Strengthening Australia-Indonesia Business Engagement Through Professional Placements
The value of immersive, in-market experience in strengthening Australia-Indonesia economic ties
Australian participants of the Jakarta 2025 Program, pictured at the cultural orientation networking night
Overview
Strategic Development Group (Strategic) implemented the Professional Placements Program on behalf of the Australian Government to enable Australian and Southeast Asian businesses to send and receive early- to mid-career professionals for international professional placements. Through this program, Strategic has enabled knowledge exchange and capacity-building opportunities for 58 businesses, fostering enduring business-to-business relationships grounded in strong people-to-people connections.
In September and October 2025, six early- to mid-career professionals came together as a cohort in Jakarta, undertaking business placements across a diverse range of organisations in the renewable energy, IT, consulting, education, cultural heritage, and culinary heritage sectors.
Participating Organisations
Twelve organisations participated in this professional placement opportunity.
Southeast Asian Businesses
Australian Businesses
The Opportunity
For participating businesses, the opportunities were many and varied - from exploring Australia-Southeast Asia market entry pathways and identifying prospective partners, to strengthening regional relationships and navigating regulatory environments. For participant Gabrielle Jeffs, the program offered an immersive extension of her cross-cultural work:
“I viewed this program as a natural continuation of my professional commitment to cross-cultural education. I was drawn to the immersive experience and the opportunity to collaborate with other professionals. It was an opportunity to combine learnings from diverse immersive settings; orientation sessions and workshops, company visits, professional placement, and day-to-day living in Jakarta.”
Placement Outcomes
Immersed in Jakarta's dynamic business environment, participants undertook tailored placements with host organisations aligned to their expertise and strategic objectives. Embedded within day-to-day operations, they contributed to live projects, attended client meetings, and engaged with industry leaders, gaining firsthand insight into Indonesia's market while building valuable professional networks.
Before commencing their placements, the program facilitated a comprehensive cultural orientation program. A key highlight was a visit to the Australian Embassy in Indonesia, hosted by the Australian Ambassador to Indonesia. During this visit, participants received briefings from Austrade and Deal Team representatives, offering valuable perspectives on Australia-Indonesia trade and investment opportunities.
“Another highlight was going to the Australian Embassy. I was sitting by the Agri-Food Trade Commissioner and across from the Ambassador and I could ask them some direct questions about market entry and challenges, but also we were able to have an organic conversation that actually elicited a few business ideas.”
Australian participant Maryam Hamdan, Founder & CEO, MHMS CloudWorkforce (left) meeting the Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Mr Rod Brazier, in the Australian Embassy, Jakarta
The Jakarta 2025 program brought participants together as a group, complementing their individual placements with opportunities for peer learning, reflection and professional exchange. Drawing on a diverse mix of industries, backgrounds and experiences, participants shared experiences, compared perspectives across sectors, and deepened their understanding of Indonesia's business and cultural landscape. Through shared access to professional networks, industry events and business opportunities, participants broadened their exposure beyond their placements while building enduring professional and personal connections.
“I found the cohort experience extremely valuable to be able to share learning, experiences and everyday moments with other individuals experiencing a similar situation. The experience would not have been the same if it were not for the cohort; it provided insights into other industries, experiences and learning we would otherwise not have gained.”
Australian participants of the Jakarta 2025 Program, pictured at a cultural sightseeing tour
The cultural orientation program featured panel discussions, site visits to leading Indonesian businesses, introductory Bahasa Indonesia language sessions, and a program orientation delivered in partnership with the Australian Consortium for ‘In-Country’ Indonesian Studies (ACICIS).
The program facilitated a series of networking events, connecting participants with key representatives from DFAT, Katalis, and bilateral business councils including the Indonesia Australia Business Council. These engagements further enhanced participants’ understanding of bilateral cooperation and opened pathways for ongoing collaboration.
“Living and working in Asia helped me build new skills, particularly adaptability, independence, and cross-cultural communication… The experience expanded my professional network across the region and created valuable connections for future opportunities. It also gave me deeper cultural experience and a stronger connection to Indonesia, allowing me to better understand local customs and perspectives. Overall, I gained a clearer understanding of workplace culture in Asia and how it differs from what I was used to.”
To learn more about specific outcomes achieved by selected participants, please see the following case studies.
In just three weeks, participants delivered impressive outcomes – developing and launching new marketing strategies, presenting fresh systems thinking analyses, and supporting market entry approaches with host leadership teams, to name a few.
To learn more about specific outcomes achieved by selected participants, please see the following case studies:
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade hosted the celebratory closing event at Melbourne Town Hall, bringing together participants, host organisations, senior representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and delivery partners. The event marked the culmination of an intensive three-week, immersive business-to-business experience, highlighting the connections formed, insights gained, and partnerships initiated throughout the program.
Benefits and Broader Impact of the Placements
For the Australian businesses:
Immersive experience to inform regional market entry
Expanded international business networks with prospective partners, clients, industry bodies, and policy stakeholders
Gained cultural, regulatory, and business insights
For the Indonesian host businesses:
Deepened cross-cultural and market understanding
Opened doors for future partnership and business development
Shared knowledge and exchanged expertise
Conclusion
The placements highlighted the critical role of in-market experience in building capability, strengthening networks, and informing international business strategy. Through direct engagement with local businesses and stakeholders, participants and host organisations gained practical insights into market dynamics, sector opportunities, and approaches to collaboration in Indonesia.
A key takeaway was the importance of relationship-building in Indonesia's business environment. Trust, cultural understanding, and sustained engagement emerged as critical foundations for successful collaboration, with many connections continuing beyond the placement period.
This program fostered strong professional relationships and opened new channels for collaboration across a diverse range of sectors. Importantly, it reinforced that people-to-people connections are central to building trust and unlocking long-term business opportunities in international markets. As both participants and host organisations continue to build on the connections and insights developed during the program, the Jakarta 2025 cohort represents a foundation for sustained engagement. The program has not only strengthened individual capabilities but has also contributed to a broader ecosystem of collaboration, supporting deeper and more resilient economic ties between Australia and Indonesia.
About the Professional Placements program
The Professional Placements program was an 18-month pilot program funded by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade under Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040. The program offered support to Australian and Southeast Asian businesses to send or host temporary professional placements of young professionals between Australia and Southeast Asia. Countries included Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, and Vietnam.
