Expression of concern

The 8^th biennial Conference of the Australian Society of Indonesian Language Educators (ASILE), held at Curtin University 3-5 July 2005, made the following statement of concern

1. Recognising the value of people-to-people contact between Australians and Indonesians, we express our concern at the decline in enrolments in, and government support for, Indonesian language programs around Australia. We therefore call upon the state, territory and Commonwealth governments of Australia and the government of Indonesia to work together more closely to further promote the development of Indonesian language teaching programs in Australia.
2. We call upon the Australian Government to implement those recommendations (attached) contained in the May 2004 report of by the Commonwealth of Australia Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade that relate to the teaching and learning of Indonesian language.
3. We call upon the Indonesian government to consider providing appropriate incentives to Australian teachers of Indonesian that will further encourage the study of Indonesian language amongst Australians.
4. We call upon the Australian government to reconsider the current Travel Advisories regarding Indonesia in order to create a more flexible system, one that is able to better respond to the varied educational needs of teachers and students.
5. We express our hope that more regular cross-cultural activities will be supported by the governments of both Australia and Indonesia, for we believe that such activities can greatly improve mutual understanding and respect.
6. We call on both governments to refrain from actions which would inhibit the free flow of academic and educational exchange between our two countries.

For further information contact:

Dr Ian Chalmers
Senior Lecturer, Indonesian Studies
Chair, 2005 ASILE Conference www.ASILE.curtin.edu.au
Division of Humanities
Curtin University of Technology
PO Box U-1987, Perth WA 6185
Tel: (61) (08) 9266 7081 Fax: (61) (08) 9266 2547

Professor David T. Hill
Chair of Southeast Asian Studies
School of Social Sciences and Humanities
Division of Arts
MURDOCH UNIVERSITY WA 6150
tel: (+61-8) 9360 2412 (direct); 9360 2504 (School office); mob. 04 3836 2798
fax: (+61-8) 9360 6575

Ms Karen Bailey
President, WILTA
(Westralian Indonesian Language Teachers’ Association)
Website: www.wilta.org

ATTACHMENT

Selected Recommendations of:

The Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia
Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade
Foreign Affairs Sub Committee Report

Near Neighbours – Good Neighbours
An Inquiry into Australia’s Relationship with Indonesia

May 2004, Canberra

Recommendation 3

The Committee recommends that the Federal Government jointly invite the States to examine ways in which the educational relationship with Indonesia can be more cohesively managed.

Recommendation 10

The Committee recommends that:

• travel advisories should note that they are not a prohibition on travel unless otherwise the case;
• travel advisories should incorporate information on current practices, for example, the number of people travelling;
• where a travel advisory impacts upon a State Government relationship or business activity, that there be capacity for this to be discussed with DFAT in a way that ensures that if at all possible the advice can be given in a way that satisfies insurers of low risk activities; and
• that Australian Government agencies and institutions affected by travel advisories respond creatively during such periods and find ways to ensure that the interactions with their counterparts in Indonesia take place.

Recommendation 12

• The Committee recommends that:education should continue to retain the central importance that is has in Australia’s aid to Indonesia;
• that increases in education funding should not be at the expense of other aspects of AusAID’s program to Indonesia or at the expense of aid to other countries; and
• that increases to one part of the education program should not be at the expense of other aspects of the education program.

Recommendation 14

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government should establish a program of scholarships to Indonesian teachers to undertake professional development training Australia during vacations.

Recommendation 18

The Committee recommends that Indonesian Studies be designated a strategic national priority and that the Australia Research Council and the Department of Education, Science and Training be requested to recognise this in prioritising funding for both research and teaching.

Recommendation 19

The Committee recommends that NALSAS (the National Asian Languages and Studies in Australian Schools program) be restored, or a program with similar aims and an equivalent level of funding be established.

Recommendation 20

The Committee recommends that additional funding be provide to the Department of Education, Science and Training to enable it provide an annual grant to the Australian Consortium for ‘In-Country’ Indonesian Studies, for running and salary costs.

Recommendation 21

The Committee recommends that the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs, develop a strategy for promoting understanding of Islam in Australian schools, and of creating ways of and encouraging Australian schools to establish sister school links with schools in Indonesia including Muslim schools.

Recommendation 25

The Committee recommends that the Australia Indonesia Institute receive additional funding to expand its efforts in promoting culture and arts.