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
- 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, education, 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 2025-26 Grant Round is from 11:00 AEDT on 2 April 2025 to 14:00 AEST on 6 May 2025.
Applicants are advised that a Federal Election has been called for 3 May 2025. The Commonwealth Government has therefore entered into a ‘caretaker period’ which places limitations on Commonwealth Agencies entering into major new commitments. The grant selection process will continue, however, DFAT may defer entering into an agreement with a preferred applicant until after the end of the caretaker period. Applicants are further advised that there is also the possibility that, by convention, any incoming Government may decide to terminate a grant if it does not wish to proceed with a particular process. All other information as set out in the Grant Guidelines remains unchanged.