Ten innovative education, arts and cultural and economic diplomacy projects will be supported through this year's Australia-Malaysia Institute (AMI) grants program.
Australia's relationship with Malaysia is built on deep and longstanding connections forged in education, trade, investment and tourism. The AMI grants scheme supports a range of activities to strengthen creative economy and education linkages and to promote Australia as a vibrant and diverse country.
The ten recipients of AMI funding, totalling $133,250, represent a cross section of Australia's creativity, including dance, cultural heritage and contemporary film. Australia's educational expertise will also be shared with Malaysia through school exchange programs, professional development programs for school counsellors and special education professionals. Programs will support development of creative and innovative learning materials among primary education teachers and staff exchanges across schools will continue to strengthen and promote cross-cultural communication. The Export Council of Australia will also receive support towards an Australia-Malaysia Trade Education Summit.
Other highlights from the grants program include 'Welcome2Flatland'- a cutting edge art installation in Malaysia by award-winning contemporary arts organisation Rubix Cube, development of a Kelabit community museum in the highlands of Borneo, as well as a University of New South Wales workshop for Malaysian high school and vocational education career counsellors providing career planning skills for women and girls in Malaysia.
Further information about the AMI is available at www.dfat.gov.au/people-to-people/foundations-councils-institutes/australia-malaysia-institute/.