Acisis Consortium Marks 30 Years: Celebrating Impact and Looking Ahead
On 10 September 2025, Canberra, Australia played host to a significant event: the 30th anniversary celebration of the Acicis consortium. The occasion brought together a diverse range of attendees, including alumni, university partners, government representatives, and friends, to honour the consortium's history and impact in Australia.
The event began with Consortium Director Liam Prince taking to the stage. He traced the history of Indonesian studies in Australia, paying tribute to Professor David Hill, the consortium's founder. The evening also featured the launch of the Bahasa Sesh competition, where guests shared their favourite Indonesian words and phrases over food.
The event was graced by the presence of the Hon. Tim Watts, Special Envoy for Indian Ocean Affairs. He credited the consortium's decades of work for fostering trust and understanding between Australia and Indonesia. The Hon. Penny Wong, Foreign Minister, also reflected on the importance of Acicis in equipping young Australians with cultural fluency and understanding of Indonesia.
The event was filled with personal stories, such as those of Dr Natali Pearson and Hillary Mansour, highlighting the professional and personal impact of Acicis. These stories served as a testament to the enduring value of educational and cultural bridges in Australia.
Acisis is continuing its 30-year celebrations in Yogyakarta, Indonesia in October, with plans to build on its history and impact. Liam Prince highlighted how Acicis opened a pathway for thousands of Australian undergraduate students to study in Indonesia. Despite the lack of information about who held the function of Special Envoy for Indian Ocean Affairs in 2025, the event was a resounding success, celebrating the consortium's legacy and looking forward to its future in Australia.
