Visits to three Northern Territory schools showcased what Australia–Indonesia school partnerships can look like in practice.

Educators from Australia and Indonesia came together in Perth for three days of professional learning, cultural exchange and relationship-building as part of the 2026 Australia-Indonesia BRIDGE School Partnerships Program.

Seventeen teachers from ten Indonesian schools have taken the next step in building international school partnerships after participating in the 2026 BRIDGE School Partnerships Program Pre-Departure Training in Jakarta from 2–5 June.

The Australia–Indonesia BRIDGE School Partnerships Program has formally launched its 2026 cohort, announcing twenty schools that will take part in ten new bilateral partnerships across Australia and Indonesia. Delivered online, the Welcome Event brought together educators, government representatives and program partners to mark the commencement of the 2026 program year and introduce the schools and teachers selected to participate. The BRIDGE program is supported by the Austr

At an online Welcome Ceremony in May 2026, ten new Australia-Indonesia BRIDGE school partnerships were announced. Australian schools were selected from the Northern Territory, Western Australia and Tasmania and matched with schools from the Indonesian provinces of North Sumatra, South Sumatra, East Java, Central Java and Jakarta.

Nineteen Australian teachers (12 females and 7 males) and 24 Indonesian teachers (18 females and 6 males) from the 2023 and 2024 BRIDGE School Partnerships program, participated in a professional learning program that incorporated a three-day cultural immersion program in Jakarta, a five-day school visit program with their partnership school, and a formal debrief session in Jakarta prior to their departure to Australia.

Students from four BRIDGE schools had a unique learning opportunity when they were invited to visit the Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Perth.

Ten Indonesian schools officially joined the Australia-Indonesia BRIDGE School Partnership Program during the Record of Understanding hybrid ceremony in Jakarta.

SMAN 54 Jakarta welcomed Australian Governor General David Hurley and his wife Linda Hurley for a landmark visit. Hosted by Principal Bapak Rustaman, the event was further distinguished by the presence of the Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Penny Williams, along with Embassy staff and representatives from the Indonesian Education Ministry.

SD Ar Ridha Al Salaam (ARAS) hosted Australian landscape architect Costa Georgiadis and TV presenter Tammy Huynh from ABC Gardening.

The Australian Embassy in Jakarta, BRIDGE schools celebrated International Literacy Day with a vibrant storytelling event led by David O’Shea, an Australian author and teacher.

Educators from across the Asia Pacific region participated in an enriching BRIDGE Educator Workshop titled ‘Climate Change-Makers: Embedding Sustainability and STEM in Your Classroom and BRIDGE Partnership’.