Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
2024-2026
Between 2024 and 2026, we designed and delivered a professional placements program that enabled businesses in Australia and Southeast Asia to send their professionals on international business placements, on behalf of the Australian Government.
The Challenge
In September 2023, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the establishment of the Southeast Asia Placements and Internships Program to build enduring links between Australia and Southeast Asian businesses, while strengthening Australia’s Asia literacy.
In 2024, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) engaged Strategic to design and implement the proof-of-concept program, supporting short-term international placements for early to mid-career professionals across Australia and ten Southeast Asian countries. Approximately 40 placements were to be supported, fostering stronger international business connections based on in-country experience and fostering enduring people-to-people relationships.
As a proof-of-concept initiative, the program was designed to test a range of delivery models and partnerships across Southeast Asia while consciously capturing insights and lessons learned. These findings contribute to shaping future regional engagement and cooperation under the Australian Government’s Invested: Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 (Invested), promoting deeper, more sustained Australia-Southeast Asia collaboration.
This was a pilot initiative, designed to test and trial diverse approaches, partners and locations while consciously capturing lessons learned along the way to inform future regional cooperation.
Justin Whyatt, First Assistant Secretary, DFAT, at the Celebratory Closing Event for 14 Southeast Asian Professionals on Placement in Melbourne April - May 2026
The Solution
Strategic designed and implemented the Professional Placements Program to expand the pool of professionals actively applying their commercial skills, networks, and cultural capability to Australia-Southeast Asia opportunities, while strengthening partnerships and promoting greater trade and investment across the region. Whether businesses aimed to explore market entry, navigate complex regulatory environments, scope prospective partnerships, or exchange knowledge to enhance capability, the opportunity to place young professionals in-country provided the catalyst to translate ambition into active regional engagement.
Strategic led end-to-end delivery, from program promotion, partnership development, and placement deployment to risk management and ongoing evaluation. The program tested demand, delivery models, and partnership approaches, while identifying key barriers and enablers to professional mobility and business participation.
Participants meeting His Excellency Mr Rod Brazier, Ambassador to Indonesia, at the Australian Embassy Jakarta while on placement in Jakarta September – October 2025
The program exceeded the intended number of placements. Placements were supported between nine Southeast Asian countries and Australia, spanning sectors such as energy transition, digital economy, finance, and education. Alongside individual placements, we deployed a cohort of 14 Southeast Asian participants to Melbourne-based businesses for three weeks in April – May 2026, including a cultural orientation program with some of Australia’s leading universities, First Nations organisations, industry and trade organisations, and start-up ecosystems. We also facilitated placements for six Australian professionals in Jakarta-based businesses for four weeks in September – October 2025, connecting them with Indonesian business leaders and senior diplomatic representatives, including His Excellency Mr Rod Brazier, Ambassador to Indonesia.
Participating Businesses
To support delivery and test market demand, Strategic engaged extensively across the business ecosystem, working with bilateral business councils, chambers of commerce, trade and investment agencies, industry associations, and private sector partners. In total, over 700 businesses and organisations were consulted or engaged, generating critical insights into business needs, partnership models, and the practical enablers of cross-border professional exchange.
Program Stakeholders
THE OUTCOME
The Professional Placements Program demonstrated the viability and impact of professional placements as a mechanism for building trusted networks, deepening commercial ties, and supporting long-term Australia-Southeast Asia economic engagement. Regardless of whether placements spanned two weeks or three months, participants delivered remarkable outcomes – designing and launching new marketing strategies, introducing fresh systems-thinking analyses, and supporting leadership teams in advancing new market entry discussions, to name a few.
To learn more about specific outcomes achieved by selected participants, please see the following case studies.
Businesses and participants were highly engaged and provided highly positive feedback on their experiences:
“This has truly been one of the most meaningful and memorable experiences of my life. I still find myself reflecting on the journey, the people I met, the conversations we had, and the moments that made the experience so special. Everything was so thoughtfully organized, and I always felt supported at every step, from placement coordination to cultural and professional guidance.
Beyond the professional learnings, what I will really carry with me are the relationships and genuine connections I built along the way. Being part of this program made me grow in ways I didn’t expect, both personally and professionally, and gave me memories I will always look back on fondly.
”
Importantly, these business connections have extended beyond the placements themselves. In the months since, relationships have continued to deepen, with businesses initiating early-stage partnerships, exchanging invitations to key industry events, and reconnecting across multiple cities throughout Australia and Southeast Asia - not only with their original placement counterparts, but also with a broader network of businesses engaged during the in-country experience.
The proof-of-concept phase has now concluded, having tested a range of delivery models, partnerships, and geographies while intentionally capturing insights and lessons learned. These findings, and a design for a small-scale pilot program, have been provided to DFAT to inform future regional engagement and cooperation under Invested, fostering deeper and more sustained Australia-Southeast Asia collaboration.
We will watch with pride the Professional Placements Program alumni cohort as they continue to lead regional engagement within their respective sectors. We look forward to working with DFAT and other relevant organisations on activities that to continue to build strong and endure people-to-people linkages across the region.
