The 2009 Australia-Japan Talkback Classroom Forum

Media Release

The Australia Japan Foundation (AJF) and Australian
Education International (AEI) are pleased to announce the 2009
Australia-Japan Talkback Classroom Forum will be held at the
National Press Club of Australia on 16 March 2009.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Stephen Smith
MP,and the Japanese Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Mr
Taka-aki Kojima, will be interviewed by a panel of four
students selected from schools in Tokyo, Canberra and
Melbourne.

The theme of the discussions is 'Images of Australia
in Japan and Japan in Australia' covering a range of
issues relevant to the contemporary bilateral
relationship. The forum will include a special Q&A
session exclusively for students in the audience and
online.

The forum will be broadcast on the Australian Public Affairs
Channel (A-PAC) and can be seen on Channel 607 on FOXTEL and
AUSTAR. The program will also be streamed live on the
Internet on the A-PAC website at www.a-pac.tv/

Talkback Classroom provides a forum for senior secondary
school students to investigate issues of international
significance and record interviews for broadcast with national
and international decision makers. The student panel
completes a comprehensive program of online study and
reciprocal visits. Their interviews and reflections are
also captured in a series of mini-documentary style film clips
to complement their daily diary entries in a project
blog. Further information about the 2009 Australia-Japan
Talkback Classroom is available online at www.talkbackclassroom.com.au.

The AJF, established by the Australian Government in 1976,
seeks to strengthen the Australia-Japan relationship by
supporting projects that enhance community, professional and
institutional links between the two countries. Further
details about the AJF's activities is available on its
website www.ajf.australia.or.jp

Media Enquiries: DFAT Media Liaison - 02 6261
1555 - Mr Stephen Cutting, Talkback
Classroom Producer, on Mob: 0408 559211 or Email: erproductions@bigpond.com.