Introducing the new AIYA Board of Directors, ready to connect, inspire, and empower youth across Australia and Indonesia! Check out the AIYA National Instagram to get to know the new directors.

In The News

  • Triple-zero emergency calls outage raises alarm – In New South Wales, an outage affecting the triple-zero (000) emergency system disrupted services for several hours. This is the second such incident in recent weeks, prompting demands for deeper investigations into Australia’s emergency communications infrastructure. (The Guardian)
  • Islamic school building collapse injures many student – An unauthorized expansion of an Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo, East Java, collapsed during afternoon prayers. At least one student died and 83 others were injured, with rescue teams continuing to search for those trapped under rubble.  (AP News)
  • Press freedom concerns after journalist loses palace access – Indonesia restored access for a CNN Indonesia reporter after revoking it, which had sparked widespread criticism. The journalist had asked President Prabowo about the free school meal program after many children fell ill. The incident has drawn renewed focus on press freedoms in the country. (Reuters)
  • Extreme weather swings: heat in north, floods in south – A rare Antarctic warming event has disrupted Australia’s weather patterns. Northern and eastern regions are facing high heat (up to 40 °C), while southern areas (Victoria, Tasmania) are under flood watches with heavy rainfall and wind warnings. (news.com.au)
  • New subsidy scheme for homebuilders and small developer – To boost housing supply, the Indonesian government will subsidize 5% interest on loans for small developers, and 5.5–10% of interest for homeowners borrowing up to 500 million rupiah. The scheme is part of a broader housing stimulus to ease the country’s housing shortage. (Reuters)

On The Blog

  • 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!
  • 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.

Events

  • Join our October Monthly Event! This month we’re hosting a special ReelOzInd screening at Union Cinema from 6pm–8pm. 🍿✨ The venue is just a 2-minute walk from our usual spot — so bring your friends and enjoy an evening of film, culture, and connection!
  • 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.
  • Join AIYA SA on the last Friday of every month for a vibrant and inclusive evening of Indonesian culture, right here in South Australia! FREE for AIYA SA and PPIA UoA members! 🎉Grab your ticket here

Tune In

  • SBS Audio, a podcast in Indonesian from SBS Audio covering recent news in both Australia and Indonesia. Listen here to know more.
  • Why does Trump think paracetamol causes autism? – US President Donald Trump has told women they shouldn’t take paracetamol (also known as Tylenol or acetaminophen) during pregnancy because it has been linked to autism. Listen here to learn 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.

  • Host an Indonesian delegate in Melbourne, connect across cultures. Oct 25 – Nov 19, Australia-Indonesia Youth Exchange Program 2025 — Host Family Expression of Interest. As a host family, you’ll receive a $1,050 stipend to cover hosting costs, and full support from our AIYEP team. More info here.
  • Asialink Education – Are you concerned about the decline in the numbers of Australian students studying the Indonesian language in Australian schools and universities? A Roundtable on Australian Schools’ Engagement with Indonesia is taking place virtually on 20 November 2025 from 13:00 – 17:00 AEDT. More info here.
  • Acicis celebrates its 30th anniversary, we are delighted to relaunch the Bahasa Sesh Challenge (10 September–20 October 2025) – a social media initiative encouraging Australians to reconnect with Indonesia through language. Click here for more info.
  • The House Standing Committee on Education – Inquiry into Building Asia Capability in Australia through the education system and beyond. The Committee is seeking written submissions, providing recommendations in response to the inquiry terms of reference by Friday, 7 November 2025. More info here.
  • AIYEP 2025 Host Organisation Expression of Interest is now open. In this year’s program, AIYEP participants will complete a three week full-time work experience from 27 October to 14 November 2025. Submit your interest here.
  • AIYEP 2025 Host Family Application is now open. In this year’s program, participants will stay in Melbourne with host families for three weeks from 25 October to 16 November 2025. Submit your interest here.
  • Nominations for the DFAT 2025 Australia-Indonesia Institute Indonesian Studies Awards are now open. The Australia-Indonesia Institute’s (AII) Indonesian Studies Awards recognise the achievements and contributions of Indonesian language teachers, researchers, and leaders in Indonesian cultural outreach in Australia. The closing date for receiving nominations is 1 October 2025. Further information can be found 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 Justice and Community Safety, Victoria is currently seeking a Digital Communication Officer to provides timely communication support and advice for the department’s business units, senior executive and ministerial offices. Apply here!
  • 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.