Australia-ASEAN innovation focus of DFAT collaboration grants

The Australian government named 38 successful community, university and business projects at the end of an ASEAN special summit in Melbourne last week. Funding for the innovative projects was awarded via the Australia-ASEAN Council. The projects include a program for high school students to walk in the shoes of country leaders and have a voice on regional issues; a maritime histories initiative supporting The University of Sydney in developing workshops and online exhibitions for museums in ASEAN and Australia; and a series of workshops by Deakin University concerned with accelerating the energy transition in Malaysia, Vietnam and Australia. Other successful projects funded via the Australia-Indonesia Institute will see the NSW Rural Doctors Network enhance community health capacity in remote areas of Maluku, Indonesia, and bring the #Shehacks program to support women-led startups in Indonesia. Foreign minister Penny Wong said the grants reflected the shared region and future of Australia and the countries of Southeast Asia. “This year we celebrate 50 years since Australia became ASEAN’s first formal dialogue partner, and welcome ASEAN leaders and delegations to Melbourne for the ASEAN‑Australia Special Summit,” Wong said. “We are laying the groundwork for the next 50 years of our cooperation, as we develop a partnership for the future, across governments, the private sector and the community, including through Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Strategy to 2040 .” In addition to naming successful grant recipients, Wong also announced appointments to the Australia-Indonesia Institute. The Australia-Indonesia Institute’s board chair Emeritus Professor Greg Fealy and board member Professor Nicholas Anste have been reappointed for another term. “Established in 1989, the Australia-Indonesia Institute has a long history of fostering people-to-people links and underpins our comprehensive strategic partnership with Indonesia,” Wong said. Artist and educator Alfira O’Sullivan has been appointed a board member of the Australia-Indonesia Institute, replacing long-time member Noni Purnomo. “Ms O’Sullivan brings diverse experience to support the objectives of the Institute,” Wong said. “Ms O’Sullivan has led contemporary dance workshops in Indonesia and across the globe and has long been an advocate for forging cultural connections. READ MORE: Australia invests $3 million in dengue fever research, levels up Laos partnership