On behalf of AIYA National, I would like to extend a warm thank you to all those who have followed and supported AIYA’s activities throughout 2017.

2017 was the milestone fifth year of operations for AIYA, the peak non-government youth body that aims to connect, inform and inspire young Australians and Indonesians, and to create, facilitate and stimulate opportunities for increased bilateral youth engagement.

We have now grown to a massive team of over 120 volunteers across both countries! It is a privilege to lead this passionate and talented group of young people who are fuelled by semangat. We’re all dedicated to the growth and development of the organisation and we recognise and value the role that AIYA plays in the Australia-Indonesia space.

Our admirable communications team has done a fantastic job of keeping you all up to date via our weekly AIYA Links newsletter and via regular social media updates. #ICYMI here are some of notable highlights from AIYA’s big 2017:

• we ran the third annual National Australia Indonesia Language Awards (NAILA), which received a record amount of entries and introduced new categories, including for teachers of Bahasa Indonesia;
• we contributed to DFAT’s Foreign Policy White Paper with a submission which highlighted the importance of language skills, cross-cultural competency and understanding, and youth initiatives;
• we launched the new chapter of AIYA Eastern Indonesia, with bases in both Makassar and Kupang;
• we strengthened our chapters in Jakarta and Yogyakarta in particular, offering regular events catering to both students and the young professionals community;
• we hosted an Australia-wide series of film screenings for the Indonesian biopic, Kartini;
• we continued to build upon our partnerships with the Australia-Indonesia Institute, the Australia Indonesia Centre, the Australia Indonesia Business Council, CAUSINDY, ACICIS and Balai Bahasa, among many other like-minded organisations and universities;
• we assisted AIYEP’s Australian leg with AIYA NSW hosting numerous social and cultural events for the Indonesian delegates and AIYA National hosting an impressive intern to assist our communications team; and (last but not least)
• we welcomed in several new board members at AIYA National and experienced great succession in the chapter level executive committees.

We can’t wait to drop out 2017 AIYA Annual publication in late January to celebrate the breadth of our 2017 activities, so please keep your eye out for that in the new year!

AIYA is extremely grateful for the ongoing support of our partners and our members, without which we would not be able to continue to do what we love. We look forward to continuing to work together in 2018 and to having you involved in our events and initiatives, and we wish you all a wonderful and relaxing festive period over the coming weeks.

Salam semangat,

Nicholas Mark

President, AIYA National

Like what we do? Learn more about what AIYA membership can offer and sign up as a member today! Keen to find out more about how you can partner with AIYA or contribute to our initiatives? Please email [email protected] or [email protected] with any queries.

The winners of the inaugural ReelOzInd! Australia Indonesia Short Film Competition and Festival have been selected. The ReelOzInd! team caught up with director, producer and screenwriter Dery Prananda, winner of Best Fiction and Best Film for Amelis.

Amelis. Photo: ReelOzInd!

What was your inspiration behind this story?

At first, I made this film because of the duty coming from my professor at my university (art institute). While I was finding the ideas for that, it reminded me of a conversation with Aleta Baun, an environmental warrior from Timor Island.  She joked about the journey of a motorcycle taxi driver (ojek) who brought a corpse back to his hometown. Beside the truth behind that story, I think it is an interesting story to tell. So I did some research about that, and the facts show that there are many cases in Indonesia, especially for people living in rural areas, where they don’t have access to good health facilities. That is why they often bring their own corpse from their family with public transportation. So this is actually the basis of the Amelis story.

Where was the film made? How many people made up the cast and crew? How long did it take to shoot and how long was post-production?

This film was created in Yogyakarta with a crew of less than ten and a few extras that we found on location, and of course some of the crew were also extras. The shoot took two days working from morning until the afternoon. Post-production, editing and so on, took less than a month to complete.

The film is both sad and funny. What was the mood like on the set?

We had an enjoyable time on set. Even when there were a few problems, these could be solved easily. The crew included a theatre actor who gave lots of advice to the other actors in this film. I just gave some opinions from my point of view for the pictures. The rest, all the actors and the crew finished by themselves.

How did you cast the film? Was it difficult to find an actor for the part of the father?

While the scenario development was still in process, I immediately thought of my friend Paulo Da Silva, as perfect to play the role as the son. Paulo is a filmmaker and already made some short films, so I thought it wouldn’t be hard for him to act in front of the camera. Meanwhile for the role of the father, he is a neighbour of one of our crew members. When I saw the picture of Mbah Harto (that’s the name we usually call him) I immediately wanted to ask him to play the role of the father. From the beginning process of the film, we did it very simply, and we wanted to maintain that.

Have your films been screened outside of Indonesia before? How do you think Australian audiences will respond to the film?

This film has never been on screen before. Even in our city, Yogyakarta. ReelOzlnd! is our first screening. I did not expect such a good response from the judges and I hope this film can impress audiences in Australia.

The ReelOzInd! Australian premiere festival screening will be hosted by the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) at Federation Square, Melbourne on Sunday 21 August at 6.30pm, including the announcement of the jury selection of award winners. Entry is free, but reserve tickets here. On Monday 22 August, the Indonesian premiere festival screening will be hosted by Petra Little Theatre, Universitas Kristen Petra in Surabaya. After the premieres, ReelOzInd! hits the road. For all the info head here. To read a Q&A we did with the organiser of this groundbreaking initiative, head here.

The winners of the inaugural ReelOzInd! Australia Indonesia Short Film Competition and Festival have been selected. The ReelOzInd! team caught up with Josephine Lie, winner of the Best Collaboration section to hear about her film Miner’s Walk: Supeno.

Miner’s Walk: Supeno. Photo: ReelOzInd!

Tell us a little about the project this documentary is a part of. How did you choose Supeno as a subject for the documentary?

Miner’s Walk is an interactive documentary exploring the stories and livelihoods of the sulphur miners working in the Ijen Crater, East Java, Indonesia. It will be available to experience on www.minerswalk.com in a few weeks. The documentary will allow audiences to literally follow a miner’s journey from the top of the crater’s rim down into the depths of the crater where the sulphur is collected and carried. Along the way, audiences will also be able to view 12 short videos which explore different aspects of the Kawah Ijen story – such as portrait documentaries like Supeno, and themes like the effect of tourism in the region. We are seeking to share the multifaceted and complicated environment that is entailed within the sulphur miner’s story.

Where was the film location? How many people made up the cast and crew? How long did it take to shoot and how long was post-production?

Supeno was filmed in part at the Kawah Ijen location, as well as Plampang village where Supeno lives with his family. It was important to me to speak with the miners away from the crater itself, because it was here where they could relax and be with their family. You see the miners in a completely different light by doing that.

We filmed over six days, and in that time did interviews with miners and others. We also attached GoPros to the backs of some of the miners themselves. Hence why audiences of Miner’s Walk will literally have the opportunity to follow the miner’s journey down into the crater.

The people involved in Miner’s Walk were basically any people who were willing to share their stories in the short six we were filming. So that ended up being five miners, and a mixture of people involved with the Kawah Ijen site, or connected sulphur factory.  Collectively about eight people were interviewed.

The crew was minimal, about two people. It was me shooting, with Niken helping with the video shooting and scouting for interview opportunities. We also had tremendous help from a local ranger and environmentalist Mas Kisma, who helped connect us with some of the miners. Day to day the crew expanded and shrunk to one to three people. Niken was the main other crew member. I am still in production for the ‘interactive’ side of Miner’s Walk, with my developer Martyn, here in London, building the website, as I design it. (I’m a User Experience Designer by trade.) The whole project has been in production for about nine months now, and hopefully it will be done soon.

What took you to Indonesia? Was this your first experience making films in Indonesia/with Indonesians?

I’ve been so fascinated by Indonesia since spending a year living there as a student. My family background is also Indonesian, and that’s always been a part of me. But what I love about the place is that it is so vibrant and unique culturally and geographically. Capturing its surreal beauty and human stories is a pleasure. This was not my first experience filming in Indonesia. In 2011 I filmed and designed a different interactive documentary Merapi: Stories from the Volcano, a piece that explores the 2010 eruption of Mount Merapi, and its impact on 21 different individuals.

What is your impression of the film/creative industry in Indonesia at the moment? Can you see yourself taking further opportunities for collaborations in Indonesia and with Indonesians?

My impression is that Indonesia has an incredibly rich tradition with the creative arts which permeates through the country. How that translates exactly to a commercial film/creative industry, I can’t really speak to. What I can say, is that the DIY spirit and genuine enthusiasm to create everything from exhibitions, arts, film and music is something Indonesians seem to have in bucket loads. That’s why I’m always so excited to see content made by Indonesians no matter what medium. Yes, I would definitely be interested in further opportunities to collaborate with Indonesians again.

How would you describe the collaborative process overall?  Would you encourage other Australians to do the same?

Suffice to say, if Niken, and the other local Indonesian people were not there, this project couldn’t have been made. There was too much cultural nuance, too much possibility to offend, to possibly attempt on my own. Niken had never filmed before (her background is fashion photography), but I was more than confident that she would be able to pick it up quickly. And in exchange I saw how effortlessly Niken smoothed over situations, ensured interviews were well executed, and in general made the whole filming process a team effort. She was an absolute sport, because some of the shooting environments were really challenging amongst the sulphur gas, and the trek there etc. Absolutely I would encourage other Australians to collaborate with Indonesians.

The ReelOzInd! Australian premiere festival screening will be hosted by the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) at Federation Square, Melbourne on Sunday 21 August at 6.30pm, including the announcement of the jury selection of award winners. Entry is free, but reserve tickets here. On Monday 22 August, the Indonesian premiere festival screening will be hosted by Petra Little Theatre, Universitas Kristen Petra in Surabaya. After the premieres, ReelOzInd! hits the road. For all the info head here. To read a Q&A we did with the organiser of this groundbreaking initiative, head here.

AIYA is very proud and excited to launch a membership system across Indonesia and Australia. This includes the ability to join AIYA online and streamline memberships across Chapters in Australia and Indonesia.

Sign up to be a member of AIYA now. 

Since AIYA’s inception, various AIYA Chapters have offered membership at the Chapter level and it is wonderful that this process has been extended across the AIYA network.

Who is eligible to become a member?

AIYA membership is open to anyone interested in our aims and activities of connecting, informing and inspiring young Australians and Indonesians. Membership categories are as follows:

Full Member – Anyone between the ages of 16 and 35. These members have voting rights at Chapter AGMs and can hold executive positions in AIYA Chapters.

Support Member – Anyone outside the age bracket of 16 and 35. These members cannot vote at Chapter AGMs

How much does AIYA membership cost?

AIYA memberships are divided into two categories.

For membership of an Australian AIYA Chapter for a one year period, membership prices are:

• $10: Students (undergraduate, postgraduate) or currently seeking employment
• $20: Employed

For memberships of an Indonesian AIYA Chapter for a one year period, membership prices are:

• Rp. 50.000: Students (undergraduate, postgraduate) or currently seeking employment
• Rp. 100.000 : Employed

Member benefits:

• A friendly environment for young Australians and Indonesians. AIYA membership allows you to connect with young Australians and Indonesians in your location who want to share their languages and cultures through programs such as regular language exchanges and other social gatherings, such as sporting events, trivia nights and karaoke.
•  A stepping stone to your role in the Australia-Indonesia bilateral relationship. AIYA membership provides you with access to information on professional opportunities in government, academia and the private sector, as well as the opportunity to participate in networking and other Australia-Indonesia events and to meet career champions in the young professionals bilateral relationship.
• Your involvement, from the ground up. AIYA membership allows you to get involved in the bilateral relationship by voting on and joining your local Chapter.
•  Get involved in running your local Chapter. Being a member of a Chapter committee involves organising and planning major events, participating in policy development and advocacy and liaising with other like-minded partner organisations. This is all supported by AIYA’s networks, infrastructure and funding support.
•  Access to UniBRIDGE. As of 2014, AIYA members have free access to UniBRIDGE’s online platform that connects Australians and Indonesians for the purposes of language exchange.
•  Access to AIYA Chapters across Australia and Indonesia. Selecting a particular Chapter when you sign up does not mean that you are only entitled to the benefits of that Chapter alone. AIYA membership operates for the whole organisation. If you are travelling to another Chapter and attend an event, your AIYA membership will still be valid. Likewise, if you make a permanent move to another location where there is an AIYA Chapter, your membership also remains valid for the activities run by the Chapter in that new location.
• Exclusive discounts, AIYA membership provides you with a suite of great discounts. These include discounts to any AIYA Chapter event where an entry or registration fee is charged. Please see your local AIYA Chapter page or contact the relevant Chapter President for member discounts in your area.
• Exclusive member-only opportunities. Be the first to hear about any exclusive member-only internship or job opportunities offered via our partnerships network.

AIYA is continually working to develop more member benefits, and we will keep you informed with regular member-only newsletters.

What if I am already a member of an AIYA Chapter?

If you are already a member of an AIYA Chapter, your membership and associated details will automatically be transferred to the National memberships database. When you receive notification that your memberships are due for renewal, simply follow the link, and rejoin AIYA online, or pay again in cash at your next AIYA Chapter event.  

How do I join?

Please follow this link to become an AIYA member using our online portal: http://aiya.org.au/membership/.

If you are in Indonesia and unable to pay online you can also join AIYA by paying in cash at your next Chapter event. Please talk to your local Chapter representatives for more information.

When you join AIYA, your details will be inputted into your local Chapter member list, which will grant you the above member benefits.

How are memberships renewed?

Memberships with AIYA are valid for 356 days from the date of joining. When you join AIYA, you will be sent a welcome email from AIYA. An automatic reminder email will be sent to your email address several days prior to the end of your one year membership period. You are then required to re-join AIYA and pay the membership dues for the next 365 days.

For more information or if you have any questions, please visit your local Chapter page, or email the AIYA National team as follows:

Dan Trevanion

Director, Partnerships and Memberships

[email protected]