The Indonesian language, Bahasa Indonesia, was declared as an official language of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) General Conference on 20 November 2023, at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France. (Tempo.co)

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In the News

  • Singapore’s OCBC,Overseas-Chinese Banking Corp., Southeast Asia’s second-largest lender by assets, has agreed to acquire Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s Indonesian unit PT Bank Commonwealth for approximately A$220 million ($142 million). (Forbes)
  • Undetected boat from Indonesia arrives on Western Australia coast with more than 10 people rescued by Indigenous group. It is yet to be determined if the group who arrived are asylum seekers or fishermen, but four are believed to be missing. (Sky News)
  • Australia and Indonesia have agreed to use their strengths in lithium and nickel to mutual advantage in the race to secure a share of the global electric vehicle supply chain. The signed MOU comes as Indonesia, South-East Asia’s largest economy, tries to reduce its reliance on Chinese investment and resources, and Australia battles to get a toehold in battery production. (AFR)
  • The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $350 million loan to support the Indonesian Ministry of Health (MoH) in implementing a nationwide primary care transformation that will increase access to quality, gender, and climate-responsive primary care services.  (BioSpectrum Asia)
  • Values-based or transactional? Comparing the foreign policies of Indonesia’s presidential candidates. Indonesia has long been known for what it calls its ‘free and active’ (bebas aktif) foreign policy (The University of Melbourne)

Tune In

  • Rising cost of living affects social cohesion in Australia. The Scanlon Foundation Research Institute’s annual “Mapping Social Cohesion Report” reveals that economic pressures and disparities are the most significant issues affecting Australian society today (SBS Indonesian).
  • The Indonesian word ‘pemuda’, or young person, has a complex meaning and history. Like in other languages and cultures, the term conjures up images of change and vitality. But in Indonesia, it also carries militaristic and masculine connotations which are coloured by the way it was used during the New Order era. (Talking Indonesia)

Events

  • NAILA (National Australia Indonesia Language Awards) would love for you to join us for our annual Awards Ceremony on 2 Dec to celebrate all of the fantastic participants in the year’s competition and announce the winners from our 7 categories, as well as the winners of the Indonesian Studies Awards in collaboration with the Australia Indonesia Institute (AII). Come along to celebrate Indonesian language, culture, food and support NAILA’s mission to promote and reward Indonesian language learning in Australia – get your tickets here for free!
  • JOIN AIYA ON DISCORD! AIYA would like to cordially invite you to join our Discord, an online group-chatting platform. We will be using Discord a digital hub for AIYA activities including:
    • Games nights – AIYA will be hosting casual and impromptu gatherings on Discord
    • Ngobrol santai – any AIYA member can join and chat with other members whenever you want.
  • Australia National University (ANU) – Indonesia Project is launching ‘Gender equality equality and diversity in Indonesia: Identifying progress and challenges’, by Angie Bexley, Sarah Dong & Diahhadi Setyonaluri on 5 December at ANU in Canberra. Click here for more info about their Book Launch event.
  • ANU – Indonesia Institute is having Human Rights Day Webinar: The state of environmental rights in contemporary Indonesia Online on 7 December. Click here to register. 
  • AIBC (Australia Indonesia Business Council) QLD is delighted to invite you to a dinner event to round out the year’s activities on 7 December. Your AIBC QLD Chair, Dr Peter Baines, will share some reflections on the year past, and also provide a brief look forward to the coming year. Click here to register.
  • Monash University Indonesia Campus is hosting a 2023 Monash Herb Feith Graduate Research Gala on 12 December at 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. Join them at their gala showcase event to explore how Monash Higher Degree by Research (HDR) contributes to the real-world. Register here!.

Opportunities

  • AIYA Blog accepts open and roll submissions from Indonesians and Australians about anything to do with the bilateral relationship?
    • Share with us your story of any study exchange or working holiday in Australia, fun facts about Bahasa Indonesia or English, review a book, a movie, a TV show or another piece of media related to Indonesian or Australian culture,  policy and law developments between the two countries that you want to explore with an engaged audience of AIYA Blog readers.
    • Maybe you have an idea but you’re not sure how to write it? You can also pitch ideas to our blog editors and they will workshop your article with you! 
    • Please email your submission to [email protected] and one of our amazing editors will work with you to get your work published on the AIYA Blog. 
    • Submissions are open in both English and Bahasa Indonesia.
  • AIYA Queensland & Victoria is offering opportunities for those that want to join the committee in the 2024 period. AGM will be held on Wed 29 Nov 2023. Click here (QLD) and here (VIC) for more information.
  • DFAT is seeking for a Refugee and Humanitarian/Partner/Integrity Program Officer. This position will be required to work across a number of Immigration Program Teams within the Australian Embassy Jakarta. IDR 21,956,226 per month. Apply here before 29 November at 11.30 pm (Jakarta Time).
  • Monash University – ID is seeking a highly skilled Senior Education Governance Officer to join our team. In this role, you will play a vital part in providing administrative support for academic governance functions, overseeing curriculum frameworks, and facilitating internal and external reviews of courses. Apply here by 30 November.
  • Monash University –  AU, The Herb Feith Centre is pleased to announce that the Centre is calling for nominations for the 2023 Herb Feith Academic Boost Awards, a program designed to recognise and boost the passion of master’s level students at Monash Indonesia in writing about issues related to social justice in Indonesia. Apply here by 1 Dec.
  • Share your stories and amplify your voices with KIFF 2023, the Kalimantan International Indigenous Film Festival. KIFF is a platform for showcasing the power and diversity of indigenous cinema, celebrating the strength and resilience of indigenous peoples, and advocating for their rights. Submit your film today and be a part of this transformative cinematic journey! Click here by 3 Dec for more information.
  • Prospera/ DT Global is hiring for a Climate and Energy Lead to champion Prospera’s overall climate and energy strategy and work program. It will be an opportunity to work across a wide array of issues including carbon markets, energy policy and financing. Apply here by 8 Dec.
  • Monash University –  AU is looking for Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Indonesian History. Apply here by 14 Dec.
  • Australia-ASEAN Council 2023-24 grants round is now open for applications. The round will close at 11.30pm (AEDT) on Sunday 17 December 2023. The grants program aims to build people-to-people, institutional and business connections between Australia and Southeast Asia. Click here for more information.
  • ANU is offering a course on introduction to Indonesia’s economy and policy environment. This is a chance to learn from world experts on the Indonesian economy in a two-day intensive course. More info here.
  • Australian Volunteers is temporarily suspending overseas placements but are continuing to support partner organisations through remote volunteering. If you’re interested in volunteering in-country then check-out a range of opportunities here.
  • DFAT has established the Emerging Markets Impact Investment Fund (EMIIF) which seeks to support development ideas across the Indo-Pacific region. If you have a bright development idea consider applying for support here. 
  • Inside Indonesia is looking for a reliable volunteer to help with uploading a few articles to the website every couple of weeks. Please send your interest to [email protected].
  • KIAT (Kemitraan Indonesia Australia untuk Infrastruktur) is opening various employment opportunities and current tenders. Find out here. KIAT works with its government partners across Indonesia to deliver a range of large and small projects to improve access to infrastructure for all Indonesians. 
  • The Australian Government is receiving applications for the Working Holiday Maker program that allows young adults to have a 12 month holiday, during which they can undertake short-term work and study. More info here.
  • The Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) helps grow Australia’s prosperity by delivering quality trade and investment services to businesses, accelerates growth in Australia’s tourism sector and promotes Australia’s education to the world. Find a list of  available vacancies here.
  • The Jakarta Bintangs is an Australian Football Club with membership open to anyone, beginners are most welcome. The club organises games throughout the year, mostly in Jakarta, with occasional games across Indonesia and overseas. Tours are planned to Bali, Batam, Vietnam and Thailand this year. Training is mostly held at Lapangan Bola Aldiron in Jakarta on Saturday or Sunday afternoons. On occasion, training sessions are also held Thursday nights in the GBK complex. To keep up to date with the training schedule follow them on Instagram @jakartabintangs, or contact Han on 081119337855. For more information click here

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