PM Australia: Providing Young People Language Skills an Investment

RRI.CO.ID, Melbourne - Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono and Special Envoy Tim Watts MP joined Collingwood Football Club captain and Bahasa Indonesia speaker Darcy Moore to showcase the important role language and sport can play in bringing Australia and Indonesia even closer together.

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, they met with the Krakatoas Australian-Indonesian AFL team and children learning Bahasa Indonesia from Brunswick North West Primary School through the Australia Awards Indonesian Language Learning Ambassador program.

The Albanese Government wants more young Australians to learn a language and build the skills, confidence and connections to engage with the region, including with its close partner Indonesia.

The Prime Minister said,"For Australia, giving young people the language skills and cultural understanding to engage with our region is an investment in our future security, prosperity and relationships."

In May, the Government announced $2.5 million through the Community Language Schools Grants Program – Fluency in Asian Languages – Round 1 grant to support Asian language learning.

According to a release received by RRI Voice of Indonesia on Thursday, August 27, 2026, under the Jakarta Treaty signed in February this year, the Australia-Indonesia Institute will receive $11.4 million to expand its cultural exchange and grants programs over 4 years, creating more opportunities for Australians and Indonesians to learn from each other and strengthen ties.

The Government is also strengthening Australia's Indonesia capability through the New Colombo Plan, with a renewed focus on priority Asian language learning, longer-term immersive experiences and deeper engagement with Indonesia.

The New Colombo Plan (NCP) Scholarship Program supports Australian undergraduate students to strengthen their Indo-Pacific capability and Asia literacy, including in priority Asian languages, through immersive, long-term structured learning and internships, with programs up to 19 months.

Under the NCP Scholarship Program, Australian universities are required to put forward all eligible Australian undergraduate students from their institution who submit an Expression of Interest in applying for the program.