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Chinese Government Honours Antoine and ACCVETP

Antoine Barnaart, a former HAI team leader, received the highest official recognition that can be bestowed on a foreign national, for outstanding services to China in September this year. 

The prestigious Chinese National Friendship Award, was awarded to Antoine for his achievement on the. Australia China (Chongqing) Vocational Education Project (ACCVETP); he became the sixth person from HAI to receive the award.

Antoine was absolutely delighted to personally receive the award and equally honoured to receive it on behalf of all the Chinese and Australian team members who supported him and worked hard to make the project a success.

It also marked the achievement of a personal goal set for him when he first arrived at the HAI Beijing office, on a cold day in March 2004. Antoine recalled that it was Kate Bunbury, HAI’s representative in China at the time, who pointed out the pictures of the previous HAI award winners on the office wall and suggested he try to be the next winner for HAI. For this reason, it was extra special to receive the award and to achieve this goal.

Antoine was presented the award by Vice Premier Zeng in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The following day all of the recipients met with Premier Wen Jiabao who made a very sincere and personal speech. Antoine recalled Premier Wen saying: “One day you will grow old. At that time, when you think about the days you spent in China, and the contributions you made for 1.3 billion Chinese people, you will certainly feel gratified. And all our Chinese people will appreciate your contributions from the bottom of our hearts.”

While Antoine agreed he will feel gratified, he will also remember the many good friends, both Chinese and Australian , who shared such amazing experiences on the ACCVETP.  

The ACCVETP was an AusAID funded project based in the Municipality of Chongqing in western China. Chongqing is China’s largest municipality with a population of 32 million people and is the centre of development for the west. The project goal was to help reform both the Municipal and national vocational education systems. To do this, Antoine had to travel frequently to Beijing to work with the national ministry. Like many international development projects, the ACCVETP faced many challenges. Despite some early difficulties, the project concluded with very successful outcomes.

In response to Antoine’s award, Mr John Wurcker, HAI’s Managing Director remarked: "The Australia China Vocational Education Project has been one of the most effective development activities implemented by HAI;. Antoine's commitment and performance has been critical to this achievement". This is high praise considering that HAI have completed over 650 assignments, projects and programs in more than 50 countries, including 145 activities and projects in China.

Antoine will continue his international reform work in the Middle East. Immediately after finishing in China, Antoine relocated to Bahrain for a three year assignment as Program Manager for the Secondary Vocational Education Project. The project  is being implemented by Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain in conjunction with the Victorian Department of Education and Holmesglen Institute of Technical and Further Education..

He sends his regards to everybody in HAI and is enormously grateful for all the support he consistently received from those in both the Canberra and Beijing offices.