Nine Southeast Asian educators have recently completed their Australian school visit as part of the newly established ASEAN-Australia BRIDGE School Partnerships Program, with 10 more to travel to Australia from July to September.
The ASEAN-Australia BRIDGE School Partnerships Program is a flagship initiative of the ASEAN-Australia Centre, funded by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and implemented by Asialink Education at the University of Melbourne. It aims to strengthen people-to-people connections by fostering sustainable school partnerships between Australia and Southeast Asia.
In Mach this year, the ASEAN-Australia Centre and Asialink Education announced the selection of 38 primary and secondary schools from across Australia and Southeast Asia to participate in the 2025-26 ASEAN-Australia BRIDGE School Partnerships Program.
Schools were chosen through a competitive selection process and join a prestigious network of over 1,200 schools that have participated in BRIDGE programs across the Asia-Pacific region since 2008.
The newly established ASEAN-Australia BRIDGE School Partnerships Program builds on the momentum of the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN-Australia Dialogue Relations, celebrated in 2024.
The program provides structured learning opportunities and builds cross-cultural connections between educators and students across Australia and Southeast Asia. It will establish 19 new school partnerships, connecting 38 educators and more than 300 students.
The ASEAN-Australia BRIDGE School Partnerships Program commenced on 5 March 2025. It will include monthly professional learning sessions, reciprocal visits from Southeast Asian teachers to Australia (mid-2025) and Australian teachers to Southeast Asia (early 2026), as well as student forums.
Ms Fiona Hoggart, Head of the ASEAN-Australia Centre, said the program plays a pivotal role in supporting the ASEAN-Australia Centre to achieve its mission to strengthen educational ties between Australia and Southeast Asia, and enhance Australians’ understanding of the region.
“We look forward to seeing the innovative projects and lasting friendships that will develop between the students and teachers involved in this wonderful program.”
The following Australian schools are participating in the 2025-26 ASEAN-Australia BRIDGE School Partnerships Program:
- Adelaide High School, SA
- Allegra School, NSW
- Bandiana Primary School, VIC
- Berwick Secondary College, VIC
- Clyde Creek Primary School, VIC
- Cowes Primary School, VIC
- Glendal Primary School, VIC
- Hurlstone Agricultural High School, NSW
- John Curtin College of the Arts, WA
- Kelmscott Senior High School, WA
- Lakeland Senior High School, WA
- Marsden State High School, QLD
- Muhammadiyah Australia College, VIC
- Quarters Primary School, VIC
- Roma Mitchell Secondary College, SA
- St Luke’s Catholic College, NSW
- The Gap State High School, QLD
- The Knox School, VIC
- West Wallsend High School, NSW
For more information about the ASEAN-Australia BRIDGE School Partnerships Program, visit https://asialink.unimelb.edu.au/education/program/asean-bridge/
