Fiona has had a long association with Indonesia
Fiona said her love affair with Indonesia began after her first trip fourteen
years ago. She was very interested in Indonesian literature and chose to study
Indonesian at Monash University, Melbourne for three years. Then she took up
the opportunity to study Indonesian literature for three months at the
University of Gajah Mada in Jogjakarta. While she was at university she also
played in a gamelan orchestra at the Indonesian Consulate General in Melbourne.
In 1999 she moved to Canberra to work at the Department of Foreign Affairs and
Trade (DFAT). After working in many different areas she was appointed First
Secretary, Cultural at the Australian Embassy Jakarta. This was an exciting
opportunity for her to get more involved with her great interest in Indonesian
cultural activities.
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In Jakarta she works alongside Wati Syamsu, an Indonesian who began working at
the embassy in 1976. KGRE asked Fiona and Wati to explain the purpose of the
cultural section of an embassy. Fiona says she feels very lucky working in this
department, as she loves meeting many different people as she travels around
Indonesia. She visits schools, universities and community centres talking to
Indonesians about life in Australia. She tells them about the many things
Australia and Indonesia have in common such as family life and schools. In her
12 months in Indonesia she has visited Aceh, Padang, Jambi, Bandung,
Jogjakarta, Malang, Surabaya, Bali and Lombok and is looking forward to
visiting Eastern Indonesia.
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Cultural Programs
Wati explained some of the programs the Australian Embassy facilitates –
the ‘People to People’ links which help build understanding between
the two cultures.
The
Arts Program brings together artists from Australia and Indonesia in both
the performing arts and visual arts. The artists hold workshops and information
exchanges as well as exciting public performances and exhibitions. They also
visit schools, hold meetings, discussions and demonstrations with other artists
sharing their experiences and transferring skills.
The Muslim Exchange Program began
in 2002 and at least 50 young Muslim leaders have visited Australia on six
weeks tours to see how Australians, including Australian Muslims practise
religion. In Australia they visit schools to explain the role of Islam in the
daily life of Indonesian society and they meet Australian religious leaders,
visit churches and synagogues. About 15 Australians have visited Indonesia
under this program visiting Islamic Centres, Pesantren and Islamic
Universities.
The Australian Studies Program
is open to Indonesians in a variety of fields. Its aim is that many people will
learn about the history of Australia, its diversity and about Australia's
relationships with its neighbouring countries.
AIYEP, or the Australian Indonesian Youth Exchange
Program, has been running successfully for 25 years. It provides
opportunities for young people from Indonesia and Australia to appreciate the
culture, development and way of life in each other's country. Each participant
stays with a host family for two months and joins in a work experience program
related to their line of work at home.
You can read more about all of these programs on
www.dfat.gov.au and the KGRE website www.kangguru.org
– go to AusAID archives.
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