Australian and Indonesian Youth to Live and Work in Bangka-Belitung Province

Australian and Indonesian participants in the Australia-Indonesia Youth Exchange Program (AIYEP) will today commence the Indonesian leg of their exchange program which will provide the opportunity to live and work in communities in Bangka-Belitung province.

Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Bill Farmer warmly welcomed the participants to Indonesia and was encouraged by their enthusiasm to embrace the experience and further understand the cultures of one another.

“This exciting and very successful exchange program will help develop longstanding and enduring relationships between our two countries. Over 840 Australian and Indonesian youth have already participated in the program since its launch in 1982. Close cooperation at this level is just one of the practical ways in which Australia and Indonesia are working together, as close neighbours and partners should,” Mr Farmer said.

During their time in Sungailiat, Bangka Island, the participants will be invited to live with host families in two villages, Air Anyir and Matras, where they will also assist with developing a community development project with the local village communities. This project aims to promote the marine tourism potential in Bangka coinciding with the provincial government’s preparations to promote ‘Visit Bangka-Belitung Year 2010’.

Indonesian participants have just concluded the Australian part of the program which involved a two-month home stay and work placement program in Perth and Margaret River, Western Australia.

AIYEP is an annual program promoting people-to-people links between Australians and Indonesians and is managed by the Australia-Indonesia Institute and the Indonesian Ministry of Youth and Sport.

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