Mission

To advance Australia's engagement with Japan by supporting people-to-people linkages, promoting a contemporary image of Australia in Japan, and facilitating informed discussion on key bilateral foreign and trade policy issues.

Objectives

The objectives of the Australia-Japan Foundation (AJF) are:

1. to increase awareness and understanding in Japan of shared interests with Australia;
2. to increase awareness and understanding in Australia of the importance of Japan to Australia as an economic and strategic partner; and
3. to increase recognition in Japan of Australian excellence and expertise.

(AJF Orders in Council, 30 November 2006)

Strategies

The Board will pursue the following strategies to achieve its goals in 2017-2022:

• Provide seed funding for new programs which aim to become self-sustaining within three years.
• Provide larger and/or multi-year funding for programs evaluated as being significant, sustainable and able to advance the Australia-Japan relationship.
• Encourage partnerships between business and the not-for profit sector by requiring demonstrated collaboration with institutions that provide other sources of funding for projects, including through financial and in-kind contributions.
• Seek balanced sectoral, geographic and gender representation among grant recipients and project participants both in Australia and Japan.
• Leverage off high-profile events in both countries to maximise the impact of AJF support including the Australia now Festival in 2018.
• Create and strengthen networks, contacts, partnerships and/or institutional linkages through public awareness and outreach activities including networking events, alumni engagement and social media.
• Promote complementarities and avoid duplication with other institutions and programs active in Australia-Japan relations (e.g. New Colombo Plan, Global Innovation Linkages Program, Global Connections Fund, Catalyst, Free Trade Agreement Training Provider Grant, Japan Foundation).

Resources

The Board and Secretariat

There are eight part-time Board members (Chair, six members and one ex-officio member). The Secretariat is made up of one full-time manager and a shared Administrative Officer position in Canberra and a part-time AJF Officer at the Australian Embassy in Tokyo.

The Chair, ex officio and AJF board members are responsible to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Chair may be appointed for a five-year term and board members for three-year terms. The Chair and board members may be extended. The Board meets up to three times a year to set the board's strategic direction and to consider grant applications and other funding proposals.

AJF funding sources

The Business Plan for 2017-18 is based on expected funding to be received in July 2017 by the International Relations Grants Program (IRGP) and departmental funds.

Departmental Allocation 270,000

IRGP Allocation 630,000

TOTAL 900,000

FINANCIAL INFORMATION – INCOME HISTORY