Media Release
6 March 2024
Today, during the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne, Australian Foreign Affairs Minister, Penny Wong, and Australian Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, Tim Watts, announced the Australian Government’s support for community and business projects to strengthen collaboration between Australia and Indonesia.
These innovative projects have been awarded funding through the Australia-Indonesia Institute.
The successful Australia-Indonesia Institute grants include:
- workshops and training by the New South Wales Rural Doctors Network in Maluku, to enhance community health capacity in remote areas; and
- programs to empower women entrepreneurs through mentorship, capacity-building, and networking, including the ‘Shehacks’ program to support women-led startups in Indonesia, fostering global connections and knowledge transfer.
Minister Wong and Assistant Minister Watts also announced the appointment of Ms Alfira O’Sullivan to the board of the Australia-Indonesia Institute.
Ms O’Sullivan brings diverse experience to support the objectives of the Institute. An accomplished artist and educator, Ms O’Sullivan has led contemporary dance workshops in Indonesia and across the globe and has long been an advocate for forging cultural connections.
Minister Wong and Assistant Minister Watts also announced the reappointment of Emeritus Professor Greg Fealy as Board Chair, and the reappointment of board member Professor Nicholas Anstey for another term. Outgoing member Ms Noni Purnomo was thanked for her contribution over many years.
Established in 1989, the Australia-Indonesia Institute has a long history of fostering people-to-people links and underpins Australia’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Indonesia.
For more information and a list of the successful grants, visit the Australia-Indonesia Institute website.
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