2018 Highlights

NAILA in 2018

In 2018, NAILA consolidated its success from the previous three years and received almost 100 video applications in Indonesian across 10 award categories, with particular interest from primary school and high school students.

Together with our sponsors, the NAILA team developed a range of speech topics tailored to each award category covering aspects of the 2018 theme, “Diversity”, a topic which was reflected by the range of ideas participants presented in their video submissions!

Participants from across Australia and Indonesia relished the opportunity to explore the facets of diversity in both nations. From engaging with meaningful ideas to demonstrating creative abilities through song and dance, participants demonstrated an exceptional enthusiasm for not only fostering foreign language learning in Australia, but also strengthening the bilateral relationship more broadly.

Awards Weekend

The NAILA 2018 Competition culminated for the fourth year running with a prestigious Awards Ceremony and networking weekend in Melbourne in November 2018. The 2018 Awardees delivered their winning entries in front of their families, friends and members of the Australia-Indonesia community.

Hosted by Monash University’s Global Engagement Office, the NAILA 2018 Awards Evening was attended by over 100 guests including Ibu Spica Tutuhatunewa (Indonesian Consul General, Melbourne), Jared Heath (Chairman, Australia-Indonesia Business Council Victoria), Ms Yacinta Kurniasih (School of Languages, Literatures, Cultures and Linguistics, Monash University, and NAILA 2018 Judge) and Ms Jane Ahlstrand (NAILA 2018 Judge, NAILA 2017 Tertiary Awardee and NAILA 2015 Wild Card Awardee).

Mr Allaster Cox (Deputy Head of Mission to Indonesia, Australian Embassy in Jakarta), Mr Azis Nurwahyudi (Director of Public Diplomacy at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and Ms Janelle Chapman (Executive Director, TAFE Queensland International) delivered their congratulations to all the participants of NAILA 2017 via video message and commented on the importance of intercultural understanding and language learning.

Over the Awards Weekend, the awardees and their families explored Melbourne city, enjoyed an Indonesian lunch, participated in a musical soiree at the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Melbourne, and had a private dinner. Awardees had the opportunity to meet leaders in the Australia-Indonesia relationship, connect with each other and members of the NAILA community, and form lasting friendships.

We are incredibly grateful to our sponsors and partners. Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to collaborating again in the future. We are extremely thankful to the 2018 VIP Judges for their commitment to championing the study of Indonesian: John H. McGlynn, Jane Ahlstrand, Yacinta Kurniasih and Svida Alisjahbana.

NAILA is driven by a dynamic and talented group of young Australian and Indonesian volunteers who are dedicated to improving the bilateral relationship.

Congratulations to the all the participants, as well as their teachers and families for supporting the study of Indonesian in Australia. NAILA is extremely proud of every applicant in our 2018 competition. Without them, NAILA would not be possible.

Media Coverage of NAILA 2018

In 2018, NAILA was covered by over a dozen leading media outlets in both countries, from our media partners SBS Radio Indonesia, Radio Kita, Good News from Indonesia, OZIP Magazine, INDOMEDIA and Buset Magazine, to ABC News, Asia Options, Detik, JPNN, Tempo, Tribunnews and Femina.

Connect with NAILA!

Visit our website and follow NAILA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube!

What is NAILA?

The National Australia Indonesia Language Awards (or NAILA) is an initiative of the Australia-Indonesia Youth Association (AIYA) that aims to reward and foster the development of Indonesian language learning in Australia. It is the first language competition of its kind bringing together speakers from all different age groups and backgrounds to enable them to learn, network and mentor one another.

Interview with Tom McKenzie (NAILA 2018 Deakin University Teacher’s Awardee)

Interview with Iven Manning (NAILA 2018 Wild Card Awardee)

Media Coverage

BUSET Magasine

Femina

SBS Radio Indonesian

ABC News

Tempo

Asia Options

Awardee Testimonials

NAILA gives me hope for the sustainability of friendship between the Australian and Indonesian people. As the winner of the Native Speaker category, I was amazed by participants' stories and broadened my perspective about Australia's diverse cultures.

It was such great fun getting to know new and interesting words and memorising them. When you get to video yourself, it is so much fun! And when you accidentally make a mistake, it's hilarious. I was so lucky to travel to Melbourne and meet new people and experience new things. I would definitely recommend competing in NAILA.

Having just returned from an exchange semester in Yogyakarta, participating in NAILA allowed me to stay connected with Indonesia. It allowed me to maintain and apply the Indonesian language skills I had learned in-country, and it also brought me into contact with a community of people within Australia who share my passion for the Indonesian language, culture and nation.

As well as giving me the chance to put into practice what I have learnt about the language, participating in NAILA exposed me to the interconnection between Australia and Indonesia, and the importance of maintaining and strengthening the relationship we have. It also gave me the opportunity to meet and connect with others who think the same, and learn from them first-hand.