Foreign Minister Penny Wong and her Indonesian counterpart Sugiono have used an event at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to promote Bahasa Indonesia learning among young Australians.
They were joined on Tuesday by the Special Envoy for Indian Ocean Affairs, Tim Watts, and Collingwood captain Darcy Moore, who speaks Bahasa Indonesia, as they met members of the Krakatoas Australian-Indonesian AFL team and pupils from Brunswick North West Primary School.
The students are learning Bahasa Indonesia through the Australia Awards Indonesian Language Learning Ambassador program.
Wong said Moore showed how language study could help Australians form closer connections in the region. “Darcy Moore is a great example of how learning a language can open doors to new experiences, connections and a deeper understanding of our region,” she said.
“We want more young Australians to have the opportunity to learn Bahasa Indonesia and other regional languages so that we build greater cultural understanding and connections with our neighbours.”
The event came as the federal government seeks to strengthen Australian engagement with Indonesia and other Asian countries through language learning, exchanges and cultural programs.
In May, it committed $2.5 million through the Community Language Schools Grants Program to support Asian-language learning. The government has also allocated $11.4 million over four years to the Australia-Indonesia Institute under the Jakarta Treaty signed in February, expanding cultural exchanges and grant programs.
Wong said the skills would have practical value for Australia’s future engagement with the region. “For Australia, building these skills strengthens our ability to confidently engage with our region and supports our future security and prosperity.”
Watts said language learning should be linked to opportunities beyond school. “Building Australia’s Asia capability is critical to our nation’s future,” he said.
“We want language learning to open doors for young Australians, whether that is through the classroom, an exchange program, study or a career working with our region.”
He said Australia would need stronger knowledge of the region in the years ahead. “For Australia to succeed in the years and decades ahead, we need a deeper understanding and engagement with our region’s languages, cultures, histories, societies and economies.”
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