Kang GURU and the Oz Indo Connection

Australia Helps to Strengthen Detection of Avian Influenza in Indonesia

“Australia is providing a further Rp11 billion to strengthen the capacity of Indonesian Disease Investigation Centres to diagnose the Avian Influenza virus in poultry”, said Australian Ambassador Bill Farmer.

The project is part of a Rp 107 billion package pledged by Australia to combat the virus in Indonesia. “Australia is working with Indonesia's National Committee for Avian Influenza Control and Pandemic Influenza Preparedness to manage the regional threat of Avian Influenza”, said Mr Farmer.

The diagnosis project will be managed by the Australia Animal Health Laboratory. It will strengthen the capacity of national, regional and provincial laboratories in Indonesia to investigate rapidly suspected Avian Influenza cases and outbreaks. “Project activities will include the training of Indonesian laboratory staff and the provision of essential laboratory consumables”, said Mr Farmer.

Of the Rp 107 billion pledged, Australia is already implementing projects worth over Rp 62 billion to address Avian Influenza in Indonesia, including.

• assistance through the World Health Organisation to support rapid response teams
• the purchase 50,000 courses of the antiviral medication Tamiflu
• the development of a national Pandemic Preparedness Plan for Indonesia and
• community based surveillance.

Joint Indonesian-Australian Visit to Jayapura & Merauke to Oppose Illegal Fishing

The Indonesian Department of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (DKP) and the Australian Embassy will conduct a joint visit to Jayapura and Merauke in the Province of Papua from 16 to 19 October. The visit reflects the decision of Australian and Indonesian Ministers to run an awareness-raising campaign in Indonesia on the impacts and consequences of fishing illegally in Australian waters.

The outreach visit will involve an open discussion forum with the local community and discussions with grass-roots community leaders and local government officials.

In relation to the joint visit, Mr Aji Sularso, Head of the Centre for Data, Statistics and Information at the DKP, welcomed the campaign against illegal fishing being carried out by the Indonesian and Australian governments. This campaign helps fishing communities understand how to manage their activities in line with the existing regulations in both countries. The shared objective, looking to the future, is no more illegal fishing and therefore no need for arrests.

Deputy Head of Mission to Indonesia, Ms Louise Hand, said, “The awareness campaign is an important part of our efforts to ensure the sustainability of fisheries resources on both sides of the border. We also want to inform Indonesian fishing communities of the consequences of illegal fishing in Australia's northern waters.” Both Indonesia and Australia suffer from illegal fishing by foreign nationals. “We are determined to work together to stamp out illegal fishing activities that ruin the fish stocks on which we all depend”, said Ms Hand.

During the recent Australia-Indonesia Ministerial Forum in Bali, in June 2006, Ministers agreed that Australia and Indonesia would convene a regional Ministerial Meeting to discuss measures to address the shared problems of illegal fishing. The Ministerial Meeting will be preceded by a senior officials meeting in Jakarta.

In June 2006, Australia's Parliament passed legislation allowing for jail terms of up to three years for illegal fishers caught in Australia's territorial waters, in addition to fines of up to Rp 5.7 billion (AUD$825,000).

Between 1 January and 31 July 2006, Australia caught 234 foreign boats fishing illegally in its waters - more than double the number of boats caught during the same period in 2005. Forty were caught in July 2006 alone. Australian maritime law enforcement authorities recently received a boost of Rp 2.7 trillion (AUD388 million) of additional resources to prevent illegal foreign fishing in its waters, bringing total resources to around Rp 3.5 trillion (AUD500 million).

Indonesian Physics Olympiad Team Shares Experience in Australia

Australian Ambassador, Mr Bill Farmer, welcomed the visit on 26 September of the internationally acclaimed Indonesian Physics Olympiad Team (TOFI) to Australia. The Indonesian team secured four gold medals and one member took out the “Absolute Winner” category at the prestigious 2006 International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) in Singapore in July, beating 386 participants from 86 countries.

“We are grateful to Professor Surya and his team for making the time to share their knowledge with the Australian public”, said Mr Farmer.

The team also won at the Asian Physics Olympiad and the “First Step to Nobel in Physics” competition. “Professor Yohanes Surya, head and coach of the Indonesian team will discuss his experience in preparing his students to win highly competitive international science events”, said Mr Farmer.

Professor Surya's presentation will be complemented by Dr Colin Taylor, executive Director of “Australian Science Innovations” who will share the journey of the Australian Science Olympiad teams. The Indonesian delegation will speak at the Scienceworks Museum in Melbourne and the Sydney Myer Asia Centre at the University of Melbourne in events that are free and open to the public.

These events are organised by the education organisation “Curriculum Cooperation” and sponsored by the Australian Indonesia Institute and Australian Education International – Department of Education, Science and Training.

Study focuses on Muslim Youth - June 27th, ABC Australia News

A new study will ask Muslim children and teenagers living in Mackay, Rockhampton and Brisbane how they feel they fit in to the wider community. Central Queensland University's Dr Sansnee Jirojwong says there are about 20 or 30 young Muslim people living in the Mackay area. Dr Jirojwong says researchers want to see if there are any differences in the support available for young Muslims living outside the state capital. “Of course it will be different to the environment, living arrangements, the social context, compared to Brisbane, so that's why we select also Mackay as one of the study sites”, he said.

Australia signs agreements worth over Rp 15 billion with Muhammadiyah for Yogyakarta relief and disaster preparedness activities.

Today the Australian Government, through its overseas aid agency, AusAID, signed two new agreements with Muhammadiyah totaling over Rp 15 billion. The funding will support Muhammadiyah to build temporary medical clinics, child care centers, primary schools and village meeting centers in Yogyakarta as part of relief efforts there. A second activity will support a schools-based program to enhance disaster awareness and preparedness amongst children.

“We are pleased to extend our collaboration with Muhammadiyah, one of Indonesia's largest community-based organizations, to help those affected by the recent earthquake in Yogyakarta and Central Java. Muhammadiyah will receive Rp 7 billion as part of Australia's Rp 52.5 billion relief package to provide comprehensive, community-based assistance in seven villages in Yogyakarta province,” said Philippa Power, acting Australian Minister Counsellor for Development Cooperation.

“We are developing a strong working partnership with Muhammadiyah in a range of areas, including disaster response. Already, Australian medical teams have been working side-by-side with doctors and nurses in the Muhammadiyah hospital in Yogyakarta to treat victims of the earthquake.”

Village medical clinics have also been set up, with Australia providing medical support to local doctors treating patients. Temporary child care centers will be established to provide a safe place for children to play and to free up adults to help with rehabilitation efforts. Temporary primary schools will be provided and village meeting centers will be built to enable communities to gather and discuss future planning.

“We are also collaborating with Muhammadiyah to improve disaster preparedness in vulnerable communities,” said Ms Power. Australia will provide over Rp 8 billion to support training programs in Muhammadiyah schools located in disaster-prone areas. “The aim is to teach children about disasters and how they can prepare themselves and their communities, thereby minimizing the impact of earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters”, said Ms Power. “Australia sees the importance both of helping relief efforts after a disaster has occurred as well as the importance of helping communities prepare before a disaster strikes.”

Australian Medics in Remote Areas of Bantul A tent clinic staffed by Australian medics has provided welcome medical treatment to earthquake victims in Pundong village, Bantul District, Yogyakarta. Since opening last Wednesday, medics from the clinic have treated fractures and lacerations, and provided advice on child and maternal health needs and environmental health issues. They have also dispensed anti -tetanus serum and antibiotics to people needing ongoing treatment for lacerations and infections. Some patients have been transferred to nearby Ludira Husada Tama hospital for X-rays and operations. The clinic's mobile teams travel to people unable to come to the clinic itself. “We met some patients who were seriously ill, with dislocated bones, lying on the ground in their makeshift lean-tos”, team leader Dr Rob Edwards said during their visit to Dusun Ketandan Patalan, Desa Jentis, Bantul. Team member Linda Winn explained that “we established the clinic in that particular area because of the community primary health care needs, and we are supporting the transmission from emergency to early recovery under cooperation with local medical workers.” The clinic is a part of a 27-member medical team comprising surgeons, anaesthetists, operating staff, disaster medicine specialists and logisticians, led by a representative of Australia's international aid agency AusAID. The Australian Government has committed AUD$7.5 million to assist quake victims.

‘Adopt A School’ between WA and Indonesia While government based aid programs have been launched in media fanfares, the quiet activities of a group of Western Australians have built lasting relationships between schools in WA, Bali and Lombok. ‘Adopt A School’ membership has now grown to over 90 schools in Bali and WA. Bureaucracy is minimal with aid being delivered straight to the partner school in Indonesia. At the school level, each school has a coordinator who liaises with their sister school and determines their own level of commitment. Activities include epals, penpals, donations of educational resources, hosting visitors both in WA and in Bali, establishing a computer lab, funding English lessons, sewing and woodcarving lessons, providing woodwork tools, fresh water supplies, an Itinerant English teacher program, sponsorship of students' educational expenses and supporting community projects. If your school would like to be part of ‘Adopt A School’ contact Susan Cromb, the founder at cromb@tpg.com.au.

Australian Ambassador Presents Certificates to Indonesian Scholarship Alumni
Wednesday, 14 September 2005

Australian Ambassador, David Ritchie presented certificates to 107 Alumni who have recently returned from Australia acknowledging their participation in the Australia Development Scholarships (ADS) Program. There were about 300 ADS Alumni who attended the ADS Alumni Dinner & Certificate Presentation at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Ballroom.

“These scholarships to Australia are an important tool that can help to develop Indonesia's future leaders. The scholarships allow people to gain knowledge and skills which will help the development of Indonesia when they return home after finishing their study”, David Ritchie said.

The 300 invitees to the ADS Alumni Dinner include university representatives and officials from the Governments of Indonesia and Australia. Mr. Rizal Basri, from the Secretariat State and Mrs. Allison Sudradjat, Senior Representative from AIPRD are among the attendees.

Scholarships are one of the most valued forms of development cooperation. The Australian Government's overseas aid program aims to increase access to and the quality of education and training for people in partner countries. The program provides selective assistance in distance education, higher education and institutional strengthening.

The Australian government, through AusAID, has been providing scholarships, now known as Australian Development Scholarships, to Indonesians for study in Australia since the early 1950s. During this period, over 8000 Indonesian have studied in Australia through the scholarship scheme. The program currently offers 300 scholarships per year at the post-graduate level to Indonesians in both the public and private sector.

Australia to fund new Aceh reconstruction work

Australian and Indonesian Ministers today announced the allocation of $88 million for new reconstruction projects in Indonesia as part of the Australia Indonesia Partnership for Reconstruction and Development (AIPRD), the largest single aid package in Australia's history. The Treasurer, Peter Costello, was in Banda Aceh for today's announcement which expands Australia's contribution to physical reconstruction work in Aceh at a critical time. This will help to rebuild and repair more schools and health facilities and community infrastructure. Over $280 million has now been committed to projects since the $1 billion AIPRD was announced eight months ago. The new commitments provide further support to Aceh where the international reconstruction effort is now gathering pace. When the tsunami struck on 26 December, 150,000 children were left without schools, more than 500,000 people lost their homes and large numbers of hospital and medical staff died. More than 240,000 parcels of land are without evidence of legal title.

Australian assistance under the AIPRD is directly addressing such needs:

• helping to train more than 1500 nurses, midwives and health administrators
• delivering over 80 tonnes of school equipment to 46 schools
• helping 66 communities to rebuild village halls and community offices that serve as the hub for local reconstruction efforts
• deploying community mapping teams who have so far mapped 1500 land parcels for housing reconstruction
• providing design and engineering supervision for 42 separate construction projects.

Other areas of Indonesia will also benefit from today's announcement, with $25 million being allocated to a Smallholder Agribusiness Development Initiative to promote efficient production in areas such as horticulture, livestock and aquaculture.

Under this program we will improve access to technology for rural enterprises, help to improve business practices and address critical constraints such as market access, finance and infrastructure gaps. This will help to improve living standards and reduce poverty in rural areas throughout Indonesia where more than 135 million people live.

Australia-Indonesia Bilateral Fisheries Meeting

The Australian and Indonesian governments today opened a high-level bilateral fisheries meeting in Jakarta to advance cooperation on the common challenge of foreign illegal fishing. Both countries are affected by illegal foreign fishing. The meeting follows a commitment made by Prime Minister Howard and President Yudhoyono at the Australia-Indonesia Ministerial Forum earlier this year to expand bilateral cooperation in this area.

Australia is committed to working closely with the Indonesian and local level authorities to address this common challenge. As a sign of this ommitment, officials from a range of Australian agencies - Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry; Australian Fisheries Management Authority; Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service; ACIAR, CSIRO, Department of Environment and Heritage; Coastwatch; Australian Customs Service; Department of Defence; Department of Foreign and Affairs and Trade - are meeting with their Indonesian counterparts in Jakarta from 24-26 August. Key issues for discussion will include illegal foreign fishing, cooperation on shared stocks management and development cooperation assistance.

The meeting was opened by HE Rear Admiral (ret.) Freddy Numberi, Indonesian Minister for Marine Affairs and Fisheries, and HE David Ritchie AO, the Australian Ambassador to Indonesia. Ambassador Ritchie said that as neighbours, Australia and Indonesia will work together to find solutions to this common problem of illegal fishing.

“We have demonstrated with other major issues - people smuggling and counter-terrorism - that we can work together closely to produce results that benefit both countries. Combating illegal fishing is another important area of joint cooperation between our two countries”, Ambassador Ritchie said. This meeting will be the first in a series of cooperative initiatives on this important bilateral issue.

Australia to Rebuild Banda Aceh Port

Australia will provide more than $2.5 million to fund the critical restoration of the Ulee Lheu port in Banda Aceh, the Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr Bruce Billson, announced today during a visit to Aceh.

“The Banda Aceh port project has been identified by the Aceh Reconstruction Authority as the highest priority in the reconstruction process and is an important part of Australia's assistance package to Indonesia for emergency relief and reconstruction”, Mr Billson said. “There is an urgent need to re-establish the port, which prior to the tsunami was a major transport and freight hub, as well as a wharf for passenger ferry services. The livelihoods of people in Aceh and the capacity to rebuild depend on this port and the Australian Government is committed to helping those that have suffered and lost so much after the Boxing Day tragedy. The only functioning wharf near Banda Aceh is now 30 minutes from the capital at Malahayati and the urgency for additional port facilities is increasing as more reconstruction material is brought in to tsunami affected areas. The section of the coast near the port took the brunt of the tsunami and the terminal building, the floating passenger ferry terminal and access to port facilities were destroyed. Australian Government assistance aims to restore access to the site and port operations. The main access road will be rebuilt, reinforced with large rubble from the tsunami clean up, and debris will be removed from the harbour to clear the way for passenger ferries to resume services. This contribution to help Aceh recover is part of the initial $33 million Australia has committed to help Indonesia respond to the tsunami”, Mr Billson said.

Leading an eight member Parliamentary Delegation, Mr Billson has inspected earthquake-affected areas of central Banda Aceh, met with Australian aid workers and visited an Australian-funded aid project. The delegation also met the Director of the Aceh and North Sumatra Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Executing Agency, Mr Kuntoro Mangkusubroto.

PM hails pact with Indonesia By Mark Forbes Foreign Affairs correspondent Canberra April 5, 2005

A new era of closer ties between Australia and Indonesia has been hailed by Prime Minister John Howard and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono after they signed a groundbreaking agreement in Canberra yesterday. The declaration for a “comprehensive partnership” aims to increase economic, political and security ties, and includes shared opposition to secessionist movements in Indonesia, and building military relations.

Dr Yudhoyono underlined the stronger ties by putting pressure on Malaysia over its effort to exclude Australia from this year's East Asian Summit in Kuala Lumpur, saying greater co-operation in East Asia “must involve Australia”. Lauding yesterday's declaration as a landmark for a closer relationship, Dr Yudhoyono said it assumed “that the security, prosperity and stability of Indonesia and Australia are interconnected”.

Events since the Bali bombing, including the tsunami relief effort, had prompted both nations to begin to relate to each other differently, Dr Yudhoyono said. “And that is the very purpose of my visit to your great country: to affirm our special relations, and to make it even stronger.”

He announced Indonesia would award medals of honour to the 11 crew members of the Australian Sea King helicopter that crashed during a relief mission on Nias island at the weekend, killing nine of them. Mr Howard said tragedy had brought both countries together, but geography and destiny would link them forever.

He welcomed the support of Dr Yudhoyono “for Australia's involvement in the wider architecture of the region” and said the pair had “reaffirmed our determination to build ever closer bonds between our two nations.” Mr Howard said he had “made it very clear to the President that Australia fully respects the territorial integrity of the Indonesian Republic”. The partnership declaration states that “Australia does not support separatists movements in any part of Indonesia... Indonesia's unity, stability and prosperity is vital for Australia's own security”. It also includes increased co-operation against criminals and terrorists, and a commitment to stronger cultural links. A program of 600 post-graduate scholarships to Australia for Indonesian students was announced.

Greater economic ties are also envisaged, with the possibility of a free trade agreement. Mr Howard urged business leaders at a parliamentary function to invest in Australia's neighbour.

“A successful, moderate, Islamic Indonesia led by a man of compassion and man of vision such as President Yudhoyono is about the most powerful weapon that we can have against zealotry and extremism in our part of the world,” he said.

Apart from promising more counter-terrorism operations, the declaration said there would be additional co-operation in fighting international crime, and that intelligence sharing would increase. A new security agreement should be concluded, it states, with closer defence co-operation. Dr Yudhoyono would not say if a new pact should include a non-aggression clause and prohibit pre-emptive strikes - as controversially threatened by Mr Howard last year - but said a new security framework must be found to solve any problem peacefully.

Dr Yudhoyono said it was important that Canberra develop a close engagement with Asia, and that both Australia and New Zealand become members of the new East Asian Summit.

Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (centre) and his wife Ani Bambang Yudoyono (2nd right) speak with Australia's Prime Minister John Howard (2nd left) and his wife Janette (right).

The summit created by the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), South Korea, China and Japan is due to meet for the first time in Malaysia this year. “If we are talking about co-operation in East Asia, the greater East Asia, then it must involve Australia and New Zealand in that forum”, Dr Yudhoyono said. Last month, Malaysia said that only ASEAN nations should attend the summit.

Meanwhile, NZ Prime Minister Helen Clark yesterday signalled her nation's five-year ban on military ties with Indonesia would remain. Dr Yudhoyono is scheduled to visit NZ after Australia.

Media Release
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Alexander Downer
7 December 2004

Australia Helps Papua and Alor Rebuild After Earthquakes

Australia will contribute $A75,000 in humanitarian assistance to help those most affected by a severe earthquake that struck the city of Nabire in Indonesia's Papua province late last month. It is part of a broader package of assistance aimed at helping Indonesia cope with natural disasters. The funding will be used by the International Federation of the Red Cross to provide basic shelter, health assistance and educational support for the most vulnerable families.

At least 32 people died and more than 200 were injured, many seriously, when the earthquake struck late last month. Thousands of people have been left without homes and more than 40 schools were significantly damaged, along with bridges and roads.

It is the second time this year that an earthquake has struck the area. In February an even larger quake rocked Nabire leaving more than 30 dead and 200 injured and resulting in extensive damage to infrastructure. Australia responded quickly with $A50,000 in humanitarian assistance.

The Australian funding announced today will be directed to a combined IFRC appeal, now in preparation, that will cover the needs of Nabire and the island of Alor in East Nusa Tenggara province. Alor was hit by a large quake on 12 November that claimed 23 lives. Australia announced an immediate contribution of $A50,000 to assist victims of the Alor earthquake.

Indonesian communities show resilience in the face of earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters. To build on this, and to help communities better prepare for future disasters, Australia is also providing $300,000 this year to help communities build safer housing, improve early warning systems and strengthen the response capacities of the Indonesian Red Cross.

Australia is providing an estimated $160 million in assistance to Indonesia this financial year, an increase of $9 million on the previous year.

Media Release
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Alexander Downer
7 December 2004

Australia Doubles Counter-Terrorism Assistance to Indonesia

The Australian Government is doubling counter-terrorism assistance to Indonesia from $A10 million to $A20 million over five years. Australia has already supported establishment of the $A36.8 million Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation (JCLEC), which aims to enhance bilateral and regional counter-terrorism cooperation. We will be working to develop our expanded program of assistance in close cooperation with the Indonesian Government. It will build a range of key counter-terrorism programs in three key areas - enhancing the capacity of the Indonesian National Police (POLRI) travel security and combating terrorist financing - and address new priorities identified by the Indonesian Government.

The recently established Transnational Crime Centre (TNCC), for which Australia has provided $A4.7 million, in Jakarta will continue to provide a focal point within POLRI for prevention, identification and dismantling all forms of transnational crime, including terrorism. In the area of travel security, we will provide assistance to Indonesia to strengthen its airport, immigration and customs control capabilities. This will involve Australian departments working with their Indonesian counterparts to improve security, surveillance and analysis. Australia will also continue to work with Indonesia to enhance its capacity to disrupt terrorist financing including through the development of international cooperation arrangements, awareness raising and strengthening the legal framework. Australia warmly welcomes and strongly supports the new Indonesian Government's commitment to cooperating to fight the scourge of terrorism and will continue to assist in any way possible.

Australia Works with 'Aisyiyah To Assist Kuningan Bombing Victims

The Australian Government and the Australian Red Cross announced a three-year Family Assistance Program for victims and their families following the 9 September bombing in Kuningan. In order to implement this program, the Australian Government and 'Aisyiyah today signed an Agreement to work in partnership to meet the immediate and long-term needs of the victims and their families.

At the signing of the Agreement, the Australian Ambassador to Indonesia H.E. David Ritchie said, “Our hearts go out to the familles of those killed and to the over 200 people injured in the wake of this terrorist attack. Australia is committed to helping the victims and their families.”

'Aisyiyah's Chairman, Dra. Hj. Nurni Akma, welcomed this partnership. “'Aisyiyah is very happy to be working with the Australian Government on this program. Through the vast community networks of Muhammadiyah and 'Aisyiyah we will be able to reach out to and assist the victims and their families”, she said. “We hope the Kuningan bomb will be the last bombing tragedy in Indonesia. Such acts deeply wound the whole community and claim many innocent victims”, she added.

The Family Assistance Program provides assistance for education, medical expenses, training and family income support. The program is part of the A$ 1 million Indonesia Disaster Response 2004 Fund managed by AusAID and the Australian Red Cross.

Muslim Visitors Guide

A new guide for Muslim visitors to Western Australia has been produced by the WA Government. It contains hints for tourists, students and businesspeople, as well as contact details for a range of suppliers of certified halal products. Islamic Associations, Schools and Mosques are all listed along with a comprehensive list of halal restaurants and shops. Contact the WA Trade Office for a copy or download it at:

www.doir.wa.gov.au/documents/exportandtrade/MuslimVisitorsGuide.pdf

Australia provides $US 4.25 million for maternal health program in eastern Indonesia

The Australian Ambassador, Mr David Ritchie announced today Australian funding of $US4.25 million to a UNICEF - Government of Indonesia program to improve maternal health in eastern Indonesia. The Australian Ambassador, Mr David Ritchie, said: “the program illustrates Australia's commitment to helping improve the lives of Indonesian women and children as well as continuing our support for Indonesia's efforts to reduce maternal mortality and meet its Millennium Development Goals.”

The program will work towards achieving goals set out in the Indonesian Government's ‘Making Pregnancy Safer’ strategy and was developed through extensive collaboration with UNICEF's Government of Indonesia partners at the national, province and district levels. UNICEF's Representative in Indonesia, Mr. Steven Allen, said: “The high rates of maternal mortality, the poor quality and coverage of pregnancy related care services like antenatal care and attendance at births are the main issues to be addressed by the programme. It builds on the experiences gained in the previous AusAID-UNICEF Safe Motherhood program implemented in selected provinces in Indonesia over the past five years.”

Nine districts in the provinces of Nusa Tenggara Timur and Papua will be the focus of the development project. These provinces have among the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in Indonesia and in South East Asia. In some districts one woman dies for every one hundred live births.

The districts where the project will operate are Sumba Timur, Sumba Barat, Alor, Kota Kupang in NTT and Jayapura, Jayawijaya, Biak Numfor, Manokwari and Sorong districts in Papua province.

Aboriginal Australia

At the time of European colonisation there were 300 separate Aboriginal clan-based ‘nations’ in Australia each with their own traditional languages and Territories. Only 50 languages remain. Today the first language of the majority of Aboriginal people in Australia is either a variety of regional Aboriginal English or Kriol, a creolised new Aboriginal language that arose after colonisation. In addition, most Aboriginal people were dispossessed by the British colonial land grab though a small percentage have been able to claim back traditional lands as a result of the Land Rights laws passed during their 70s.

Aboriginal people constitute 25% of the population of the Top End of Australia but only 1% of the total Australian population. They still control 15% of land in Australi though in some states this is much higher, e,g 50 % of land in the NT is owned by Aboriginal clans. The majority of Aboriginal people are today of mixed heritage although they still identify strongly with Aboriginal culture and family values. Aboriginality in Australia today is no longer about race but about ethnicity-that is how someone feels inside and whether they are accepted as Aboriginal by their local Aboriginal community. There is a tendency for each new generation of aboriginal people to be fairer in skin colour than the previous. (If Aboriginal people intermarry with Caucasian, all traces of dark skin colour will disappear in 2 or 3 generations) As a result, Aboriginal people in the Australian south look the same as Australians of European background but they still identify themselves strongly as Aboriginal because of their family and cultural orientation and because they speak Aboriginal English as their first language.

Sonja works at IALF Bali and has a lot of experience working with aboriginal people in the Northern Territory. If you want to ask her questions then CLICK HERE and I am sure she will be happy to answer you.

What is DAP?

The Direct Aid Program (DAP) is a flexible, small grants scheme for development activities managed by Heads of Australian Missions in approximately 45 countries. The emphasis of the program is on alleviating basic humanitarian hardships.

New and recently approved projects

Community development program for rural women - Gunung Kidul - Rp45.000.000

Yayasan Sosial Tunggal Jati

Funding for an income-generating program using the revolving fund system for self-help small-scale businesses (agriculture and fishing) in the Guning Kidul area near Yogyakarta. The project aims to assist over 8.5 thousand people from ten villages in this hilly, arid area, where most of the population are farmers or fishermen with a low standard of education and a low level of income.

Equipment for an English language laboratory - Don Bosco Training Centre - Rp50.000.000

Wisma Slasian Don Bosco

Funding to purchase audio-visual equipment for an English laboratory at the Don Bosco Skills Training Centre in Tangerang, Banten Province. The Skills Training Centre concentrates on technical/trade courses for the youth (male and female) of the area, many of whom have left school early because of financial constraints and for whom it is difficult to find jobs because of their lack of qualifications/skills. The New Zealand and German Embassies have also donated equipment to the Centre.

Short-term training for farmers in Cilacap, Central Java - Rp1.100.000

Yayasan Sosial Bina Sejahtera

Funding to provide training in farming methods for 50 unemployed youths from five districts in Central Java. The training, which will be given by the Department of Agriculture, will be over a ten-day period.

Clean water supply for school students in North Jakarta - Rp4.000.000

Yayasan Pendidikan Bangun

Funding to deepen an existing well in the grounds of a privately run school in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, which caters for students from elementary to high school level. The existing wells in the grounds are silted up and there is no piping to the toilets. The funding will cover the costs of deepening one well, piping to reach from the well to the toilet, a water tower and a second-hand pump.

For more information on DAP activities in Indonesia — Click Here

Australia further increases aid budget for Indonesia

The Australian Government has announced it will provide $A160.8 million in development assistance to Indonesia in 2004-05, an increase of six per cent or $A9.1 million over this year's level. This comes on top of a 25 per cent increase in Australia's aid to Indonesia in the last budget.

“This extra assistance will allow us to expand our cooperation in critical areas such as economic management, basic education, and the control of communicable diseases,” said Australian Ambassador, David Ritchie.

In 2004-05, Australia will provide more aid for financial management and democratic development. Australia's counter-terrorism capacity building initiative for Indonesian police, financial intelligence and border control agencies will continue. There will be substantial assistance for the conduct of the Presidential elections. Support for basic education will be expanded with a new learning assistance program for Islamic schools, and new resources will be provided to help monitor and control the spread of communicable diseases.

“With this further increase, Australia will be able to work even more effectively with Indonesia to strengthen economic and financial management, build the institutions of democracy, promote stability and security and improve the delivery of basic government services,” said Ambassador Ritchie.

Australia is also a major donor of humanitarian assistance to Indonesia, providing $126 million in response to a range of emergencies since 1998.

Mount Augustus
The largest monolith in the world

Located 320 km east of Carnarvon, Mount Augustus is the largest monolith in the world. It is 2.5 times larger than Uluru (Ayers Rock) standing 858 m above the surrounding plain and 1105 metres above sea level.

On 3 June 1858 Francis Gregory, during his epic 107 day journey through the Gascoyne, became the first European to climb the mountain. Some weeks later he named the monolith after his brother, Sir Augustus Charles Gregory (1819-1905). At the time Augustus was on his last expedition, an unsuccessful foray into western Queensland in an attempt to discover the whereabouts of Ludwig Leichhardt.

The journey to Mount Augustus is far from easy but the result of the effort is a rare opportunity to see one of the wonders of Australia. As the world's largest monocline Mt Augustus has a central ridge which is almost 8 kilometres long and it is estimated that the rock of the mountain is some 1000 million years old. It was formed from an uplift which raised an ancient seabed of sandstone conglomerate and folded it into a dramatic anticline (like an inverted V shape). The granite rock which lies beneath Mt Augustus is said to be 1650 million years old.

The most significant difference between Uluru and Mount Augustus is that the former has a hard coating on its exterior which has, very distinctively, created a situation where there is no scree slope at the bottom of the monolith. In the case of Mount Augustus there is a scree slope so it lacks the distinctive shape of Uluru although it does change colour during the day. Mount Augustus also has considerable vegetation on its slopes.

For more details - CLICK HERE

Australia Indonesia Institute Board Visits Indonesia

This week the members of the Board of the Australia Indonesia Institute are visiting Indonesia to reinforce the growing engagement between the two countries as Indonesia embarks on one of the world's most significant and complex democratic processes.

The Australia Indonesia Institute is an independent body funded by the Australian government, committed to strengthening the relationship between Australia and Indonesia through people-to-people links, including cultural exchanges, youth programs, media visits, scholarships and its civil society (NGO) program. Over the years, these activities have helped broaden the range of contacts between the people of Indonesia and Australia and build understanding between them.

The Board is making its annual visit to Indonesia, stopping in Jakarta and Medan, to hear first-hand from Indonesians their views about the situation here, was well as the bilateral relationship. While in Indonesia, the Board has held discussions with a wide range of ministers, officials, Muslim leaders, media representatives, scholars, and NGO leaders.

During this visit the Board has been impressed to observe the orderly conduct of the extraordinarily challenging electoral process and has conveyed Australia's continued and strong support for Indonesia's democratic process. Its visit included a meeting with the Board of the KPU.

During its visit the Board has also received the strong impression that religious diversity enriches and strengthens Indonesian society but there is scope for improving mutual understanding of the role of Islam in both countries. In particular, Indonesian Islam is not well understood in Australia and Indonesians have little knowledge of Australian Islam. Islam in Indonesia shows how that religion can be a force for peace and Australians need to be better aware of this.

Over the last year, the AII Board has facilitated the visits to Australia of some of Indonesia's most prominent Islamic leaders as well as younger, emerging leaders and visits by leaders of the Australian Muslim community. The Board has committed itself to developing this program of exchanges in Australia and Indonesia, complemented by a program of sandwich Masters-level scholarships for Muslim teachers.

The Board will continue its well-developed program of media exchanges, with the next event being a visit of Australian editors to Indonesia at the end of this month.

Likewise, the Board will also continue its longstanding educational programs, including the Australia Indonesia Youth Exchange Program, teacher exchanges and the production of textbooks and English language materials for Indonesian schools.

Other projects that will continue include support for the Association of Australian Alumni: IKAMA (20,000 Indonesian students are currently studying in Australia); and a series of cultural exchanges, including painters, writers, dancers and other performers, aimed at enriching the cultures of both countries by providing new perspectives and creative experiences, as well as support for Australian studies throughout Indonesia.

Australian Assistance To Halt Spread Of Avian Flu and Dengue

Australia's commitment to the well being of the region has again been exemplified with a AUD$365,000 contribution to the people of Indonesia to assist in efforts to combat the spread of Avian Flu and Dengue in Indonesia.

“This funding will go towards helping the Health and Agricultural Ministry to prevent and control the transmission of these diseases in Indonesia. It shows once again the ways in which Australia and Indonesia work together to combat common problems in our region,” said said Charge d'Affaires of the Australian Embassy, Peter Rowe, following a signing ceremony at the Health Ministry in Jakarta yesterday.

The funding for the prevention of avian flu totalling AUD$325,000 will be chanelled through the World Health Organisation office in Indonesia while AUD$40,000 earmarked for the prevention of dengue will be chanelled through the International Red Cross for activities to be implemented by the Indonesian Red Cross.

Australia is providing $19 million this year in humanitarian and emergency assistance to Indonesia. Total Australian assistance to Indonesia this year will top AUD$151 million, an increase of AUD$30 million on the previous year's assistance.

Photo caption: Charge d'Affaires of the Australian Embassy, Peter Rowe (right) shakes hands with WHO representative in Indonesia, Dr George Petersen, after signing an MoU on Australian assistance to combat avian flu and dengue in Indonesia. In the centre is Director General for Communicable Diseases Control and Environmental Heath, Professor Umar Fahmi.

Bird Flu – some background information from The AGE Newspaper (March 25th, 2004)

People infected with Asia's bird flu get sick about three days after exposure to the virus and run fevers of up to 39 degrees celsius, the World Health Organisation says, citing the first clinical data of patients with the current strain. The data was collected by Vietnamese doctors on 10 of their country's patients infected with the H5N1 strain of bird flu that has sickened poultry across much of the Asian continent and jumped to humans in Thailand and Vietnam. Today the overall human death toll stood at 19.

The 10 cases studied were farmers and children, with most believed to have had contact with sick chicken and ducks at their farms. In one case, a sickened boy had frequently held roosters at cockfights, and typically walked through a poultry market on his way to school.

WHO notes on its website that the mortality rate was very high - eight of the 10 patients died - but cautions that the cases were too few “to be representative of the full range of the illness that H5N1 may cause”. Doctors may not be identifying milder infections as bird flu, and cases in which the patient recovers may be going unnoticed.

Ten governments in the region have dealt with strains of bird flu since South Korean officials reported an outbreak there in early December. Some of the affected Asian countries, as well as the United States, are being hit with milder bird flu strains not thought to pose as much danger to people.

At least 50 million Asian chickens have been slaughtered in government-ordered culls to contain the outbreak, and major poultry importers have banned exports of remaining poultry from many bird flu-affected countries, devastating the industry.

The disease so far has jumped to people only in Vietnam and Thailand, in cases mostly traced to direct contact with sick birds. Health officials believe the virus is passed through birds' faeces, which can dry into a dust and be inhaled.

WHO officials have expressed concern that China may also be suffering from human cases given the broad range of poultry infections in that sprawling country, which has confirmed avian flu in 14 of its 31 regions.

In the Vietnamese study summarised by WHO, seven of the patients were described as students - or schoolchildren - and three of them as farmers. The median time for the disease's onset after suspected exposure was three days.

One farmer had done “direct handling of a number of sick ducks and chickens in his homestead”, the summary says. One girl “bought a duckling and cared for it in her house for five days”. After the duck got sick and died, she buried it and a day later reburied it. The girl also had eaten barely cooked eggs, the summary noted. The outbreak in Asia has raised growing alarm in the United States and Europe.

Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told a US congressional panel overnight that health officials worry that the more people get infected, the greater the chances of a new flu strain that could easily be transmitted among people. “It's getting worse and worse”, Fauci said. The fear is that bird flu would strike a person who already had a human flu strain and that the two would swap genes to create a new killer hybrid with the deadliness of bird flu and the contagiousness of human flu.

“When that happens, you have the possibility of a pandemic, as we saw in 1918-19”, Fauci said.

Between 20 million and 40 million people died in that flu outbreak.

In Brussels, European Union health ministers met with WHO chief Dr Lee Jong-wook late Thursday to discuss ways to better cooperate to prevent the further spread of Asia's bird flu outbreak.

Australian Wallaroos Presented To Jakarta Zoo

To further enhance the neighbourly ties between Australia and Indonesia the Australian Ambassador is today presenting to the Governor of Jakarta four species of native Australian fauna. They comprise two pairs of wallaroos, one pair of Kookaburras, two pairs of Galahs and one pair of Rosellas.

“This Australian wildlife symbolises the enduring ties and understanding between the government and people of our two countries. Exchanges like this show the diversity and depth of the Australian - Indonesian relationship”, the Australian Ambassador, Mr David Ritchie said when presenting the Australian wildlife to Governor Sutiyoso in Jakarta on Thursday.

The native Australian fauna will become an added public attraction at Indonesia's biggest zoo, Ragunan Zoo, and will further enhance the relationship between the sister states of New South Wales and Jakarta Province. With the assistance of wildlife experts from Taronga Zoo, the animals and birds are gradually being nurtured to adapt to local climatic conditions. Taronga Zoo has a long relationship with Ragunan Zoo, dating back more that 40 years to 1963 when the two zoos first exchanged kangaroos and komodo dragons. Taronga Zoo will continue to work more generally with Indonesia to enhance regional conservation projects and to lead the way in the exchange of animals, ideas and knowledge in the fields of conservation between our two countries.

Australian Studies Networks in Indonesia

During 2003, the Australian Centre at the University of Melbourne will be responsible for a new program that assists the development of Australian Studies Networks at a tertiary level in Indonesia. Funded by the Australia-Indonesia Institute (AII), this project recognises the importance of dialogue between Australia and Indonesia. Working with universities in both countries, the program aims to forge and enhance relations between Australianists, acquire information regarding the current status and future potential of Australian Studies, and identify leaders committed to nurturing teaching and research about Australia as well as fostering a network of scholars and postgraduate students interested in Australian Studies within Indonesia.

Polio in Indonesia

Jakarta Post Sept 13th, 2002

Media Fellowships

The Australia Indonesia Institute sponsors a program of media fellowships managed by Medialink. Applications for fellowships are open for Australian media to work in an Indonesian news organisation and Indonesian media to work in an Australian news organisation.

Under this program, Indonesian media work in an Australian news organisation for 3 to 12 months and Australian journalists, photographers, cartoonists, technicians, cameramen and producers work in an Indonesian equivalent, also for up to 12 months.

For further information and application forms check www.asialink.unimelb.edu.au, email medialink@asialink.unimelb.edu.au or contact Medialink in Australia ph 0409 935 280; fax: 03 93471768; outside Australia, ph: 61 409 935 280; fax: 61 393471768.

Click Here for more information on AII programs

Residencies in Indonesia for Australian artists

The Australia Indonesia Institute funds Asialink's Residency Program with Indonesia in the fields of the Visual Arts and Crafts, Performing Arts, Arts Management and Literature. Residencies are usually of three to four months' duration and each residency offers a specified amount of funding and initial contacts. Artists are generally attached to a host institution and are expected to pursue their own work as well as participate in the life of the organisation and community. This includes giving workshops and public lectures. Every residency is different and negotiated individually. Residencies are advertised mid-year and application material can be downloaded from www.asialink.unimelb.edu.au.

Australia-Indonesia Institute Grant to Provide Access to Indonesia's Most Important Living Artistic Tradition The Hon. Alexander Downer, MP Minister for Foreign Affairs Australia ‘I am pleased to announce a grant by the Australia-Indonesia Institute, which will give Australian and international audiences on-line access to one of the richest resources of Indonesian textiles.’

The grant of $47,000 will go to the National Gallery of Australia for the digitization and creation of a dedicated website of the Gallery's famous collection of 1200 Indonesian textiles. The website will provide access for students, scholars, museum staff and the general public to Indonesia's most important living artistic tradition.

It will allow the Gallery's recent acquisition of over 400 Indonesian textiles from the famous Holmgren-Spertus private collection to be appreciated by much wider audience. This project will create an ongoing facility, which will be able to be upgraded and enhanced in the future as the textile collection and related scholarship grows. Work on the project will commence this month and will be completed within twelve months.

Education in Australia

Australia has a well-developed education system with participation rates and secondary school completion rates among the highest in the world. Australian governments at all levels are continually reviewing and reforming education and training to address the issues that arise from social and economic change. In many cases, Australian models attract international attention and Australia is involved in cooperating with the development of educational programs in a number of overseas countries.

Read what KGRE's Ogi Yutarini found out about Australian Education — Click Here

Aussie Icons

Brisbane Grammar School students recently put together a series of web pages about Aussie Icons. For example — the boomerang.

Boomerangs are curved, almost L-shaped sticks used as weapons in hunting or warfare by Australian Aboriginals. There are three types of boomerangs: Returning boomerangs — these are about 30 to 40cm long with specially shaped arms which cause the boomerang to travel along a circular flight path when thrown. This type of boomerang was used in throwing contests and to frighten flocks of birds into traps. Great skill is needed to throw the returning boomerang accurately and have it return to the thrower. Non-returning boomerangs — these are up to 1m long. They are heavier and have unequal arms with sharp edges. When thrown, they follow slightly curved paths. They are used to kill or maim kangaroos, reptiles, birds or fish. The non-returning boomerang could cause serious wounds to an enemy when thrown or used as a club. Boomerangs used in rituals — these may be used as clap-sticks in corroborees and ceremonies. They are decorated with special symbols and vary in shape and size. These are an important icon because this show how our indigenous people needed to hunt and gather food. To assist them they invented the boomerang. This needs precision, maths and ingenuity.

Brief History of AusAID

The Australian Development Assistance Agency (ADAA) was established in 1974, bringing together functions performed by different departments since the aid program to PNG began in 1946. In 1976 ADAA was replaced by the Australian Development Assistance Bureau (ADAB) within the Foreign Affairs portfolio. In 1987 the name was changed to the Australian International Development Assistance Bureau (AIDAB), and in 1995 to AusAID, the Australian Agency for International Development.

What is Australia's Aid Program? Click Here

ANZAC DAY

For Australians Anzac Day is the special day of the year when Australian soldiers are remembered for the lives that they gave in battle. They may have lost their lives in the infamous 1915 battle at Gallipoli in Turkey in the First World War. The battles may have been in Singapore, Germany or northern Africa in the Second World War. Wars in Korea and Vietnam in the 50s and 60s also claimed many young Australian lives.

Anzac Day is commemorated on April 25th each year in virtually every city and town across Australia. ANZAC means Australian and New Zealand Army Corps and it was this coalition of soldiers that suffered that terrible defeat at Gallipoli in 1915. So great was the defeat at Gallipoli that this event now symbolizes the loss of Australian lives in battle for all wars. On Anzac Day the people of Australia stop and remember the thousands of men who never came home from battle.

Did you know that Australian soldiers fought right here in Indonesia helping to fight the Japanese in places such Balikpapan and Ambon in the middle 1940s? Between May and August 1945 Australian military forces fought to liberate the island of Borneo from more than three years of Japanese occupation. On 1 July 1945 Australian soldiers landed on the beaches to the south of Balikpapan. A preliminary 20-day allied bombardment had destroyed the Japanese beach defenses and by nightfall the Australians had advanced 2 km inland. The town was liberated the next day. Approximately 300 ‘diggers’ died in the fighting for Balikpapan.

See the April 2002 Kang Guru magazine for more information.

Australian Rice for Vulnerable Indonesians Arrives in Surabaya

Five thousand tonnes of Australian rice donated by the Australian Government arrived in Surabaya on 5 January, 2002 for distribution to vulnerable families and malnourished children in major urban centres in Indonesia. The Australian rice, valued at A$2.3 million will be channeled through the United Nations World Food Program (WFP). As part of WFP's operations in Indonesia the rice will help feed over 1 million Indonesians in need of food. Specifically the rice will help feed 300,000 malnourished children under two years of age and 350,000 ultra-poor households in major urban areas in Java.

As well, the rice will assist to meet the immediate food needs of persons displaced due to civil conflict now living in Madura, Central Sulawesi, Maluku and North Maluku. Through the Australian Government Overseas Aid Agency (AusAID), Australia has continued to respond to Indonesia's humanitarian crises with assistance of more than A$89 million over the past three years. Australia will provide an estimated A$121.5 million in development assistance to Indonesia in fiscal year 2001-2002.

A Brief History of the establishment of the Indonesian Embassy in Australia

The Republic of Indonesia first saw light on 17 August 1945, just days after the Japanese surrender to the Allies at the end of the war in the Pacific, when the Indonesian nationalist leaders, Sukarno and Dr Mohammad Hatta, proclaimed the country's independence on behalf of the Indonesian people after nearly 350 years of Dutch colonial rule and a further four years of Japanese occupation.

However, following the Japanese surrender, the Dutch were very keen to regain control of the territory and between 1945 and 1949 the infant republic was faced with military threats to its very existence as a nation. During this difficult period, of all the Western countries, Australia had been the most sympathetic to the Republic's independence cause and, in time, the Australian Government itself came to the view - that was not shared by the Dutch and the British - that not only was it entitled to pursue economic relations with Indonesia but that it would accept its representatives, for the time-being on an “informal” basis.

Accordingly, in June 1947, Indonesia sent its first representative, Dr Usman Sastroamidjojo, of the Indonesian Foreign Ministry, to Australia as the “chief of the diplomatic and consular service for the Indonesian Republic.“ He was accepted on “an ongoing basis” and had frequent discussions ith Australian leaders, most importantly, of course, on Australia's continued support for Indonesia's status as an internationally recognized sovereign state. On September 28, 1950, the Republic of Indonesia was admitted as a member of the United Nations. Dr Usman returned to Indonesia in 1951 with his mission accomplished.

Based initially in Melbourne, Dr Usman and his small staff moved to Canberra in 1949. From then on, the Embassy occupied several temporary locations in Canberra, firstly at the Hotel Canberra (now the Hyatt Hotel), and then in the Canberra suburb of Deakin, before moving, in August 1971, to its permanent home in Yarralumba.

H.E. Mr Raden Hidayat, Ambassador (1968-70), laid the foundation stone for the new Indonesian chancery in Yarralumba on 15 January 1970 and, upon completion, was “handed over” by the architect, Mr George Holland, to the new Indonesian Ambassador, H.E. Mr Sujitno Sukirno (1970-73) on 13 August 1971. Originally, the complex was comprised of two buildings, a chancery and a special pavilion, known as “Wisma Wisata Budaya” to be used to display Indonesian arts and crafts and for entertaining. As already noted, His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Indonesia, General Suharto, officially opened the Indonesian chancery on the afternoon of 7 February 1972 during the course of a four-day State visit, which was, incidentally, the first visit to Australia by an Indonesian Head of State. The President was accompanied by Mrs Suharto, Mr Adam Malik (Minister for Foreign Affairs), Professor Widjojo Nitisastro (Minister for National Development) and Major-General Umar Wirahadikusumah (Army Chief of Staff).

The main office block was constructed just like any other Indonesian government building of that period. However, the exhibition or display hall (built in the style of a Javanese pendopo and containing a selection of traditional Indonesian arts and crafts and musical instruments) and the series of hand-carved Balinese statues beside the steps and around the terrace, to the left of the main building, are a unique expression of Indonesian culture and to the present day make a distinct contribution to Canberra's tourism objects.

The original office building was renovated and another office block was added during 1983 and 1984, and a year later, work began on the construction of a second hall, known as “Balai Kartini”, alongside of and built in the same style as the original display hall. The certificate of ompletion of this project was issued on 7 March, 1986. Leith Bartlett and Partners Pty Ltd of Canberra was the architect for both projects and Griffith Building Group (NSW) Pty Ltd, were the builders.

The “Balai Kartini” is not generally open to the public and is used variously for meetings and as a venue for official ceremonies. It was so named to commemorate R. A. Kartini (1879-1904), a national figure and one of the best-known pioneers of the Indonesian Woman's Movement. Kartini Day is celebrated each year in Indonesia on 21 April.

Click Here for the Indonesian Embassy website in Canberra

The Australia-Indonesia Dialogue and Muslim Exchanges

During his visit to Indonesia on 6-8 February, 2002 the Prime Minister, Mr. John Howard, announced two initiatives funded by the Australia-Indonesia Institute (AII) aimed at further strengthening relations and building mutual understanding between the people of Australia and Indonesia.

The “Australia-Indonesia Dialogue” seeks to build enduring relationships between young emerging leaders in Australia and Indonesia and to identify ways to deepen the bilateral relationship. The dialogue will be organised by the Asia-Australia Institute at the University of New South Wales in conjunction with its Indonesian partner, the Habibie Center in Jakarta.

The “Muslim Exchange” is a three-year AII program under which Muslim leaders from both Australia and Indonesia will visit one another's countries for up to two weeks to meet Islamic leaders and religious, ethnic and community groups. The exchange aims to build links between our two Muslim communities and promote greater understanding about Islam in Australia and Indonesia. The exchanges will be organised by the University of Melbourne and the Australian National University in consultation with Indonesian Islamic groups.

The AII is an Australian government funded institute established to develop relations between the people of Australia and Indonesia by promoting greater mutual understanding and expanding areas of contact and exchange.

Australian Population Grows By Quarter Million

Australia's population has increased by more than a quarter of a million since the 2001 national census, according to the latest report issued this week by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The preliminary estimated resident population of Australia at September 2002 was 19,727,500 persons. The population increased by 252,000 persons since September 2001 and 64,700 persons since June 2002. During the year ended September 2002 the Australian population grew by 1.3 per cent.

All states and the Australian Capital Territory recorded positive growth rates, the highest being for Queensland (2.3 per cent) and the lowest for Tasmania (0.4 per cent). The Northern Territory recorded a negative growth rate of 0.1 per cent (or a loss of 260 persons) in the 12 months ended September 2002.

The population of Australian states and territories, as of September 2002, is shown at right. “Other Territories” are comprised of Jervis Bay Territory, Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.