CANBERRA: The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) has announced that Tristan Manwaring, the recipient of the 2023 Hagop Kortian Scholarship, has commenced a three-month internship at the Office of New South Wales Senator Andrew Bragg.
The scholarship, launched in 2018 and named after the late founding force of Hai Tad in Australia Mr. Hagop Kortian, aims to nurture the next generation of leaders within the Armenian-Australian community and deliver the greater a long line of political professionals representing Armenian-Australians.
Earlier this year, the ANC-AU announced the Kortian family agreed to extend their financial commitment to the ANC-AU Internship Program's Hagop Kortian Scholarship for a further five years, providing Manwaring with this unique experience to kickstart his political career.
Manwaring, a University of Wollongong graduate who has been interning at the peak public affairs body of the Armenian-Australian community since June 2023, commenced his placement at the office of Senator Bragg in October 2023 and will serve in both the representative’s electorate and parliament offices.
Manwaring becomes the third successful scholarship recipient placed in the office of a Federal parliamentarian, and will work closely with Senator Andrew Bragg, a close friend of the Armenian-Australian community and distinguished representative of the Australian Parliament, renowned for his commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and community engagement.
Manwaring applied for the Hagop Kortian Scholarship after first engaging with the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) at the 2022 Youth Advocates Program and will now go on to gain valuable insights into the inner workings of Australia's political landscape, participate in policy development discussions, and engage in various projects that align with the senator's vision for the future.
"We are immensely proud of Tristan’s achievements and are thrilled he is embarking on this journey at Senator Andrew Bragg's office. On behalf of the ANC-AU Office and Board, I express our sincere thanks to Senator Bragg and to the Kortian family for their commitment to empowering young leaders in our community and equipping them with the skills and experiences needed to excel in their careers," said Armenian National Committee of Australia Executive Director Michael Kolokossian.
Manwaring said: “It has always been a dream of mine to walk through the hallways of Federal Parliament alongside political staffers, advisors, and chief of staff who are making decisions on Australian policy matters, and I am extremely grateful to the Kortian family and the ANC-AU for providing me with this unique opportunity to turn my dream into a reality.”.
The Kortian family has congratulated Tristan Manwaring and wished him all the best for the remainder of her internship.
“My family is proud to support this unique internship opportunity for politically astute Armenian-Australians such as Tristan, who have demonstrated a passion for politics and a commitment to delivering positive changes through their placement for the Armenian-Australian community. We congratulate Tristan and wish him all the best for the coming months,” said Dr Tro Kortian.
MORE ON THE HAGOP KORTIAN SCHOLARSHIP
Candidates for the ANC-AU Internship Program’s Hagop Kortian Scholarship should email their applications to ed@anc.org.au including:a current Curriculum Vitae (CV) with full contact details.
a personal statement, no longer than 1000 words, that answers the following question: What do you hope to learn during your proposed internship with a Federal politician, and how will you use your acquired skills and ideas to further Hai Tad (the Armenian Cause) in your own community or campus?
at least one letter of recommendation from an individual, not related to you, with knowledge of your abilities and qualifications.
The ANC-AU Internship Program's Hagop Kortian Scholarship was established in 2018 and is a long-term commitment from the family, and in memory, of one of the founding forces of Hai Tad in Australia and founding member of ANC-AU.
The annual Scholarship, which was extended for an additional five years in 2023, totalling $10,000 is funded by the proceeds of the Hagop and Makrouhy Kortian Endowment Fund established in their honour by their sons and their families. Part of the Hagop Kortian Scholarship funded the ANC-AU Youth Advocates Program between 2018 and 2022 in Canberra.
