarship, and she will always be indebted to the Australian Government for believing in my potential leadership skills. Interacting, living and learning in Australia gave her confidence personally and professionally, allowing her to contribute to the ongoing development of her country. She strongly encourages people looking for higher education to apply for an AusAID Scholarship in order to bring about a wave of change in their lives and to their country.