Australia-Indonesia BRIDGE School Partnership Program

BRIDGE stands for Building Relationships through Intercultural Dialogue and Growing Engagement.

The BRIDGE Program connects Australian and Indonesian schools in a bilateral school partnership. BRIDGE establishes school-to-school relationships, provides teacher professional learning program (online, in person and in country immersion) and connects students through global classroom activities.

Since 2008, the Australia-Indonesia BRIDGE School Partnership Program has established 253 school partnerships and provided professional learning to 953 teachers across Australia and Indonesia. Between 2026 – 2029, an additional 30 school partnerships will be established.

Location

The priority locations in Australia are Western Australia, Northern Territory and Tasmania. In Indonesia the provinces are East Java, Jakarta, East Kalimantan, Central Java, North Sumatera and South Sumatera.

Curriculum

Participation in the BRIDGE Program is open to teachers from across all learning areas. BRIDGE is not restricted to schools or educators that teach Bahasa Indonesia.

Inclusions

In 2026, 10 Australian schools will be selected:

• 7 new schools will be matched with an Indonesian school. (2 teachers to be nominated)
• 3 BRIDGE schools that have previously been involved and have inactive partnerships will be re
  partnered with an Indonesian school. (1 teacher to be nominated)

Key commitments

• Participate in hybrid professional learning with your Indonesian partner school from May to August 2026.
• Participate in an in-person professional learning program to be facilitated in an Australian
  capital city (location to be confirmed based on selected schools) on 21 – 23 August 2026.
• Host two Indonesian educators from 24 – 28 August 2026 at your school and in homestays as part
  of the school visit / homestay program immersion program.
• Participate in in country immersion and partner school visit program in Indonesia, January 2027.
• Facilitate global classroom activities with partner school.

Goal

Support stronger people-people relationships through enhancing educators’ skills and mutual understanding

Outcomes

• Improved pedagogical skills and confidence of participating educators
• Strengthened cooperation between participating educators in Australia and Indonesia engage in enduring and impactful relationships.

Funding

The BRIDGE Program covers the following participation costs: 

Indonesian teacher school visit / homestay in Australia 

• Return flights and accommodation for the Australian teacher to the Australian city where the inperson professional learning will take place (location to be determined). 
• A per diem for the host / teacher hosting the Indonesian teacher in their home to support home stay program. In 2025 this was $300 for each Indonesian teacher hosted. 

Australian teacher school visit in Indonesia 

• International flight to Indonesia (return) departing from the nearest Australian international airport.
• Accommodation in Indonesia
• Group meals
• Ground transport 
• Per diem for Australian teachers to pay for: e-visa, international roaming package of their choice, meals during school visit program, incidentals. In 2025 the per diem was $350. 
• Guest Travel insurance for Australian teacher provided through the University of Melbourne. 

BRIDGE Partnership Grants

Opportunity to apply for the BRIDGE grants program upon completion of the program (Please note the grants program is a competitive process and therefore applying does not guarantee grant support).

The Australia-Indonesia BRIDGE School Partnerships Program does not cover costs related to:

• Teacher replacement costs for program participation
• Time in lieu costs for Australian teachers

School eligibility requirements

• Be a registered Australian primary or secondary school. 
• Located in Western Australia, Tasmania or the Northern Territory. 
• Nominate at least one (and a maximum of two) teacher to represent their school and engage with the matched Indonesian partner educators for two years. 
• Commit to hosting two Indonesian partner teachers within the school community for the duration of the six-day school visit/homestay program.

School selection criteria

• Clear vision of the benefit to your school from participation in the BRIDGE Program. 
• Have an interest in and commitment to a partnership with an Indonesian school. 
• Leadership supports and enables teachers to participate in BRIDGE professional learning programs. 
• Have reliable internet access and basic IT infrastructure sufficient to participate in regular virtual exchanges and online professional learning. 
• Priority consideration may be given to women-led schools in line with DFAT priority. 
• Outline how your school supports students with disabilities and addresses social inclusion.

Teacher eligibility requirements 

• Be a qualified teacher in Australia and hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent. 
• Currently employed at the applying school (ongoing or fixed-term contract). 
• Endorsed by the school principal to participate in the program.

Teacher selection criteria

• Demonstrate a clear and sustained commitment to establishing and maintaining a professional partnership with an Indonesian teacher. 
• Commitment to full participation in all BRIDGE program components (online, in person and immersion). 
• Capacity to facilitate student learning online activities with Indonesian partner school. 
• Demonstrate digital communication and collaboration skills.
• Ability to share pedagogical practices with Indonesian partner school/teacher.

Please visit the Indonesia BRIDGE School Partnerships Program website to apply. 

The BRIDGE Professional Learning Program has been designed to address the following AITSL Standards:

• 1.3 Students with diverse linguistic, cultural, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds 
• 2.6 Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
• 3.4 Select and use resources
• 6.3 Engage with colleagues and improve practice
• 7.4 Engage with professional teaching networks and broader communities.