Question 1

When do 2027 applications open?

Accepted Answer

Applications for the 2027 intake will open in late 2026.

Question 2

What does the BRIDGE funding cover?

Accepted Answer

Indonesian Teacher Visit to Australia 
BRIDGE covers:
Return flights and accommodation for Australian teachers attending in-person professional learning
Approximately $300 per diem for Australian host families per Indonesian teacher they are hosting in their home (subject to change and circumstance)

Australian Educator Visit to Indonesia 
BRIDGE covers:
International return flights from your nearest Australian airport (domestic transport for regional / rural participants where required)
All accommodation in Indonesia
Group meals and ground transport
$350 per diem for visa, roaming, and incidentals
Travel insurance through the University of Melbourne

What's Not Covered 
Schools should budget for:
Teacher replacement costs during program participation
Time in lieu for participating teachers

Question 3

Will the Indonesian teachers get Working With Children Checks prior to the school visit?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The BRIDGE team work with the Indonesian teachers and the relevant state and territory organisations to ensure teachers receive the required permissions before they enter Australia (this varies based on location and school type).

Additionally, all Indonesian BRIDGE teachers undergo a National Police Check prior to departing for Australia and are reviewed and approved by the Australian Embassy in Jakarta before they are matched with Australian schools.

Question 4

How long does the partnership last?

Accepted Answer

Schools that participate in the BRIDGE program are expected to maintain their school partnership for a minimum of two years. Many partnerships continue for years, supported by grant opportunities and professional networks.

Question 5

Can schools in regional or remote areas participate?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. BRIDGE welcomes applications from schools across Australia, including metropolitan, regional, and remote locations.

Question 6

What if my school is not located in Western Australia, Tasmanian or the Northern Territory?

Accepted Answer

This iteration of the Australia-Indonesia BRIDGE School Partnership Program will run from 2026-2029. While 2026 has priority locations to strengthen the representation of BRIDGE schools in those locations, 2027 and 2028 will provide opportunities for other states and territory schools interested in joining.

If you are located in a different state or territory you can complete the Expression of Interest so we can contact you for future opportunities.

Question 7

Do I need to be able to speak Indonesian?

Accepted Answer

No language prerequisites are required. The program is conducted in English, with translation support provided where needed.

The Indonesian school and teacher selection process includes an English assessment. Collaborative school activities are not limited to language exchange.

Question 8

What sort of collaborative school activities would I do with my partner school?

Accepted Answer

The BRIDGE team aim to match schools with similar interests and students of a similar age.

The first step with any partnership is getting to know each other and sharing about interests and goals. Often teachers will land on some shared ideas that they explore.

Arts: Film projects, dance choreography, Indonesian-inspired art and music
STEM: Sharing soil and water samples for a science project, robotics challenges, 
Business: Market a product to an Indonesian audience, compare market trends between Australia and Indonesia
Extracurricular: Debate teams practise against each other, sharing different games / sports
Language: Video chats, letter / message exchanges, video introductions / explanations on different topics (these can be used in multiple classes)

Kingston High School

SMA Unggul Del

Northshore Christian Grammar School

MTsN 3 Jakarta Selatan

Humpty Doo Primary School

SD Newton Global School

Dunalley Primary School

MI Istiqlal Jakarta

Purnululu Aboriginal Independent Community School

MAN 2 Kota Malang

Redpa Primary School

SD Ihsaniyah 1 Kota Tegal

Northern Territory School of Distance Education

SMAN Sumatera Selatan

Busselton Senior High School

Madrasah Aliyah Citra Cendekia

East Manjimup Primary School

SD Palm Kids Palembang

Aveley Secondary College

SMK Telkom Sidoarjo

Timeline