Australia-Japan Foundation

The Australia-Japan Foundation (AJF) is a bilateral foundation, establishe d in 1976, to strengthen the Australia-Japan relationship across a broad range of sectors including, education, culture and business.

As a part of the implementation of the Australian Government's response to the Review of Corporate Governance of Statutory Authorities and Office Holders, the Australia-Japan Foundation was re-formed within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on 1 December 2006.

The AJF has its headquarters in Canberra and is supported by an office at the Australian Embassy in Tokyo.

Key Activities

Projects and programs supported by the Foundation help promote people-to-people engagement in a broad range of areas including education and business.

The Foundation's annual work program focuses on activities which are aligned with its strategic objectives, which are to:

1. increase understanding in Japan of shared interests with Australia;
2. increase understanding in Australia of the importance of Japan to Australia as an economic and strategic partner; and
3. increase recognition in Japan of Australian excellence and expertise.

More information

• Strategic plan [PDF]
• Advisory Board
• Contact Us

Major programs

	AJF Grant Program Applications for funding in 2009-10 are now open for projects that will commence between 1 August 2009 and 30 June 2010. Applications close on 17 March 2009.
	Sir Neil Currie Awards Scholarship Program to develop Australian studies in Japan. Applications for the scholarship program are now closed for 2008.
	Asia Link Strategic Ties for the Arts Program
	Experience Australia Educational Kit Practical teaching materials for loan.
	Discover Australia On-line studying reference that introduces Australia to schools.
	Discover Eco Australia Multimedia teaching aid to introduce Australian environmental studies for schools.

What's new

Visiting professor in Australian Studies 2009

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Centre for Pacific and American Studies (CPAS), The University of Tokyo. >> more

AJF Grants Program

Applications for funding in 2009-10 are now open for projects that will commence between 1 August 2009 and 30 June 2010. Applications close on 17 March 2009. >> more

FCCI workshop at USQ in December 2008

The Australia-Japan Foundation is pleased to support a two-day international workshop on Fibre Composites in Civil Infrastructure - Past, Present and Future which will be held at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) in Toowoomba on 1-2 December 2008. The aim of the workshop is to bring together leading researchers, industry partners and asset owners who have got a keen interest in implementing the fibre composites in civil infrastructure. Key presented from Japan include Professor Hiroshi Mutsuyoshi, Saitama University; Dr Itaru Nishizaki, Public Works Research Institute Inc; and Dr Yoshihiro Hishiki, Kajima Corporation. The workshop will be hosted by the The Centre of Excellence in Engineered Fibre Composites, Faculty of Engineering and Surveying, USQ. Download the conference flier Download the registration form >> more

Prospect High School - Tsuga Machi Junior High School Cultural Exchange Program

The Australia-Japan Foundation was pleased to support the Prospect High School - Tsuga Machi Junior High School Cultural Exchange Program in 2008. The town council of Tsuga Town in Tochigi Prefecture (200km north of Tokyo) initiated the exchange program with Prospect High School in Launceston, Tasmania, in 2007. This first exchange was so successful that students, parents and teachers at Prospect High School enthusiastically planned for a return visit. The return visit by thirteen Grade 9 Australian students to Tsuga Town took place on 9 - 17 June 2008. Students from both schools have formed life-long relationships and have embraced each other's culture, language and customs. The exchange program is an outstanding example of the strong community ties between Australia and Japan. For more details about the recent visit, see the special souvenir edition of the school magazine, Prospector. >> more

Beyond the Mainstream

Australian economic consultant, Mr Manuel Panagiotopoulos, and journalist, Mr Andrew Cornell, have produced the first draft of a monograph, which applies concepts such as 'new complementarity' and 'core relationships' and includes a modified investment analysis, to explore new opportunities beyond the mainstream for the Australia-Japan economic relationship. The project involves a survey of ASX300 Australian companies to discover their understanding of the Japanese economy and their business strategy for the Japanese market and a survey of Japanese companies to discover their assessment of Australia's strengths, weaknesses and business opportunities. The monograph was submitted to the joint conference of the Australia-Japan Business Cooperation Committee and its Japanese counterpart which was held in Perth in October 2008. >> more

Australia-Japan Nanophotonics Workshop

The AJF is pleased to support the Australia-Japan Nanophotonics Workshop which be held at the Australian National University in Canberra on 9-10 December 2008. The workshop consists of invited presentations from leading Japanese and Australian scientists. Nanotechnology is engineering at the molecular level, to produce new materials, new processes with improved performance for a variety of industries and purposes, including medical and pharmaceutical devices and processes; agricultural and environmental products and new materials, such as high-performance composites, polymers, membranes for specialised manufacturing industries such as automotive components, aerospace, medical instruments, and the resources industries. >> more

Collaboration to develop statistical tools for Ecological Management

The AJF is pleased to support the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia's national science agency, and Keio University in Japan, to enable them to develop statistical tools for the monitoring, modelling and management of biodiversity. Initial research is focused on understanding the effects of trawling on seabed fauna. The partners aim to provide a methodological basis to inform future strategies in conservation and sustainable use of ecological and environmental assets, particularly in marine zones around Australia. The partners also hope to jointly develop a common technical framework and approach to monitoring, modelling and managing biodiversity. >> more

Grants Recipients 2008 - 09

The first round of the Australia-Japan Foundation Grants Recipients 2008-09 have been announced. >> more

The Australian Research Network on the Japanese Economy

The Australian Research Network on the Japanese Economy (ARNJE) aims to promote research on the Japanese economy. Starting from researchers based in Australia, with scope to expand to Asia and the Pacific, ARNJE is designed to link specialists by creating a forum for discussion of research work and by providing venues and opportunities for conferences and workshops. ARNJE is currently a network of over 60 Australian-based scholars who have interests in the Japanese economy. ARNJE welcomes applications for membership. Supported by AJF >> more

Does your city have a Japanese twin? Should it?

Curriculum material on Australia-Japan sister cities. Publication series on the bilateral relationship supported by AJF. >> more

archived news Tour of Japan by the 2008 South Australian State League Champions, the Norwood 'Bears' Volleyball Club Australian Studies Open Seminar Series at Kyoto University Australia-Japan Symposium on "Biologican Interactions with plant roots and aerial tissues" Sydney Forum 2008 - Contemporary Art in Japan and Australia. 2008 Australia-Japan Achievement Awards Ceremony Book Launch and Symposium Multicultural Australia: "Diamond Dog" [Archived news 2007]