In early May, Australia's Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, Bob McMullan visited Australia-Indonesia Partnership activities in Lombok and Bali

Mr McMullan was very busy during his five days in Indonesia. Here are just a few of the Australia-Indonesia Partnership activities he participated in.

He attended the 42nd Asia Development Bank Annual Meeting in Bali and jointly launched a new Investment Case by the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Network for Asia with Asia Development Bank Vice President, Dr Ursula Schaefer-Preuss.

Mr. McMullan traveled to Lombok where he inaugurated a junior secondary school (SMPN 5 Gerung) that was constructed under the Australia Indonesia Basic Education Program (AIBEP).

Mr. McMullan visited a birthing clinic in Lombok, which was built through the Government of Indonesia’s National Program for Community Empowerment (PNPM) and part of the Government of Indonesia’s poverty reduction agenda. PNPM uses a community-based approach to make productive investments in economic and social infrastructure. This program is particularly relevant during times of economic hardship such as the global economic crisis. AusAID currently provides support to PNPM’s central management unit as well as agriculture, livelihoods and renewable energy initiatives. Australia recognizes the important and leading role that communities play in their own development and hopes to continue and strengthen its support to both government and communities through PNPM. The birthing clinic Mr McMullan visited was in Dasan Tapen Village, West Lombok. In 2007 the village received a PNPM block grant to fund the building of a village birthing clinic. Health issues, and in particular maternal and neonatal health, were identified through the PNPM village planning process as a priority area for villagers.

The birthing clinic also houses the village midwife, who prior to this grant was not located in the village. With maternal and neonatal mortality rates very high in this region, the provision of this grant means a midwife is available ‘on call’ to assist women giving birth and detect and refer any early birthing complications. Since the construction of this clinic the midwife has assisted 140 births. With local community funds a local ambulance network has also been set up to support the village birthing clinic. Maternal and child health is a key development priority for both the Australian and Indonesia governments and it is pleasing to see that this is also echoed at the community level. It is very encouraging to see the active role the village and sub district government have played, together with the people of Dasan Tapen village, in the planning and implementation process of this PNPM grant. It is important that communities and local governments work together to ensure a comprehensive integrated and harmonised approach to development implementation and particularly health service delivery.

While in Lombok, together with the Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Mr. Bill Farmer, Mr. McMullan discussed provincial development and impacts of the global financial crisis when he met with the Governors of West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, and vice-Governors of Papua and Papua Barat together with the Secretary General of the Indonesian Ministry of Home Affairs.

He officially opened the NTB office of ANTARA in Mataram. ANTARA is an AusAID development initiative working across eastern Indonesia.

In Bali, Mr. McMullan launched a section road built by the Eastern Indonesia National Roads Improvement Project (EINRIP). The particular section of road launched in Bali was the Tohpati - Kusambah Road. This section of dualized roadway (10.8km) will support economic and social development and reduce road accidents in busy Bali. (dalam Bahasa Indonesia)

Read the Press Release (pdf)

Bahasa Indonesia information from ANTARA NEWS

The future is bright for new schools across Indonesia with AIBEP

On Tuesday, May 5th, Principal Rahmat Pujiono at SMPN 5 Gerung welcomed Australia’s Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, Bob McMullan to his new school. The local school community in Gerung, about 20 km from Mataram, has been involved from the very beginning in the planning and construction of their new school. Local tradesmen even made the furniture for the classrooms - fantastic!

The students, just like their parents, are very proud of their new school, and so are the members of the surrounding community. This high-level of community involvement is a very important part of the work of the Australia Indonesia Basic Education Project (AIBEP). By the end of 2009, AIBEP will have assisted school communities to build 2000 schools across Indonesia since 2006.

Special congratulations to SMPN 5 student Husnan Azhari for his wonderful speech, in English, at the Opening Ceremony. Mr McMullan told KGI that he was very impressed by Husnan’s speech. In his speech, Husnan talked about how the school was now the gateway to a brighter future for all the students there - a window to the world. (dalam Bahasa Indonesia)

Husnan Azhari with his school
Principal, Pak Rahmat

For more information and photographs of the ceremony at SMPN 5 check the KGI website

Inclusive Education for All

While opening SMPN 5 Gerung in Lombok, Australia’s Parliamentary Secretary, Mr Bob McMullan, told the local community that Australia is committed to making basic education accessible to all students, including the disabled. This process has already started. All schools being built through AIBEP will be built in a manner that enables access for people with physical disabilities. This policy is fully supported by the Indonesian government.

At the very same time that Mr McMullan was opening SMPN 5 Gerung, Ibu Mia from HWPCI (Himpunan Wanita Penyandang Cacat Indonesia or the Indonesian Women with Disabilities of South Sulawesi based in Makassar and her team, was presenting a 2 day workshop on Inclusive Education at the Grand Hotel Legi in nearby Mataram. With support from PGMI - Pendidikan Guru Madrasah Ibtidayah/Teacher Education for MI Teachers - a LAPIS sub-activity based at IAIN Sunan Ampel in Surabaya, HWPCI also presented their Inclusive Education Road Show in Malang, Surabaya, Makassar and Ponorogo. These two-day workshops for local education authorities and teachers were conducted to inform participants of the necessity for inclusive education. The physically disabled and those students with HIV AIDS were highlighted for special attention. Workshop participants discussed how to develop ideas on approaches to inclusive education and how to make communities aware that inclusive education is possible, and it is necessary!

With support from the Australia Indonesia Institute (AII), Ibu Mia and Ibu Hetty from HWPCI went to Australia in March 2009 to see how inclusive education works in Queensland. They were accompanied by Dr. Izul Zulaiha who is the National Module Development Specialist at LAPIS and has helped prepare modules covering reproductive health, HIV AIDS, gender and reforestation. LAPIS is very keen to assist schools and teachers in Islamic schools to cater for disabled students in their madrasah classrooms. With support from MAPENDA South Sulawesi, this process has already begun in SulSel. MAPENDA is keen to hear what further recommendations HWPCI has for them. Renovating schools to accept wheelchairs is one of the first things to do. Five madrasah are already working towards the goal of having inclusive education as a part of their institution. (dalam Bahasa Indonesia)

More on this fantastic work soon in the KGI June magazine. Listen to Ibu Mia on KGI in July/August across Indonesia as they talk about Inclusive Education.

You can also hear Mr McMullan talking to KGI on KGI's radio program on 165 radio stations across Indonesia in the middle of June. Hear him talking about inclusive education, AIBEP and other highlights of his trip to Indonesia.

Indonesia dan Australia bekerjasama untuk mendirikan sekolah-sekolah dan jalan-jalan yang lebih baik, dan masih banyak lagi…

Apakah kamu kadang-kadang berpikir kalau kamu sangat sibuk? Staf KGI selalu berpikir demikian karena kami rasanya selalu sibuk, antara lain pergi ke suatu tempat, bertemu murid-murid atau mempersiapkan bahan dan acara radio. Pada awal Mei KGI bertemu dengan seorang pria yang amat sibuk dari Australia. Lihatlah apa yang beliau lakukan di Indonesia dalam waktu hanya lima hari.

Sekretaris Parlemen Australia untuk Bantuan Pengembangan Internasional, Bob McMullan, berkunjung ke Indonesia dari 2 sampai 7 Mei 2009. Indonesia adalah mitra terbesar bantuan pengembangan Australia. “Australia memiliki komitmen untuk bekerjasama sebagai mitra Indonesia untuk memenuhi Sasaran Pengembangan Milenium negeri ini dan menciptakan kehidupan yang lebih baik bagi masyarakat termiskin di Indonesia,” ujar Pak McMullan.

Pak McMullan sibuk sekali selama kunjungan 5 harinya di Indonesia. Di bawah ini hanyalah beberapa dari kegiatan Kemitraan Australia-Indonesia yang beliau ikuti.

Beliau menghadiri Rapat Tahunan Bank Pembangunan Asia (Asian Development Bank) yang ke-42 di Bali dan pada kerangka yang sama meluncurkan Kas Investasi yang baru oleh Jaringan Kesehatan Ibu, Bayi dan Anak untuk Asia dengan Wakil Presiden Bank Pembangunan Asia, Dr. Ursula Schaefer-Preuss.

Pak McMullan berkunjung ke Lombok untuk meresmikan gedung SMPN 5 Gerung yang didirikan di bawah Program Pendidikan Dasar Australia Indonesia (Australia Indonesia Basic Education Program - AIBEP).

Masa depan yang cerah bagi sekolah-sekolah di seluruh Indonesia dengan AIBEP

Selasa, 5 Mei, Kepala Sekolah Rahmat Pujiono di SMPN 5 Gerung (foto di tengah) menyambut kedatangan Sekretaris Parlemen Australia untuk Bantuan Pengembangan Internasional, Bob McMullan di sekolah baru ini. Masyarakat sekolah setempat di Gerung, kira-kira 20 km dari Mataram, telah terlibat sejak awal dalam perencanaan dan pendirian sekolah mereka yang baru ini. Para tukang setempat juga telah membuat mebel untuk ruang-ruang kelas – bagus sekali! Murid-muridnya, sama seperti orangtua mereka, sangat bangga akan sekolah baru mereka. Demikian juga anggota masyarakat sekitarnya. Keterlibatan masyarakat yang amat besar ini merupakan bagian kerja sangat penting dari Australia Indonesia Basic Education Project (AIBEP – Proyek Pendidikan Dasar Australia Indonesia). Menjelang akhir 2009, AIBEP akan membantu masyarakat sekolah membangun 2000 sekolah di seluruh Indonesia sejak 2006.

Ucapan selamat yang istimewa kepada siswa SMPN 5 Husnan Azhari (foto di tengah) atas pidatonya yang hebat, dalam bahasa Inggris, pada upacara pembukaan. Pak McMullan memberitahu KGI bahwa beliau amat terkesan dengan pidato Husnan. Dalam pidatonya, Husnan berbicara bagaimana sekolah itu sekarang merupakan pintu gerbang masa depan yang lebih cerah bagi seluruh siswa di sana, dengan kata lain ‘jendela dunia’.

Inclusive Education for All

Ketika meresmikan SMPN 5 Gerung di Lombok (lihat kanan), Sekretaris Parlemen Australia, Pak Bob McMullan, memberitahu masyarakat setempat bahwa Australia memiliki komitment untuk membuat pendidikan dasar dapat dinikmati oleh semua murid, termasuk penyandang cacat. Proses ini sudah dimulai. Semua sekolah yang dibangun melalui AIBEP akan dibangun dengan fasilitas yang memudahkan akses bagi orang yang memiliki keterbatasan fisik. Kebijakan ini sepenuhnya didukung oleh pemerintah Indonesia.

Pada waktu yang sama ketika Pak McMullan meresmikan SMPN 5 Gerung, Ibu Mia dari HWPCI (Himpunan Wanita Penyandang Cacat Indonesia) dari Makassar dan timnya memberikan lokakarya 2 hari mengenai Pendidikan Inklusif di Grand Hotel Legi di Mataram, tidak jauh dari SMPN 5 Gerung. Dengan dukungan dari PGMI (Pendidikan Guru Madrasah Ibtidayah), subkegiatan LAPIS di IAIN Sunan Ampel di Surabaya, HWPCI juga mengadakan Pertunjukan Jalanan Pendidikan Inklusif di Malang, Surabaya, Makassar dan Ponorogo. Lokakarya-lokakarya dua hari untuk kalangan berwenang dan guru-guru setempat ini diadakan untuk memberitahu para peserta perlunya pendidikan inklusif. Penyandang cacat fisik dan murid-murid dengan HIV AIDS diberi perhatian khusus. Para peserta lokakarya berdiskusi tentang bagaimana mengembangkan gagasan mengenai pendekatan untuk pendidikan inklusif dan bagaimana membuat masyarakat sadar bahwa pendidikan inklusif itu mungkin, dan dibutuhkan!

Dengan dukungan dari Indonesia Australia Institute (AII), Ibu Mia dan Ibu Hetty dari HWPCI berkunjung ke Australia pada Maret 2009 untuk melihat bagaimana pendidikan inklusif berjalan di Queensland. Mereka ditemani oleh Dr. Izul Zulaiha yang merupakan Spesialis Pengembangan Modul Nasional di LAPIS dan telah membantu mempersiapkan modul-modul yang mencakup kesehatan reproduksi, HIV AIDS, jender dan penghijauan. LAPIS sangat berkeinginan untuk membantu sekolah-sekolah dan guru-guru di Madrasah Tsanawiyah melayani kebutuhan murid-murid penyandang cacat di kelas mereka. Dengan dukungan dari MAPENDA Sulawesi Selatan, proses ini sudah dimulai di sana. MAPENDA berkeinginan untuk mendapatkan saran-saran HWPCI lebih lanjut untuk mereka. Merenovasi sekolah sehingga dapat diakses oleh kursi roda adalah hal pertama yang harus dilakukan. Lima madrasah sedang berusaha mencapai sasaran pendidikan inklusif sebagai bagian dari institusi mereka.
Liputan lebih lanjut tentang karya yang luar biasa ini akan terbit di majalah KGI Juni. Dengarkanlah Ibu Mia di KGI pada Juli/Agustus di seluruh Indonesia ketika mereka berbicara tentang Pendidikan Inklusif.