Media Release
21 October 2026
The Australia-Indonesia Institute (AII) Board visited Indonesia from 12-16 October to strengthen connections between the two countries.
“The Australia-Indonesia Institute is dedicated to deepening Australia-Indonesia cooperation across a range of sectors including education, business, media, religion, youth and community development,” said Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Rod Brazier.
During visits to Jakarta and North Sulawesi, the Board met with government, business, media, arts and cultural figures. This included a meeting with the Indonesian Minister of Primary and Secondary Education of Indonesia, Abdul Mu’ti, who is also an alumnus of the AII’s flagship Australia-Indonesia Muslim Exchange Program (AIMEP).
In North Sulawesi, the Board visited SMP Lokon St. Nikolaus in Tomohon, a member of the Australia-Indonesia BRIDGE School Partnership program, where members met students and teachers and heard firsthand about the value of their partnership with St Columba College in Adelaide, Australia.
The Board also met the Vice Mayor of Tomohon, Sendy G. A. Rumajar, the Vice Mayor of Manado, Richard Sualang, and researchers contributing to Australia-supported initiatives in North Sulawesi through the Partnership for Australia-Indonesia Research and the Australia-Indonesia Knowledge Partnership Platform KONEKSI.
Members of the Board also had the opportunity to meet with alumni from AII’s exchange programs including AIMEP, the Australia-Indonesia Youth Exchange Program (AIYEP), and the Elizabeth O’Neill Journalism Award Program.
The Australia-Indonesia Institute was established in 1989 by the Australian Government to promote deeper institutional links and foster connections between Indonesian and Australian people. The Australia-Indonesia Institute supports projects in the arts, music, education, youth, civil society, interfaith, media and sports sectors.
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