Australian Consul General emphasises strengthening educational cooperation with Indonesia

Denpasar (ANTARA) - The Australian Consul General in Bali has emphasised the importance of educational cooperation with Indonesia as an effort to maintain the bilateral relationship between the two nations.

“People-to-people ties are the foundation of the closeness between Indonesia and Australia, including in the field of education,” said Australian Consul General Jo Stevens during a visit to the National University of Education (Undikmas) in Denpasar, Bali, on Wednesday.

He noted that there are 25,000 Indonesian citizens pursuing education in the ‘Land of Kangaroos’ as of 2025, alongside many Australian students visiting Indonesia through the New Colombo Plan.

During a public lecture to Undikmas students, the senior diplomat highlighted the strong and lasting personal bonds between the people of both countries.

He also outlined the close bilateral relationship between Australia and Indonesia as neighbouring and friendly nations.

On the other hand, he continued, both countries face similar challenges, namely climate change and regional stability.

“Close cooperation will help us in facing these challenges,” he said.

Meanwhile, to support educational cooperation, his office established the ‘Aussie Banget’ (ABC) corner in three campuses in Bali, including Undikmas, which has been operational since 2022 and has now been renewed for the 2026-2028 period.

The ABC corner, he stated, serves as a platform for students to learn more about Australia, discover study opportunities in the country, and access a collection of books themed around the nation famous for its koalas.