The Prime Minister's Pacific-Australia Awards are part of the Australia Awards - Development Awards, an Australian Government initiative designed to promote knowledge, education links and enduring ties between Australia, our neighbours and the global community.

The PMPA Awards are fully funded by AusAID, the Australian Agency for International Development. The Awards are offered to recipients of long term development awards (Australian Development Scholarships and Australian Leadership Award Scholarships) from the Pacific, who are leaders or potential leaders in their country. The Awards provide a combination of work placements and leadership training to build on awardees' academic experience.