Sydney (VNA) – Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has announced the list of schools selected for the ASEAN-Australia Centre’s 2024-25 grants programme and 38 schools chosen for the BRIDGE School Partnerships Programme.
Wong noted the ASEAN-Australia Centre’s initiatives support the implementation of "Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040" by fostering deeper community, cultural, and business ties between Australia, ASEAN member states, and Timor-Leste.
The ASEAN-Australia Centre is providing funding across three key areas: creative industry exchanges, business and education initiatives, and practical research projects aimed at strengthening shared understanding and collaboration between Australia and Southeast Asia.
As part of these efforts, the centre is supporting young women entrepreneurs from Australia and ASEAN countries to scale their startups through business and investment networks. It is also offering fellowships for ASEAN business and community leaders to exchange insights on regional trends and opportunities with Australian enterprises. In the music industry, professional exchanges between professionals from Southeast Asia and Australia are being facilitated to enhance two-way trade.
Ahead of Australia's hosting of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2026, a football diplomacy programme is being implemented for female football administrators and players to foster cultural and professional ties. Meanwhile, initiatives to expand the availability of premium Australian horticultural produce to Southeast Asia are being introduced alongside programmes that introduce the region’s next generation of chefs to the sustainability, traceability and quality of Australian produce.
The minister also announced the selection of 38 outstanding primary and secondary schools from Australia and Southeast Asia for the BRIDGE School Partnerships Programme. This initiative will provide over 300 students and their educators with opportunities to engage in structured learning and build cross-cultural connections. These schools will join a prestigious network of more than 1,200 institutions that have participated in BRIDGE across the Indo-Pacific region since 2008.
Wong expressed her optimism that these initiatives will deepen long-term friendships and cooperation between Australia and ASEAN nations./.
