The Australia-Japan Foundation (AJF) is Australia's oldest cultural council supporting people-to-people links underpinning this key bilateral and regional relationship.
Established by the Australian Government in 1976, the AJF aims to:
- increase awareness and understanding in Japan of shared interests with Australia;
- increase awareness and understanding in Australia of the importance of Japan to Australia as an economic and strategic partner; and
- increase recognition in Japan of Australian excellence and expertise.
Eminent Australians, appointed to the AJF board, provide a range of expertise and input to Australia's foreign policy and economic diplomacy priorities through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The AJF provides grants to projects aligned with the Australian Government's priorities with funding from the International Relations Grants Program (IRGP). The AJF expands people-to-people and institutional links through programs and partnerships on contemporary issues including in economic diplomacy, the arts, media, education, business, science, technology and sport.
The AJF has its headquarters in Canberra and is supported by an office at the Australian Embassy in Tokyo.
The Australia-Japan partnership
- is Australia's closest and most mature in Asia
- enjoys a high degree of complementarity and is crucial to each other's strategic and economic interests
- is built on common values and interests including shared commitment to democracy, freedom, the rule of law and human rights
- is a true friendship at the government, business, community, school and individual levels.
Australia-Japan Foundation Grant Program
The application period for the AJF 2024-25 Grant Round is from 11:00 AEST on 17 July 2024 to 14:00 AEST on 21 August 2024.
For more information on the program, see our grants page.
We expect to notify successful and unsuccessful applicants by late October 2024. Please read Section 7.3 of the grant guidelines for the timing of grant processes.