In conversation with Ganga Gurung
Ganga Gurung is a pediatric occupational therapist with seven years of experience serving children with neurodevelopmental conditions here in Nepal. But recently her life has transitioned across the border. With her dedication, she has been selected as an Australia Awards 2026 scholar among many other participants from across the globe.
From Kathmandu to Melbourne, her journey is one of purpose, patience, and a quiet but unwavering conviction.
Over the past few months, she has stepped into a new chapter of life, one shaped by courage, growth, and a long-held dream of advancing her education.
After carefully applying to a select number of programs, she earned the prestigious Australia Awards Scholarship for 2026, opening the door to postgraduate study at Monash University. Today, she is completing a five-week intensive transition program designed to prepare scholars for Australian academic life.
This milestone did not begin in Australia; it began years earlier, with a decision that quietly shaped her path.
In 2019, after completing her undergraduate studies, the plan had been to pursue postgraduate education immediately. Instead, she chose to stay in Nepal and begin working. What seemed like a delay at the time became a defining foundation. Over nearly seven years of practice in pediatric neurodevelopmental care, her work expanded far beyond therapy sessions. It became a deeper engagement with children, families, and systems. Occupational therapy evolved from a profession into a lifelong commitment.
As her work expanded from clinical practice to service development and leadership, her priorities became increasingly clear: improving occupational therapy services and strengthening inclusion for children with developmental differences. These commitments ultimately shaped both her application for the Australia Awards Scholarship and her Development Impact and Linkages Plan (DILP), through which she aims to help develop occupational therapy education in Nepal and promote more inclusive school environments where children of all abilities can participate and thrive.
Her selection places her among a diverse and purpose-driven 2026 cohort, reflecting strong representation of women, public sector professionals, and scholars living with disabilities. These ambitions come with both inspiration and weight. The responsibility is immense, at times overwhelming, but it is precisely this weight that gives her work meaning and urgency.
Her time in Australia has also widened her perspective. Surrounded by fellow scholars from across the world, she has found a shared sense of purpose: each one committed to returning home and contributing to their communities.
Through conversations, collaborations, and shared experiences, she has discovered that meaningful change is a collective effort.
The transition, she reflects, is not just about relocating to a new country or beginning a new degree. It is about embracing responsibility, navigating uncertainty, and finding strength in purpose. “With the support of the Australia Awards Nepal team and Monash’s scholar network, the shift into a new academic and cultural environment has been grounded in reassurance and belonging”, says Ganga.
The road ahead is challenging, but her motivation is clear: to return home with deeper knowledge, stronger networks, and practical strategies that translate global learning into local impact. And as she continues this journey, she carries with her the belief that progress, whether personal or national, is built through dedication, shared vision, and the courage to begin.
Ganga Gurung
“Being part of this group is both humbling and empowering. While representing Nepal is deeply personal, she recognize that her journey is also part of a larger collective movement toward inclusive leadership and global progress”
