Links 15 December 2025
Australia and Indonesia held the inaugural Indonesia Australia Maritime Dialogue in Jakarta. The Indonesia Australia Maritime Dialogue was agreed by President Prabowo and Prime Minister Albanese in May 2025 and builds on the recently announced Treaty for Common Security, agreed by the Prime Minister and President in November in Sydney.
In The News
- Australia commits over $14 million to support Indo-Pacific disaster response (Minister for Foreign Affairs Australia)
- Farewell (again) to Neighbours, Australia’s longest running soap opera. It is a classic soap opera plotline (BBC News)
- The Ministry of Trade announced that a Mojokerto-based business in East Java has made its first molasses export to Australia, worth US$10,000 or around Rp166.5 million. (ANTARA News)
- Devastating floods and landslides have killed 1,006 people in Indonesia, rescuers said on Saturday (Dec 13) as the Southeast Asian nation grapples with the huge scale of relief efforts. The deadly torrential rains are one of the worst recent disasters to strike Sumatra, where a tsunami wreaked havoc in 2004 in Aceh province, which lies at the northern tip of the island. (CNA)
- Australia social media ban: Why isn’t gaming included? The ban, which came into force on Wednesday, is supposed to prevent teens from having accounts on 10 social media platforms. (BBC News)
- International Volunteer Day 5 December – This year, under the inspiring theme “Every Contribution Matters,” International Volunteer Day (IVD) 2025 takes on historic significance as it marks the official global launch of the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026). (UN)
On The Blog

- People and Culture team have officially launched AIYA Volunteers of the Month Program! This initiative will allow AIYA volunteers to anonymously nominate a fellow volunteer who truly embodies our mission to Connect, Inform, Inspire. AIYA Volunteers, kindly check your email for the link.
- AIYA Urges UTAS to Reconsider Closure of Indonesian Language Program – The Australia-Indonesia Youth Association (AIYA) has formally urged the University of Tasmania (UTAS) to reconsider its proposal to discontinue the Indonesian Language Program, which has been flagged for closure due to low enrolment and internal restructuring.
- AIYA Annual 2024 is here! Reflecting on 2024, AIYA had a great year of growth in bridging Australian and Indonesian youth. Thank you to all our supporters, making sure AIYA continues to Connect, Inform, Inspire. We hope you enjoy reading our report from 2024!
Events
- JOIN AIYA LANGUAGE EXCHANGE (IN-PERSON or ONLINE!) LX is back in multiple locations across Australia. Connect, chill, and converse with like-minded youth, meet new friends and engage in cross-cultural exchange. Make sure to follow your local chapter on Instagram for updates on the next LX event near you!
- Come and try playing Javanese Gamelan with AIYA ACT and ANUISA every Monday, @5.30pm in Room 630, Level 6 of the Llewellyn Hall at ANU.
- AIYA NSW Language Exchange (LX) is now every Tuesday at Darling Square @6.30pm
Tune In
- Andre Ponniah and Hafidz Alfurqan talk about their experience as former delegates for the Australia Indonesia Youth Exchange Program (AIYEP). Tune here the AIYEP : A Retrospective (AIYA NSW Education)
- Homeland: After flooding, life has not fully recovered in Aceh Tamiang. Two weeks after major floods hit Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra in late November, life in the affected areas has not returned to normal. Aceh Tamiang District in Aceh Province is one of the areas with the most severe conditions. (SBS Indonesian)
- Connecting with Indigenous Australia can be daunting for a newcomer to the country. Catch the interesting insight here from CEO of Healing Foundation, Shannan Dodson, about simple ways to engage with the local community. (Australia Explained)
- The Kangaroos haven’t lost a game since they fell to the Lions in the 2023 grand final, so can Brisbane end that streak in the year’s most important game? Listen here to know more.
Opportunities

We’re so excited to share our newest partnership: AIYA x Cinta Bahasa! 🎉🤝
All AIYA members can now enjoy 15% off Cinta Bahasa’s online or in-person Indonesian language classes! To register, simply log in to your AIYA membership dashboard > Resource Center > Cinta Bahasa.
- Come be apart of AIYA WA for 2026. We are looking for Secretary, Treasurer, and Events Officer positions. Take a look here. Positions close on 1 Feb 2026.
- NAILA is now open for a Director role. Apply here by 9 Jan 2026, more detail take a look here.
- Several internship opportunities are now available at ACICIS offices in Bandung and Yogyakarta!. Check out the available roles and their deadlines here.
- Volunteer positions for WIIS-A (Women in International Security – Australia) are available. Come and check the position of Communication officer and Events officer. Apply ASAP.
- The Global Scholars Club is a new community helping underrepresented young people access international opportunities by sharing real stories, free resources, and practical insights from past scholars. We publish reflections and guides on our Substack – you can check it out here.
The founder, Billy Blackett, is particularly passionate about Indonesia, having participated in the Australian Indonesian Youth Exchange Program. He shares regular updates on opportunities and reflections via LinkedIn, and is always happy to field questions or provide application support as a Rhodes Scholar and alumnus of NCP and AIYEP. Connect with Billy for more insight! - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is looking for several positions to fill with various closing dates. Click here for more information!
- The Australian Volunteers Program matches skilled Australians with partner organisations across the Pacific, Asia, and Africa to support them to achieve their own development goals. If you’re interested in volunteering check-out a range of opportunities here!!
- Indo Beyond Borders (IBB) is an Indonesian tutoring service, where language learning goes beyond the textbook. Join IBB and embark on an immersive learning experience that’s as dynamic and vibrant as Indonesia itself. Here to check more information
- The Jakarta Bintangs is an Australian Football Club with membership open to anyone, beginners are most welcome. The club organizes 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/ 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. For more information click here.
- 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 National University Indonesia Project is offering a number of grants and fellowships. Find out more about the opportunities such as Collaborative Research Grants, and Visiting Fellow Grants.
- 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.
