APINDO Invites Indonesian businesses to take advantage of Worker Exchange Scheme with Australia
The Indonesia-Australia Skills Development Exchange Pilot Project provides a maximum one-year employment opportunity for Indonesian professionals to work in Australia
JAKARTA, 7 March 2024 – Indonesian workers now have a new avenue to gain work experience in Australia, with the opening of the revamped Indonesia-Australia Skills Development Exchange Pilot Project.
Delivered under the Memorandum of Understanding between Indonesia and Australia, signed in August 2023, the improved skills exchange will support up to 1,500 eligible Indonesian workers to gain experience in Australia, while also supporting 1,500 Australian professionals gain experience in Indonesia.
The program was showcased at an event today in Jakarta, co-hosted by the Indonesian Employers’ Association (APINDO) and Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA- CEPA) Economic Cooperation Program Katalis.
“The Indonesia-Australia Skills Development Exchange Pilot Project is an implementation of the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement which significantly facilitates the exchange of skills and work practices between the two countries. We invite businesses in Indonesia to take advantage of this opportunity to increase the competence and competitiveness of professional workers, and ultimately strengthen their understanding of business practices in Indonesia and Australia,” said Shinta Kamdani, Chair, APINDO.
Professionals across seven priority sectors may be eligible for the program, including financial services and insurance; mining, engineering and related technical services; information, media and telecommunications services; tourism and travel related services; creative economy; agribusiness and food processing; and green economy.
“The IA-CEPA is creating fertile ground for a renewed push for deeper economic ties, cultural understanding, and people-to-people links. We’re excited to do our part to promote mutually beneficial commercial partnerships, for individuals and organisations, of which mobility in each direction is an integral part,” said Paul Bartlett, Program Director for Katalis.
Under the pilot program, professionals from Indonesia can access a special, up to one-year visa, subject to meeting a range of requirements at the individual and organisational level. Eligible individuals must be permanently employed with an Indonesian organisation or company that has a relationship with partners in Australia, and is a member of APINDO, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce, or the Indonesia Australia Business Council. Individuals must be working in one of the seven priority sectors and have skills that meet defined Australian standards for professionals.
More information on the pilot program and eligibility can be found here: https://iacepa- katalis.org/guidebook-indonesia-australia-skills-development-exchange-pilot-program/
