The ASEAN-Australia Centre was announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in March 2024, and has been operational since 1 July 2024.

Based in Canberra, the Centre will build on the Australian Government’s commitment to deepen engagement with Southeast Asia by connecting Australia and Southeast Asia for a peaceful, prosperous and inclusive region. The Centre will support the ASEAN-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and implement recommendations from Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040. It will deliver programs across four strategic pillars – Southeast Asia literacy, economic linkages, education and cultural connections.

Current opportunities

• The Centre’s inaugural grant program aimed at strengthening business, cultural and community connections between Australia and Southeast Asia, is now open. Applications are welcome in creative industry exchanges, cultural initiatives, and research on Southeast Asia literacy. For more information on the opportunity, including the grant guidelines, eligibility criteria and frequently asked questions, visit GrantConnect.
• Applications will soon open for organisations that are majority owned and led by women to apply for funding to deliver the ASEAN-Australia Centre’s Young Women Entrepreneurs Exchange Program. For more information on the opportunity, including the grant guidelines, eligibility criteria and frequently asked questions, you can register for alerts via GrantConnect. 

For more information about the Centre, please contact aseanaustraliacentre@dfat.gov.au.