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Indonesia is one of many countries that use an electoral quota to try to reduce the imbalance in its main legislative body, the House of Representatives (DPR). However, as Ben Bland writes, quotas are only part of the solution aimed at encouraging more female candidates and achieving gender parity.

Read more here

In the news

On the blog

  • Member Spotlight – It’s time learn more about the lives of those behind AIYA. This week, meet AIYA Yogyakarta Vice President & Treasurer, Edwin Salim!

Events

  • Jakarta, Mataram, Makassar, Bandung & Surabaya, 14 – 31 March – Festival Sinema Australia Indonesia (#FSAI2019) is coming. Various genres of Australian and Indonesian feature films will be screened. And for the first time, FSAI 2019 presents a selection of short films featured at Flickerfest, Australia’s leading competitive short film festival. Tickets are gratis! Read more.
  • Sydney, Canberra & Melbourne, 26, 27, 28 March – The Lowy Institute is hosting, ‘Indonesia’s elections: democracy on trial’ in Sydney, Canberra & Melbourne. Join eminent Indonesian political expert Professor Dewi Fortuna Anwar, and Director of Lowy Institute’s Southeast Asia Project Ben Bland, for a discussion on the elections, the state of democracy in Indonesia, and the implications for Indonesia’s international relations. Read more.
  • Adelaide, 24 March – AIYA SA will go hiking at Brownhill Creek from 10am. Click here for more details.
  • Adelaide, 26 March – Join AIYA SA for LX at Flinders Tavern from 5:30pm!
  • Canberra, TONIGHT –  Come along to Nusa Tenggara Association’s (NTA) 2019 “FUN-D” RAISING DINNER” at 6:30 pm to help raise funds to tackle poverty and malnutrition in the poor farming communities of eastern Indonesia. Guest speaker is Prof Budy P. Resosudarmo. The dinner will also feature a silent auction, raffle and entertainment. Tickets: $60 each, tables of 10 are very welcome! Purchase your ticket!
  • Castlemaine (Victoria), 25 – 27 March – Abdi Karya’s motto is “Don’t think. Feel.” The performance artist, theatre-maker and cultural manager from Makassar, Indonesia, has created a truly tactile performance for the Castlemaine State Festival. Learn more about Abdi Karya and purchase your ticket here.
  • Kupang, 27 March – AIYA East Indo-Kupang is hosting Language Exchange at Aussie Banget Corner, Nusa Cendana University from 11am onwards. This week’s theme is movies (film)!
  • Melbourne, 27 March – Come to AIYA Vic’s LX every Wednesday at 6pm, RMIT Building 80.
  • Sydney, 23 March – Attend ‘SUPERMENTOR SYDNEY: PREPARE YOURSELF FOR AN EXPONENTIAL FUTURE’ and listen to inspiring talks from Bima Arya – Mayor of Bogor; Peter F. Gontha – Ambassador of Indonesia to Poland (2014 – 2019) and other esteemed guests. The event is FREE (RSVP Required)!
  • Sydney, 23 March – Spectacular Eastern Indonesia highlights the vibrant dance and rich musical traditions from the Eastern Region of Indonesia including the well-loved dance, the poco poco. It also features West Papua dancers who are performing for the first time in Australia. As well as award-winning musician, Yopi Latul. Read more.
  • Sydney, 1 April – The Indonesian Consulate in Sydney are hosting an Australia-Indonesia Youth Connection Night from 6 – 8pm. It’s a chance for Australian and Indonesian young people to visit the consulate, meet the Consul General, enjoy FREE Indonesian food, practice their language skills, hangout and network. Ayo, RSVP to receive more details about the event!
  • Sydney, 9 April – This year will be the first time a presidential and general election has been held on the same day in Indonesia. Hosted by SSEAC and AIYA NSW, join the expert panel the week before the election to learn more about the key issues at stake for Indonesia and our region. The panel session will be followed by an extended Q&A session with the audience. Register here!
  • Yogyakarta, 24 March – Feel like going for a jog? Join AIYA Yogya from 7am @ Wisdom Park, UGM for some early morning exercise.
  • Yogyakarta, 25 March – AIYA Yogyakarta Chapter along with Himpunan Wanita Disabilitas Indonesia is presenting seminar to give insight into an organization that focuses itself on lifting the status of women with disabilities in Indonesia. RSVP essential – there is limited seating (30 places). Registration is free for AIYA members!
  • Yogyakarta, 26 March – AIYA Yogya will host RRI Pro 2 Futsal from 5 – 7pm every Tuesday. It is 15k for members and 20k for non-members. Check out the video and see how fun was the last futsal night was! #YukOlahraga!

Opportunities

  • AIYA National is seeking a new Partnerships Officer! The deadline has been extended to midnight TONIGHT. Please send your current CV to Sam Shlansky (Director of Partnerships and Memberships) at [email protected] along with a short cover letter responding to the questions outlined in the position description.
  • Applications for the ACICIS Indonesian Language Short Course (ILSC), running over three weeks in July 2019 at Satya Wacana University in Salatiga, close 1 April! $3,000 New Colombo Plan grants are available for eligible students.
  • Interested in studying and interning in Indonesia for six months? Applications for ACICIS semester-long programs running in Semester 2, 2019, in agriculture, science, business, law, field studies & international relations, close 15 April. Up to $8,000 New Colombo Plan grants are available for eligible students.
  • New Colombo Plan Scholarships for 2020 application rounds will be opening soon. See your university’s global learning office for more information.
  • Registrations for UNSW’s Women in Asia Conference, ‘Women in an Era of Anti-Elitism: Responding to the Challenge of Rising Populism and its Threat to Gender Inclusivity’, June 21 to 23, close 20 April. Register here to attend. You can also volunteer at the event!
  • Applications for Westpac Asian Exchange Scholarships for Semester 2, 2020 will open in March 2019. Stay tuned for updates on their website.
  • Monash University (Caufield) is seeking a PAIR Program Officer. PAIR is the Australia-Indonesia Centre’s DFAT-funded collaborative research program. For more information on the position and how to apply, click here. Applications close 25 March 2019.
  • Volunteers required! FBBI 2019 is the Festival Bahasa dan Budaya Indonesia 2019 and aims to celebrate and share Indonesian language and culture with high-school students across Victoria. The need volunteers to present at the four workshops being held from March – May across Warrnambool, Wodonga, Melbourne City or Clayton. To register your interest, click here.
  • Saksara Research is currently seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified graduates to join its field research team in East Java (Surabaya based). Research Assistant positions are for a one month contract, with the possibility for an extension. Information about how to apply for this opportunity is available in the position description.
  • Nominations for the 2019 Australia Indonesia Awards are open until 31 March 2019. Name a hardworking person you know who is committed to building Australia Indonesia relations. Categories this year are, women’s sport, technology/training and arts & entertainment. Nominate someone here.
  • Australia Awards Scholarships for Master’s and PhD degrees have officially opened and close on 30 April 2019. If you dream about studying in Australia with a full scholarship, apply online here. Applicants must also complete an Additional Information for Online Application. If you have any questions regarding the applications, please contact the Australia Awards in Indonesia office via WhatsApp –  +62 81289804911, Phone – +62 21 5277648 or email. For further information, please click here.
  • The City of Melbourne is calling on innovators, entrepreneurs, students and community members to take part in Open Innovation Competition 2019. Submissions open 7 March and close 18 April 2019. One of the major prizes includes a trip to the Bandung Institute of Technology. Follow the competition here.
  • Call for Volunteers at Indofest 2019, South Australia. The Australian-Indonesian Association of South Australia Inc. (AIASA) is looking for enthusiastic and committed volunteers to assist in the 2019 Indofest event on Sunday, 28 April 2019 at Victoria Square (South side). The committee will provide take-away lunch on the day, and a certificate of acknowledgment should you require one. If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out the expression of interest form here.  
  • The Provincial Government of East Kalimantan has collaborated with Australia Awards in Indonesia, Mulawarman University, and the University of Adelaide to provide a Split-Site Master’s Scholarship Program for high school and vocational school English teachers in East Kalimantan, for the academic year of 2019-2021. For more information on the scholarship’s procedures, requirements, and timeline, click here. Applications close 17 May 2019.
  • English First (EF) Indonesia is looking for Australian teachers for teaching posts in Indonesia. EF Indonesia is also offering sponsorship for a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate valued at over $500 to successful candidates as well as full reimbursement for flights to/from Australia. If you would like to apply, please email [email protected] describing why you are applying for this role (100 words max) and attach your CV.
  • Learning a language? Get Indonesian & English language help with UniBRIDGE Project.

Like what we do? Want to join or support your local chapter to contribute to our exciting activities? Sign up as an AIYA member today!