An opportunity to create partnerships and potential tours for Australian commissioned Indonesian works across the Chinese speaking region with a focus on deepening the dialogues and potential long term partnerships and connections.

There is immense interest across the Chinese speaking region in the work and methodologies of Indonesian artists Jala produces for, specifically Eko Supriyanto, Garin Nugroho and Rianto. Each of these artists have major works commissioned by Australian leading venues. Attending the Hong Kong Producers Forum provided an immensely valuable opportunity for these works to create partnerships with venues in the Chinese speaking region and to map potential touring circuits that following on from the premieres in Indonesia and Australia.

Australia Indonesia Association (AIA) has initiated a national program of annual awards to recognise and honour Australians and Indonesians who have made significant contributions to the greater understanding and friendship between Indonesians and Australians.

This project offers the AII an opportunity to recognise and select someone for an award to be presented at the Australia Indonesia Awards Presentation Night in March 2017.

Michael Jakarimilena (also known in Indonesia as Michael Idol) gained public attention across Indonesia as a finalist on 'Indonesian Ido'l. Born in Papua, Michael’s voice very much reflects the vocal talents of this largest and easternmost province of Indonesia. He has a voice that is distinct, with a rich and melodious tone, and the talent to sing a range of musical genre. Michael has appeared in three films since 2006 and is regularly seen on television and in concerts around Indonesia.

In what is likely an Australian first, Michael J will perform a schools-only concert in Western Australia, in which secondary schools with Indonesian language programs will be invited to bring their students along to hear and join in with a range of songs performed on stage by Michael. The experience will be an Indonesian concert immersion for the students, with the majority of songs, including pop, rock, dangdut, reggae and hip-hop styles, sung by Michael in soulful Indonesian.

Students will be encouraged to join in as the lyrics of the Indonesian songs are portrayed on the big screen and a range of images reinforce the meaning of the language in the songs.

Currently, emergency nurses are responsible for providing the majority of prehospital care in Indonesia. However, there is no formal education or course for those emergency nurses who staff an ambulance. The objective of this project is to train the Indonesian teachers and then conduct a pilot ambulance nurse course in the Malang area of Indonesia.

This project is the continuation of a previous project supported by the Australia-Indonesia Institute in 2014-2015. Following the development of the ambulance nurse course curriculum, this project will focus on teaching the Brawijaya University nursing staff and supporting them in running their first course.

This project will have two main activities, the first is Monash University staff training the Brawijaya University nursing staff to deliver the Ambulance Nurse Course in Malang, East Java, Indonesia.  The second activity is the Brawijaya University nursing staff teaching the first course to local nurses with support from Monash University staff.  Following the first course Monash University staff will provide a mentoring role for the Brawijaya University nursing staff during the delivery of subsequent courses and course changes.

Byron Bay Writers Festival (BBWF) introduces Rio Helmi to Australian readers and his peers.

Rio Helmi will lead and participate a number of sessions at the BBWF, including addressing a Secondary Schools Day audience numbering 1,000. In addition his books will be for sale at the on-site Festival Book Shop.

This is a chance to promote greater awareness of Indonesian culture and literature to Australian readers and opens up a forum for the exchange of ideas and professional development.

The Flinders Jembatan Schools Project is an opportunity for South Australian students to learn about modern Indonesia and to experience Indonesia’s cultural diversity through interactive workshops in schools. The project draws on Flinders’ Indonesian language expertise, with workshops taught by a visiting teacher from Indonesia in Term 3 and 4, 2016.

Schools can choose from a range of workshops delivered in small groups with Indonesian university students and designed to stimulate cross-cultural conversations. Workshops include making kites, cooking nasi goreng, playing traditional Indonesian children games and exploring Indonesia online. Workshops can be tailored to suit the individual needs of the school/class: they can provide an introduction to Indonesia’s rich culture, or support cultural and language development for schools teaching Indonesian.

Participating schools will be provided with workshop resource packages and teachers will be invited to attend a professional development workshop in November 2016. For more information, or to register your interest, please contact jembatan.schools@flinders.edu.au.

The Australia-Indonesia Youth Association (AIYA) is a non‐government, youth-led organisation which aims to connect young Australians and Indonesians to one another, as well as to opportunities to work or study on or in both countries. AIYA executes a vast range of events and initiatives annually to fill an important gap in the Australia-Indonesia space.

With a presence in every Australian state and territory and in four Indonesian provinces, AIYA chapter events are the primary platform to bridge the community, education, business and government sectors involved in the bilateral relationship. In 2016, AIYA will continue to advocate for improving education and career-related opportunities to increase public awareness of the importance of the bilateral relationship, whilst executing its flagship initiatives.

Our landmark National Australia Indonesia Language Awards (NAILA) language competition will grow this year, as we aspire to encourage Australians from a wide variety of backgrounds to get involved in the bilateral relationship and showcase their Indonesian language skills.

2016 will also see our 4th annual Conference for Australian and Indonesian Youth (CAUSINDY) bring together thirty of the brightest young leaders from Australia and Indonesia together with leaders from government, academia and business to inspire collaboration in the bilateral relationship.

The University Bridge Project (UniBRIDGE) uses Web 2.0 technologies to bring together Australians and Indonesians for regular online language and cultural exchanges. Video conferencing software is the backbone of UniBRIDGE and it is supported by other online platforms. Participants include university students from Australian and Indonesian universities, as well as alumni and individuals from Australia Indonesia Youth Association (AIYA).

Participants meet language and cultural exchange partners online via web-conferencing software and engage in synchronous conversations. These live interactions are critical tolanguage and cultural understanding, and often missing, or difficult, in Australian andIndonesian language instruction. Pre-departure use of UniBRIDGE enhances in-countrystudy and UniBRIDGE is an effective replacement for people who cannot studyin-country. Also, recorded conversations have been used by lecturers as assessment Project tasks. As the majority of UniBRIDGE is online, it's extremely cost-effective and works to strengthen the bilateral relationship at the grass-roots.

Satan Jawa is a new silent film by Indonesian Film Director Garin Nugroho, with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra live score composed by leading Australian and Indonesian composers for the combined forces of Western orchestra and gamelan. Premiering early 2017 in Melbourne.

Part of Asia TOPA, a joint initiative of the Sidney Myer Fund and Arts Centre Melbourne and is supported by the Victorian Government.

Indonesian Design Emerging is a project that brings together Indonesian and Australian designers, design writers, design teachers and design thinkers to work on sustainable futures.

Building on established collaborations between designers in Indonesia (Sapu Upcycle, Spedagi and Magno) and Australia (Big Fag Press and Frontyard Projects) the project presents an exciting program of events, culminating in an exhibition and publication. The project focuses on the creative industries in resourceful and critical ways and draws on traditional cultural practices and new technologies.

We invite you to get in touch and get involved. There will be workshops, talks, and exhibitions so there are plenty of ways to participate in the dynamic world of Indonesian Design Emerging. Let's design alternative futures together. 

The project will be launched by Sydney and Salatiga designers at Festival Mata Air, Banyubiru on February 20, 2016.