Indonesia has proposed a lottery-based system for the issuance of Australian Working Holiday Visas (WHVs) to Indonesian citizens, aiming to ensure a fairer and more transparent selection process. Director General of Immigration Hendarsam Marantoko said the proposal was put forward during a meeting with the Australian Department of Home Affairs (DHA) in response to the high interest of Indonesian citizens in the WHV program. [Antara News]

In the News:

  • The House Education Committee in Australia has just tabled the Security and Prosperity in Asia: Building Australia’s Asia Capability report. There are numerous case studies and recommendations in the report relating to the promotion of teaching and adoption of Bahasa Indonesia in Australia. [Parliament of Australia]
  • Indonesia, Australia team up to prevent cross-border fishing violation – The ministry’s Director General of Capture Fisheries, Lotharia Latif, said the Merauke region, which borders Australia, requires special attention to ensure that fishermen understand fishing area boundaries and the legal risks of entering another country’s waters without permission. [Antara News]
  • Warga Indonesia di Australia Tak Menyangka Harga Visa Naik Drastis – Per 1 Juli 2026, Pemerintah Australia memberlakukan biaya baru bagi beragam visa. Salah satunya biaya perpanjangan Resident Return Visa (RRV) subkelas 155, atau perpanjangan PR, yang naik dari AU$490 (Rp6,1 juta) menjadi AU$1.475 (Rp18,3 juta). [Detik.com]
  • Australia has strengthened ties with Indonesia but our Asia capability is in decline – Rod Brazier presented his credentials as Australia’s ambassador to Indonesia to President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta on May 6 last year. In terms of the Australia-Indonesia relationship, the event was sandwiched perfectly between the signing of the Australia Indonesia Defence Cooperation Agreement in August 2024 and the Treaty on Common Security in December last year. [ABC News]
  • Indonesia Pushes for Stronger Food Cooperation with Australia – Indonesia is pushing for a strengthened cooperation with Australia in the food and infrastructure sectors through the Indonesia–Australia Business Summit (IABS) for Indonesia Updates 2026. This meeting was part of the efforts to bolster strategic economic partnerships between both countries while offering investments in priority sectors. [Tempo.co]
  • New South Wales third Australian state to confirm H5N1 bird flu case – Australia last month became the final continent to confirm a mainland case of H5N1, although the ​virus had been detected in late 2025 on the sub-Antarctic territory of ​Heard Island, about 4,100 kilometers from continental Australia. Six infections have now been confirmed across three states, including in a seabird called the giant petrel found near the seaside town of Hawks Nest in New South Wales, Australia’s most populous state, the authorities said late on Saturday. [The Jakarta Post]
  • Asian language education in Australia facing existential crisis, parliamentary report warns – A major parliamentary report handed down this week found there was a looming crisis in Australia’s understanding of Asia, with students not studying Asian languages at year 12 or at university level at high enough rates. The report warns that Indonesian language teaching is set to be “functionally extinct” within the next five years, while only 3.3 per cent of Australian year 12 students studied Chinese, Indonesian or Japanese in 2023, down from 4.7 per cent in 2012. [ABC News]
  • How Australian-inspired design comes to life in Surabaya, Indonesia – Having lived in Australia and met his wife there, the owner of SE House knew he wanted the country’s architectural aesthetic to be the starting point when it came time to build his home. This was, however, easier said than done, as the site is located not Down Under, but in a residential community in western Surabaya, Indonesia. [CNA Luxury]

Events:

  • Join us to celebrate Experiencing Indonesia: 30 years of ACICIS Book Launch! This event will feature Kirrilee Hughes, Kate Naidu, and David Reeve in conversation with Dr Natali Pearson. Save the date: Wednesday 12 August 2026, 5.30-7.30pm at Level 24, 123 Pitt St, Sidney. For more information and registration click here.
  • Bergabunglah bersama kami dalam “Two Nations in Harmony”, sebuah konser kolaborasi Australia–Indonesia yang menampilkan Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (String Quartet), bekerja sama dengan komposer Indonesia Vishnu Satyagraha dan musisi Indonesia lainnya! Catat tanggalnya: 9 Juli 2026, 18.30–20.30 WIB. Lokasi: Soehanna Hall, The Energy Building, SCBD, Jl. Jend. Sudirman.
  • Join AIYA NSW x ASLAN Coffee Roasters for an intimate and interactive coffee education experience on 12 July at Ground Floor/ 201 Miller St, North Sydney, NSW 2060 — perfect for coffee lovers, hospitality professionals, and curious beginners who want to understand coffee beyond the cup. Please register yourself here.
  • AIYA ACT – 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.
  • 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!
    • VIC – every Wednesday at 6-7pm, Kathleen Syme Library–Activity Room 2.
    • NSW – every Thursday at 6.30pm, Darling Square.
  • AIYA FLEX! – our online language exchange is open to anyone with any level of Indonesian and English! It is held monthly on Sunday at 3pm WIB/ 7pm AEDT. Join FLEX here.
  • ANU Indonesia Project – We are delighted to announce that registration is now open for the 43rd Indonesia Update, ‘Islamic diversity in Indonesia’, to be held on 18-19 September 2026 at The Australian National University. More Info here.

Tune In:

  • Tarsius adalah satwa eksotik dari Sulawesi, yang ukurannya sangat kecil dan disebut sebagai primata paling kecil di dunia. Ukurannya kira-kira sebesar mouse atau tetikus yang biasa digunakan di komputer. Satwa ini adalah satwa endemik di Sulawesi. Tarsius memakan serangga dan dianggap penting dalam ekosistem, karena itulah banyak pihak berusaha untuk melestarikannya. Salah satunya adalah Yayasan Tarsius Celebes Indonesia. Dengarkan lebih lanjut terkait peran penting Tarsius dalam ekosistem oleh Taufik Dhani selaku Ketua yayasan Tarsius Celebes Indonesia.
  • Di antara beragam profesi yang ditekuni diaspora Indonesia di Australia, Belinda Hadiwidjaja memilih jalur yang unik: menjadi pelatih dan penghibur sepatu roda profesional. Melalui bisnisnya, Princess on Skates, perempuan asal Jakarta ini menyelenggarakan kelas sepatu roda untuk anak-anak dan orang dewasa, mengisi acara pesta ulang tahun dengan kostum karakter fiksi, dan menggelar roller disco di Melbourne. Dengarkan lebih lanjut kisah Belinda melalui SBS Bahasa Indonesia.

Opportunities:

AIYA is now in 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.

  • NAILA 2026 is now open for submission! Ready to put your Indonesian language skills to the test? Join the competition, showcase your talent, and compete for exciting prizes! Deadline: 30 July 2026. Register yourself here!
  • 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.