SENATOR THE HON PENNY WONG
LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THE SENATE
MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS

THE HON TIM WATTS MP
ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Today, we announce the Australian Government will be supporting 38 community, university and business projects to strengthen collaboration between Australia and ASEAN members.

These innovative projects have been awarded funding through the Australia-ASEAN Council and the Australia-Indonesia Institute.

Australia and the countries of Southeast Asia share a region and we share a future.

This year we celebrate 50 years since Australia became ASEAN’s first formal Dialogue Partner, and welcome ASEAN leaders and delegations to Melbourne for the ASEAN Australia Special Summit.

We are laying the groundwork for the next 50 years of our cooperation, as we develop a partnership for the future, across governments, the private sector and the community, including through Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Strategy to 2040.

The successful Australia-ASEAN Council grants include:

• Australia-ASEAN Youth Summits for high school students from across Australia and Southeast Asia to walk in the shoes of country leaders and have a voice on regional issues;
• support for the University of Sydney to develop workshops and online exhibitions, support museums in ASEAN and Australia to interpret and communicate our shared maritime histories; and
• support for Deakin University to deliver a series of workshops to accelerate the energy transition in Malaysia, Vietnam and Australia.

The successful Australia-Indonesia Institute grants include:

• workshops and training by the New South Wales Rural Doctors Network in Maluku, Indonesia, to enhance community health capacity in remote areas; and
• programs to empower women entrepreneurs through mentorship, capacity-building, and networking, including the ‘Shehacks’ program to support women-led startups in Indonesia, fostering global connections and knowledge transfer.

We are also pleased to announce the appointment of Ms Alfira O’Sullivan to the board of the Australia-Indonesia Institute.

Ms O’Sullivan brings diverse experience to support the objectives of the Institute. An accomplished artist and educator, Ms O’Sullivan has led contemporary dance workshops in Indonesia and across the globe and has long been an advocate for forging cultural connections.

I am also pleased to announce the reappointment of Emeritus Professor Greg Fealy as Board Chair, and the reappointment of board member Professor Nicholas Anstey for another term. I thank outgoing member Ms Noni Purnomo for her contribution over many years.

Established in 1989, the Australia-Indonesia Institute has a long history of fostering people-to-people links and underpins our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Indonesia.

For more information and a list of the successful grants, visit the Australia-Indonesia Institute and Australia-ASEAN Council websites.

Media Contact:
Foreign Minister's Office: +61 2 6277 7500

Authorised by Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australia.