Applications for 2010 Australia-Indonesia Muslim Exchange Program Close Friday

The Australian Embassy is continuing to call for applications for the 2010 Australia-Indonesia Exchange Program for Young Muslim Leaders with the deadline for applications closing on Friday 4 December.

High-calibre, young Muslim leaders are encouraged to apply for this prestigious bilateral interfaith program and become international ambassadors for Indonesian Islam.

“This is an important opportunity for young Muslims in Indonesia and Australia to promote interfaith understanding, cooperation and mutual respect and celebrate the diversity both countries share,” Australian Ambassador Bill Farmer said.

“This week Australia hosts the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Melbourne which, as a multifaith, multilingual and multicultural city, is an ideal place to hold the world’s largest interfaith gathering,” Ambassador Farmer said.

Now approaching its eighth year and a highly regarded model for fostering inter-faith dialogue, the Australia-Indonesia Muslim Exchange Program aims to build links between Muslim communities in Australia and Indonesia.

As part of the independent and rigorous selection process, candidates are interviewed by a panel consisting of Professor Virginia Hooker (Australian National University), Professor Merle Ricklefs, Mr Phillip Knight (University of Melbourne) and Mr Rowan Gould from the Islamic Council of Victoria.

Paramadina University has acted as a valued partner and Indonesian coordinator of the program since its inception.

The program is funded by the Australian Government through the Australia-Indonesia Institute. Over the past two decades, the Institute has fulfilled a unique and vital role in fostering friendship and understanding between Australia and Indonesia through projects in the arts, music, education, youth, civil society, interfaith, Australian Studies, media and sport.

Information about the program and application process is available at www.indonesia.embassy.gov.au and www.paramadina.ac.id. Applications opened on 13 November 2009.

Media Enquiries:
Sanchi Davis, Cultural Attache tel. (021) 2550 5260 mob. 0811 936 302