Building cooperation through faith and mental health – Australian Defence Force personnel and members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) explored how faith, culture and emotional resilience shape the way military personnel support each other in difficult environments. (Defence News)

In The News

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 Thursday at Darling Square @6.30pm! Don’t miss the fun and joy with us!!
  • Australian and Indonesian Short Films Festival Screening is back!!! ReelOzInd! invites you to experience a curated selection of short films by Australian and Indonesian filmmakers that reflect everyday lives, social realities, and shared human experiences across borders. Save the date: Wednesday, 11 February 2026 | 6:00 PM @Ashfield Library. It’s a FREE entry, so secure your place here!!
  • Picnic, people, and good vibes!! Join AIYA Victoria’s PICNIC on Sunday 11 January 2026 at Flagstaff Gardens @3PM. This event is open to the public, members and non-members are welcome! Don’t forget to register yourself here!
  • Ready to reconnect, celebrate and shine with fellow Australian alumni in Makassar? Australian alumni, as well as those who will be in Makassar on 24 January, are invited to join the Australian Alumni Gala Dinner Makassar at 17.00 WITA, held to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Australian Consulate-General. Register before 20 January at oz.link/galamakassar

Tune In

  • Talking Indonesia: after the floods – In this week’s episode, Jemma chats with Alfira O’Sullivan and Murtala, directors of Suara Indonesia Dance. Originally from Banda Aceh, Murtala worked as a volunteer assisting in the wake of the 2002 tsunami. Together with friends and colleagues in Aceh, they are coordinating relief efforts in the flood-stricken province. (Indonesia at Melbourne)
  • SBS Audio Program recaps weekly headlines including Jakarta’s urban density challenges and cultural preservation through cinema like Samsara – Tune here to learn more. (SBS Bahasa Indonesia)
  • Kabar Indonesia: Taman Nasional Tesso Nilo menjadi Dilema Konservasi dan Perlawanan Masyarakat Listen here to know more. (SBS Bahasa Indonesia)

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.

  • Applications NOW OPEN! AIYA Victoria is searching for its next committee of engaged and enthusiastic individuals who are ready to share their skills and learn new ones to bring our 2026 calendar of Australia-Indonesia related events to life. We’re recruiting: Vice President, Secretary, Education Officers, Socio-cultural Officers, Professional Programs Officers and Communications Officers. See Position Descriptions for full explanations of the roles and apply here.
  • The Australasian and Southeast Asian Muslim Youth Summit (ASEAMYS 2026) is back! If you’re passionate about leadership, community impact, and shaping the future, this is an opportunity not to miss. Register now to secure your place, and visit the event website for more details. 📅 Friday, 6 February (8:00am) – Saturday, 7 February (5:30pm AEST).📍 BTP Conference & Exhibition Centre, Eight Mile Plains, QLD, Australia
  • The Australian Cultural Diplomacy Grants Program 2025-26 round is now open for application. Deadline 16:00 (AEDT) 6 February 2026. For more information please visit this website.
  • The University of Melbourne is looking for a Communications Coordinator to support communications and engagement, collaborate with diverse stakeholders and drive strategic initiatives. Deadline is January 21, 2026. Visit this link for more information.
  • 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.
  • Several internship opportunities are now available at ACICIS offices in Bandung and Yogyakarta!. Check out the available roles and their deadlines here.
  • Monash University is looking for a Project Manager! If you feel like someone who have climate change policy background, extensive experience in project management and education training, you might the perfect fit for this role! find out more information about this role here!!
  • Are you a staff member at the Ministry of Finance looking to strengthen Indonesia’s economic and environmental policy capacity through postgraduate studies in Indonesia and Australia? This scholarship is designed especially for you. Applications are now open for the Split-Site Masters Program in Economics and Environmental Resource Management!
  • 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.