Australia Awards are prestigious international Scholarships and Fellowships funded by the Australian Government. Australia Awards Fellowships aim to build networks of influence and leadership by strengthening partnerships between Australian organisations and partner organisations in the region. Fellowships target senior and mid-career officials and professionals who are in a position to advance development outcomes in priority areas and increase the institutional capacity of partner countries through their leadership.

The first phase of the Fellowship commenced with two activities held in Australia.

The first activity involved the fifteen NRML Fellows attending the 41st NRL Workshop on Infectious Disease Testing held in Gold Coast from 8 – 10 October 2025.  Two Fellows also delivered presentations at the NRL Workshop, while a third Fellow submitted a poster presentation

Dr Vanny You’s presentation described the progress made over the years in their implementation and rollout of the LQMS program at public hospital laboratories across Cambodia. Ms Kimsorn Pa’s presentation discussed the pathway that NRML and two other laboratories, took to successfully achieve accreditation to ISO 15189 in June 2025.  Mrs Somon Ky’s poster presentation assessed the readiness of NRML’s External Quality Assessment Schemes (EQAS) to achieve ISO 17043 accreditation.

Following the NRL Workshop, the Fellows participated in an intensive two-week training program held at NRL in Melbourne which included technical training on LQMS and EQAS based on the respective ISO requirements and laboratory tours.

The next phase of the Fellowship will involve at least 10 mentoring sessions held virtually, and commenced in December 2025.

In the final phase of the Fellowship program, NRL will visit NRML in Phnom Penh in March 2026 to deliver practical EQAS training, as well as hands-on training for LQMS. This will include train-the-trainer training and co-training activities designed to enable the NRML Fellows to mentor other Cambodian laboratories enrolled in their LQMS program.

The opportunity for the Fellows to visit the NRL laboratory and observe systems in practice, allowed them to see how LQMS and safety standards can be applied in practice.

According to Mr Vong Reaksmey Keam, Safety Officer:

“My training at the NRL has been transformative, providing me with the practical skills to implement Quality Management System, utilize EQA data for corrective action analysis, and proactive biosafety culture. Now, I have a clear plan to introduce these approaches back home.”

For the Fellows who presented at the NRL Workshop, not only did the Workshop provide an opportunity to improve their presentation skills, but it also showcased their achievements to the diverse audience.

According to Dr Vanny You, Chief of Internal Quality Assurance Bureau:

 “It was a good opportunity and unbelievable that I could stand there to present my work from Cambodia to the participants.”

Additional technical, professional and leadership skills gained by the Fellows will strengthen NRML’s capacity to drive the expansion of ISO 15189 accreditation across all laboratories in Cambodia as well as strengthen their national EQA programs. The training will also support the quality of rapid diagnostic testing, leading to more accurate and timely test results.

According to Dr Darapheak Chau, Chief of NRML:

“The NRL training offers valuable opportunities to strengthen the technical, quality management, and leadership capacity of NRML and Cambodia’s laboratory network.”

It is expected the Fellows have already started putting what they have learned into practice in their laboratories. NRL will support this process through the virtual mentoring sessions.

According to Mr Channarong Phan, Laboratory Quality Supervisor:

“I learned the full EQA process, from managing the sample repository and preparing and packaging panel to distribution, and reporting. I plan to apply these skills to improve Cambodia’s EQA program, develop structured training for laboratory quality officers, and support national and provincial laboratories in preparing for ISO accreditation.”

Mr Chanthan Am, Head of Immunology Unit:

“The exposure to NRL’s mentorship and quality monitoring systems has inspired me to strengthen similar frameworks in Cambodia by introducing more structured evaluation tools and feedback mechanisms.”

The first phase of the Fellowship has been a resounding success.  NRL staff were extremely impressed by the Fellows’ high levels of motivation and engagement during the training activities in Australia, demonstrated by the questions they asked and the robust discussions that took place. The interactions highlighted that the Fellowship is a two-way exchange and learning experience for all involved.

NRL are looking forward to moving on to the next phase of the Fellowship program and continued collaboration with NRML during the virtual and in-partner country activities.