This project will bring together Australian and Indonesian like-minded aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators, to provide the network and resources that can support the commercialisation of their ideas.

The program involves mentoring several Australian entrepreneurs for three months in Australia and sending them to Indonesia for five days on a tour to visit key innovation hubs, universities, start-ups and technology parks. Each participant will be assigned a mentor from the team of grantees who are experts in entrepreneurial internationalisation, international competitiveness and Indonesian culture. The goal of the project is to improve bilateral relations between young Australian entrepreneurs and Indonesian business leaders.

Michael Jakarimilena (also known in Indonesia as Michael Idol) gained public attention across Indonesia as a finalist on 'Indonesian Idol’. Michael has appeared in several films since his ‘Idol’ appearances and regularly performs around Indonesia and on television. He is a humble, but entertaining performer with a strong sense of national identity with Indonesia and is a positive mentor for the younger generation in both Indonesia and Australia.

Year 6-12 students across several Australian States will be immersed in Michael J’s concerts, providing a common experience and learning context in Indonesian language and music, with opportunities to share opinions and feelings in bahasa Indonesia. The experience will showcase the similarities the young people of both countries share, rather than focusing on differences.

Songs have been selected with input from teachers in Australia and have a direct connection to the Australian Curriculum: Languages (Indonesian). Learning programs developed online are available for teachers to make use of, leading up to, and after the concert. A live stream to some partner schools in Indonesia is also being planned for some of the concerts.

CAUSINDY, originally the Conference of Australian and Indonesian Youth, is a bilateral youth organisation which provides a platform for young leaders to create a stronger bilateral relationship. CAUSINDY is led by a volunteer team spread across both Australia and Indonesia.

Its flagship event is the annual Conference of Australian and Indonesian Youth, a four-day program which brings together 30 young leaders from Australia and Indonesia. Past delegates have included emerging leaders from a range of fields, from sitting members of parliament to leaders in business, academia and social enterprise.

CAUSINDY also coordinates an extensive network of alumni, produces a fortnightly bilingual podcast on events in the bilateral relationship, and provides resources for school and university teachers to highlight opportunities in both countries.

CAUSINDY was founded in 2012 by Bede Moore, Karina Akib and Chris Urbanski

The theme of the Australian Marine Sciences Association (AMSA) 2017 conference in Darwin from 2–7 July is ‘Connections through Shallow Seas’. This maxim covers aspects of marine science, but also connections with Traditional Owners and marine scientists of near-neighbour countries within the region—especially Indonesia. The conference will involve at least 350 delegates and is the headline conference nationally for marine science practitioners and users of this research in industry and government.

Given Darwin’s proximity to Southeast Asia, it also represents an excellent opportunity to engage our near neighbours. The main goal is to be able to bring marine scientists (e.g. early-career university researchers and post-graduate students), as well as those involved in marine enterprises from the region, to AMSA 2017. The Northern Territory has the capacity to provide a centre for training in marine science, as well as being partners in sustainable development of the Arafura and Timor Seas. The conference program has sessions directly relevant to this subject, including: 'Arafura and Timor Seas Ecosystems'; 'Ecological diversity and connectivity in the tropical eastern Indian Ocean'; and 'Small-scale commercial marine harvest: challenges and opportunities'.

The Australia–Indonesia BRIDGE School Partnerships Program connects Indonesian and Australian teachers, students and school communities. BRIDGE is a whole school professional learning program that builds teacher and student global capabilities through school partnerships that develop intercultural understanding, improve language abilities, enhance technology skills, and establish a community of learners. To date, the program has grown to include over 600 teachers establishing 148 school partnerships between Indonesia and Australia.

In 2017, as part of this immersive professional learning program, Australian teachers will have the opportunity to apply for one of fifty-five scholarships to travel to Indonesia and consolidate their partnership.

In Indonesia, the Australian teachers will take part in a three-day tailored professional learning program in to strengthen their skills and knowledge in key areas to improve education outcomes. These sessions will address the focus areas of global competencies, digital capability and intercultural understanding.

Australian teachers will participate in a school and homestay visit with their partner schools across Indonesia. Teachers will have the opportunity to be fully immersed in Indonesian culture and observe local education practice first-hand at their partner school. This experience will also support Indonesian teachers to build intercultural understanding and share teaching practice with their counterparts.

The Indonesia Garudas are a team of young Indonesian AFL players from clubs, schools and orphanages across Indonesia. The Garudas have entered the 2017 AFL International Cup, to be played over two weeks in Melbourne, pitting themselves against the best national teams from around the world.

The squad of 28 Indonesian players and coaches will mix with AFL players and officials from Australia and around the world, as well as attending coaching and umpiring training courses during their time in Melbourne.

Some of the players now teach and promote AFL through weekly clinics at over 20 local schools and orphanages throughout Jakarta and Balikpapan, and their participation at the AFL International Cup aims to strengthen their understanding of the game, and further expose them to the culture and benefits of team sports.