Joel Backwell Leads Initiative to Boost Indonesia Literacy in Australia
Joel Backwell has been appointed to spearhead a significant initiative aimed at revitalising Indonesian studies, enhancing engagement, and supporting Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy up to 2040. Backwell's plans include submitting practical proposals to the Federal Government to tackle the Indonesian literacy gap in Australia.
Backwell's efforts are bolstered by the Australia-Indonesia Institute's funding for the 2024-25 period. The Goethe-Institut Indonesien has submitted an application to develop a roadmap for fostering a reading culture in Indonesia from Australia. Other successful grant recipients include the University of New South Wales Business School and a national roundtable focusing on Australian schools' engagement with Indonesia.
Backwell hopes to raise awareness about the risks and missed opportunities stemming from the lack of Indonesian literacy in Australia. To achieve this, he encourages interested parties to contribute to the project via a questionnaire. Backwell's vision is to unite experts from diverse sectors to create a comprehensive response to improving Indonesian literacy in Australia.
Joel Backwell's initiative, supported by the Australia-Indonesia Institute's 2024-25 funding, seeks to strengthen Indonesian literacy in Australia. By fostering collaboration and raising awareness, Backwell aims to create a multi-faceted approach to address the Indonesian literacy gap, ultimately supporting Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.
