Jo Stevens, the Senior Diplomat and Australian Consul General in Bali, highlighted Indonesia's rising popularity as a destination for Australian students participating in the New Colombo Plan (NCP). Speaking at a press conference in Denpasar on Friday, Stevens noted, “NCP students come here to learn and gain work experience.”

The NCP connects Australian students with opportunities in the Indo-Pacific region, making Indonesia a favored choice. Over the past decade, more than 12,000 students have studied and interned across the archipelago.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of educational cooperation in Indonesia, notably between Australia’s Edith Cowan University (ECU) and Prof. Ngoerah General Hospital in Sanglah, Denpasar.

“Since 2014, NCP has offered Australian students opportunities to study and intern abroad, fostering relationships and networks throughout Indonesia,” Stevens explained.

In the past decade, undergraduate students from ECU, primarily supported by the NCP mobility program, have completed internships lasting two weeks at Bali’s largest hospital, occurring once or twice a year. This collaboration has facilitated cross-cultural skill sharing and understanding for 220 participating students.

“Community connections are at the heart of the Australia-Indonesia relationship,” Stevens added.

I Gusti Ngurah Ketut Sukadarma, Director of Operational Services at Prof. Ngoerah General Hospital, expressed openness to further cooperation and knowledge sharing. “We are very open to discussions and exchanging knowledge and experiences in the medical field,” he said during the NCP educational program's tenth-anniversary celebration.

David Reid, a representative from ECU, emphasized that the collaboration extends beyond internship programs, serving as a gateway to mutual understanding. “This is more than just a clinical internship program. It is a gateway to understanding, a catalyst for personal growth, and a shining example of what can be achieved when we work together across borders,” he remarked.

As Australia and Indonesia continue to strengthen their educational ties, the NCP exemplifies the enduring partnership between the two nations, fostering growth, understanding, and cooperation among future leaders.