Started as a plastic conscious movement back in 2012, PlastikDetox Bali (PDB) has helped communities and businesses in “detoxing” Bali from its plastic addictions. The idea translated into its name using two languages widely used in Bali other than Basa Bali; ‘plastik’ from Bahasa Indonesia and ‘detox’ from English. It is an invitation and representation written with no space between the words to symbolize the continuous effort to detox ourselves from our addiction to excessive plastic usage.

Although it was started off with initiatives as simple as inviting people to bring their own bags and businesses to provide reusable bags, there was a heavy resistance and the idea of cutting plastic bags seems impossible for most people. This has created the idea of plastic addiction that requires a detox process. Within its roots, PDB states to be a non-anti-plastic movement but rather a movement to remind us that we don’t always need plastics. PlastikDetox’s vision is to find solutions for the plastic problem caused by excessive use through a combination of business incentives and behaviour change campaign.

“We invite small business for a free membership and support them to prevent plastic waste from single-use plastics. PDB encourages them not to use plastic excessively and discover affordable, locally produced and eco-friendlier alternatives. As incentives, we provide free training for the staff twice a year and opportunities for publication.” Says them in regards to their campaigns.

Read our full interview with PDB below to learn about the issues.

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Hai! Kami Erin dan Sabrina. Kami yang mahasiswa dari Australi mengikuti dalam program pertukaran di Yogyakarta dengan ACICIS Development Studies Immersion Program. Kami mengikuti dalam program magang selama 8 minggu, dan kami di Rifka Annisa, sebuah pusat krisis perempuan.

Terima kasih atas membaca artikel kami. Kami berharap pembaca bisa belajar sedikit tentang kekerasan dalam rumah tangga (KDRT) di Indonesia. Selamat membaca!

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Studying abroad is one of the most exhilarating, fulfilling and life-changing experiences, but in order to make it happen, one needs to be well-prepared and organized. The crucial aspect of studying abroad is finding a way to finance yourself and possibly, get a job while attending the university of your choice.

If you’re a young Indonesian student seeking various educational and job opportunities in Australia, things can get a bit tricky, mainly due to cultural and language differences between the two countries. But, since there are organizations that aim to connect young Indonesians and Australians, this also means that studying and career opportunities have become broader and better, which allows many youngsters to try their luck and study elsewhere.

Now, when it comes to studying, things are pretty much clear: either you get the chance or you don’t, and if you do, the most important things to take care of your visa and means of financial support, so you’ll be able to study without worries. But, when we talk about career opportunities, things can be more challenging, so here are some tips that will help you get some work experiences while studying abroad:

1. Don’t look for work straight away

Even though some students need to work in order to support themselves, it’s important to remember that studying abroad should make you focused on learning, attending lectures, and completing your assignments. If you feel overburdened with financial matters, maybe it’s better to save some money before deciding to study abroad or find an appropriate scholarship that will make you feel comfortable, at least during the first year of your studies. This is important due to the fact that living in another country isn’t that easy: you need to get used to a different mentality, culture, language, food and climate. Therefore, instead of looking for work straight away, it would be much useful to take your time and try to get used to the new environment, which, in return, will make your job search much easier in the future.

2. Invest in your skills

In order to increase your prospects of getting a job, it’s important to invest in your language and business skills. First, if you plan to study in an English-speaking country such as Australia, it would be recommended to start learning English from a very early age, so you’ll become accustomed to the grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. Luckily, there quality early learning programs that provide English lessons appropriate for kids who wish to learn a new language, so that would be a great place to start. Even if you haven’t started learning English, there are many courses that will help you learn enough English to be able to hold conversations with others. Also, if you master some level of English, you could get student-appropriate jobs such as teaching or translating.

3. Say yes to volunteering opportunities

Maybe being an intern or a volunteer somewhere isn’t the best-paid job, if you get paid at all, but it can surely be a great step towards getting more lucrative job opportunities. This can be especially useful if you plan to stay in Australia, as you’ll have a work experience which will be a great help when it comes to obtaining a more permanent form of visa. The easiest way to look for volunteering and internship opportunities is to go to the administration office at your university and ask for help. Aside from that, there are many job fairs aimed at students, so make sure to attend them regularly, so you’ll be able to meet new people and potential employers.

4. Don’t say no to online jobs

If you aren’t in a position to volunteer, there are ways to earn extra income by working online. Whether it’s ESL tutoring, customer support or working as a virtual assistant, it’s important to remember that the Internet offers vast work opportunities, you just need to be persistent and willing to learn. There are many freelance work websites that can help you get online gigs and earn some extra money, and the main upside of this type of work is that you could do it whenever you want, so you won’t have to sacrifice your studies in order to support yourself.

Final thoughts

Travelling overseas to study at a foreign university is a brave step, so you need to make sure that you’re ready for it because if you’re not, you might end up disappointed. Even if you feel like you’re not ready to go during your BA studies, remember that you can always go after you graduate, especially if you want to pursue higher levels of education such as MA degree and PhD studies. The key to being a successful international student, and then preferably getting a job after graduating is to constantly invest in your skills and be ready for the challenges, obstacles and joys that come with living, studying and working abroad. 

Welcome back to Member Spotlight where we introduce you to the personalities behind AIYA. This week, we introduce you to AIYA new Blog Editor, Meylisa Sahan!

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‘We tell ourselves stories in order to live’ wrote Joan Didion. It is also true that we can tell stories in order to live more harmoniously with each other. This is precisely what the ReelOzInd! – hopes to achieve in sharing the stories of two neighbouring countries – Australia and Indonesia – through film.

Organised by the Australia-Indonesia Centre, with premiere nights at both ACMI in Melbourne and the ITB in Bandung, the short-film festival will travel in both Indonesia and Australia until the 31^st of December this year. Given the reputations of both Bandung and Melbourne as creative hubs, and given the recent partnerships created by the Victorian Government and the province of West Java, the selection of locations for the festival was certainly apt.

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