Improving Access to Services in Regional and Remote Areas

The Australian Embassy in Jakarta today hosted more than 150 academics, educational experts and professionals at a seminar focused on improving access to services in regional and remote areas.

Dr Maria Retnanestri, Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of New South Wales delivered a seminar on “Overcoming Barriers to Renewable Energy in Rural Indonesia by Community Capacity Building” which is intended to identify ways to overcome barriers to the use of renewable energy resources to facilitate sustainable rural development.

The three year research project is an Australian-Indonesian collaborative initiative funded by AusAID through its Australian Development Research Award (ADRA).

Hanny H. Tumbelaka PhD, from Petra Christian University presented on his research into the application of power electronics to improve the power quality of renewable energy systems and its advantage for remote areas. Yunita T. Winarto PhD from the University of Indonesia shared her findings on approaches to improve farmers’ access to timely and relevant agrometeorological information to apply a more “responsive farming” approach to climate change.

All of the presenters are alumni of Australian education institutions and recipients of Australian government scholarships under the Australia Awards program.

This seminar is part of an annual series aimed at fostering increased Australian and Indonesian cooperation in research and education.

Media Enquiries:
Jenny Dee, Counsellor (Public Affairs) tel. (021) 2550 5290 mob. 0811 187 3175