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AUSTRALIA-MALAYSIA INSTITUTE

ANNUAL PROGRAM REPORT

2009-10


15 February 2011

The Hon Kevin Rudd MP Minister for Foreign Affairs Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600

Dear Minister

On behalf of the Board of the Australia-Malaysia Institute, I am pleased to submit the Institute’s annual report for the period 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010.

Yours sincerely

Professor Lance Twomey AO

Australia-Malaysia InstituteR G Casey BuildingJohn McEwen CrescentBarton ACT 0221 Australia

Telephone: 02 6261 3202 or 02 6261 1333Facsimile: 02 6261 1304

www.dfat.gov.au/ami

AUSTRALIA-MALAYSIA INSTITUTE ANNUAL PROGRAM REPORT 2009-10 1



CONTENTS

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE 4

INTRODUCTION 6

BOARD MEMBERSHIP 7

MISSION STATEMENT AND GOALS 8

PROGRAMS 9

Sister School Program 10

Public Policy Program 14

Education and Science Program 15

Interfaith (Sociocultural) Program 18

Sports Program 19

Media Program 21

Cultural Collaboration Program 22

BOARD ACTIVITIES 25

ADMINISTRATIVE OVERVIEW 28

Appendix A: STRATEGIC PLAN 2009-12 30

Appendix B: FINANCIAL INFORMATION 2009-10 32

* Front cover image: Sains Kuching, Sarawak, Emerald Sports Team (Photo courtesy of AMI Secretariat)



CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

I am delighted to report on the achievements of the Australia-Malaysia Institute (AMI) for 2010, the fifth year of the AMI’s operation as an important element in maintaining, facilitating and extending the relationship between the peoples of Australia and Malaysia.

In February 2010, the current Board undertook its first visit to Malaysia, staying three days in Kuala Lumpur and two in Kuching. The opportunity to visit both peninsula Malaysia and Sarawak was much appreciated and helpful in our development of a fuller understanding of the complex nature of Malaysia and in clarifying and extending the relationships which the AMI has been diligently pursuing in recent times. During our visit, we met with senior government and public service authorities in both Malaysian locations, were thoroughly briefed and worked closely with the Australian High Commission. We were also introduced to young business and political leaders, senior media personnel as well as groups and organisations as diverse as Mercy Malaysia, Sisters in Islam and the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS), among many others.

We were able to spend time with our alumni from previous AMI grants to discuss their recent activities and learn about their continuing relationships with Australia. We met with students and staff from the highly successful Sister School Program, many of which have now been in place for a number of years. We then visited two of the sister schools, focusing on the potential for further collaboration and dialogue. More information on these issues is provided within the body of the report.

Through 2010, the AMI and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have worked collaboratively to ensure support for the Australian Government’s broader involvement with the government and the people of Malaysia. We have further refined and extended our strategic and business plans and communications strategy. In respect of the latter, the presence of significant numbers of Malaysian students in Australia provides us with an opportunity to enhance their linkages and extend their contacts during their stay in Australia. The AMI continues to work closely with student groups in each state toward these ends. Similarly, our sports program was considerably strengthened by the coaching and training support provided in Australia for Malaysian sports men and women and their coaches in cycling, hockey and swimming.



The AMI Advisory Board has continued to work diligently throughout the year and looks forward with keen anticipation to overseeing the further development and maturation of programs already underway. The Board will also work to develop new opportunities to further extend the linkages and contacts between Australians and Malaysians, which our grants and programs will facilitate during the year ahead.

Professor Lance Twomey AO, PSBS (Sarawak)



AUSTRALIA-MALAYSIA INSTITUTE INTRODUCTION

The Australia-Malaysia Institute (AMI) was established on 7 April 2005 to promote and enhance the bilateral relationship between Australia and Malaysia. On 10 July 2008 then Prime Minister, Mr Rudd, announced the Australia-Malaysia Institute would be made permanent.

The Institute’s mission is to promote Australia’s interests in Malaysia by initiating and supporting activities designed to enhance awareness, links and understanding between people and institutions in Australia and Malaysia.

The Charter of the Australia-Malaysia Institute provides the framework for the AMI’s work in strengthening the Australia-Malaysia relationship. The Charter also provides guidance on Board administration, including the terms of appointment of the Chairman and members, and the functions of the Secretariat.

The Australia-Malaysia Institute supports and initiates activities consistent with its goals, on the basis of a strategic plan and programs set annually by the Advisory Board. The Board approved a three-year Strategic Plan 2009 - 2012 to guide its work. A copy of the plan is at Appendix A.

Wherever possible, the Institute seeks to expand people-to-people and institutional linkages through programs and partnerships with other organisations, as well as seed funding of projects to enable them to grow.

The AMI is funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In 2009-10 the AMI’s budget totalled $600,000. Appendix B includes detailed financial information.



BOARD MEMBERSHIP

The AMI is headed by a Chairperson and is governed by an Advisory Board of up to eight members chosen from the Australian public, together with one ex officio member from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). As at 30 June 2010, the Advisory Board comprised seven prominent Australians drawn from business, academia and the arts plus an officer of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as an ex officio member. Each Advisory Board Member brings professional expertise and experience of Malaysia to the Institute.

MEMBERS CHAIRMAN

Professor Lance Twomey Former Vice Chancellor Curtin University (Board member since 2009)

Mr Christian Bennet Head of Government and Media Relations, Santos Ltd (Board member since 2009)

Ms Gillian Bird Deputy Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Ms Geraldine Doogue AOPresenter, ABC (Board member since 2009)

Ms Rechelle Hawkes OAM Corporate Relations Manager, Members Equity Bank

(Ex officio Board member since 2005)

(Board member since 2009)

Dr Alia Imoutal Ms Kathe Kirby Professor Anthony Milner AMLecturer, Faculty of Executive Director, Asia Basham Professor of Asian Education, Flinders Education Foundation History, Faculty of Asian Studies, University (Board member since 2009) Australian National University (Board member since 2009) (Board member since 2005)



MISSION STATEMENT AND GOALS

To promote Australia’s interests in Malaysia by initiating and supporting activities designed to enhance awareness, links and understanding between people and institutions in Australia and Malaysia.

GOALS

• Initiate and support influential persons and groups in Australia and Malaysia, with activities that encourage a greater interest in the development of relations between the two countries, including political and economic relations and broader diplomatic objectives.

• Promote cooperation between individuals and institutions in Australia and Malaysia which enhance learning, teaching and research in areas of mutual interest.

• Broaden awareness and understanding in Australia and Malaysia of each other’s culture, values and traditions through increased people-to-people contacts between Australia and Malaysia.

• Publicly promote the Australia-Malaysia relationship and establish relations through media and alumni activities in order to facilitate long-term bilateral links.



PROGRAM OVERVIEW

In 2009 - 2010 the AMI considered 68 applications for funding, and provided funding for 30 projects in the priority areas of:

1. Public Policy 2. Education and Science 3. Health 4. Media 5. Sport 6. Malaysian Students in Australia.

A representative selection of projects by priority areas are detailed in this report. The majority of the activities supported by the Institute also attracted substantial funding and in-kind support from other organisations and individuals.

A thematic summary of AMI expenditure in 2009-10 is outlined in the table below.

PRIORITY AREA EXPENDITURE PERCENTAGE

Public Policy Programs

Health Programs

Education and Science

Sports Programs

Media and Culture

$80,051.11

$38,200.00

$178,358.00

$137,392.00

$27,682.00

17.35%

8.27%

38.63%

29.76%

5.99%

TOTAL EXPENDITURE $461,683.11 100 per cent

A full list of projects funded by AMI and a financial statement is in Attachment B.



SISTER SCHOOL PROGRAM

In 2009 the AMI Advisory Board continued to support the Sister School Program which aims to develop mutual understanding and people-to-people links between year 9 and 10 students in Australia and Malaysia.

The Sister School Program commenced in 2008 during a visit to Malaysia by Mr Rudd, the then Prime Minister. The first phase of the program linked six Malaysian schools to six Victorian schools. The AMI funded the visits of Malaysian teachers to their Victorian sister schools and the reciprocal visits of Victorian teachers to their Malaysian sister schools.

In the second phase of the program the Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) in consultation with the Malaysian Ministry of Education (MoE) selected the following seven Malaysian schools to partner with seven Victorian schools.

Sister Schools in Malaysia Sister Schools in Victoria

SMK Datuk Peter Mojuntin, Saba Tallangatta Secondary College

Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar, Johar Maffra Secondary College

Sekolah Menengah Teknik Alor Cobden Technical College Setar, Kedah

SekolahSukan Bukit Jalil, Kuala Maribyrnong Secondary College Lumpur

SMK King George V, Negeri Leongatha Secondary College Sembilan

SMK Tinggi Melaka Elthan High School

SM Agama Persikutan Kajang, Ashwood Secondary College Selangor

2009/2010 Australia-Malaysia Sister School pairings



Malaysian teachers visited Victorian schools between 27 April and 8 May 2010. Reciprocal visits to Malaysian schools by Victorian teachers took place between 6 and 17 July 2010. There are now 26 sister school relationships between Malaysian and Victorian schools, with schools continuing to be active in building their relationships following the initial phase of teacher exchanges.

During the AMI Advisory Board visit to Malaysia in February 2010, Board members visited two schools, Sekolah Sukan Bukit Jalil, a Malaysian sports school in the preliminary stages of commencing a sister school partnership with Maribyrnong Secondary College, and SMK Sains Kuching, Sarawak.

Board members were impressed by the level of contact and interaction between SMK Sains Kuching and Lalor Secondary College. Since twinning as sister schools in 2008, SMK Sains Kuching, Sarawak and Lalor Secondary College have shown enthusiasm in maintaining a strong sister school relationship. During the visit, board members were shown the school’s professional development program, which had been drafted in consultation with staff from Lalor Secondary College. The program focused on student engagement, literacy and best practice, building in particular on SMK Sains’s exceptional results in maths and science. SMK Sains has a strong music curriculum, which the Board was able to observe at first hand when Board members attended a recital by the school orchestra.

The Board visit also coincided with the school’s sports carnival. Board members attended the sports parade and the sports finals between the four teams, Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald and Diamond.

AMI Sister School SMK Sains Kuching, Sarawak



Sains Kuching, Sarawak, Ruby Sports Team (Photo courtesy of AMI Secretariat)

AMI Sister School SMK Sains Kuching, Sarawak, School Orchestra

(Photo courtesy of AMI Secretariat)



AMI Board members Rechelle Hawkes and Geraldine Doogue meet representatives of Sekolah Sukan Bukit Jalil in Kuala Lumpur to discuss sister

school arrangements with Victoria’s Maribyrnong Secondary College (Photo courtesy of AMI Secretariat)

During a visit to Kuala Lumpur’s Sekolah Sukan Bukit Jalil, Board members were briefed by the school’s ‘champion’ (i.e. leading advocate) for a sister school relationship with Victoria’s Maribyrnong Secondary College in Victoria. The two schools have started to look at opportunities for collaboration between their respective students.



PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAM

Promote policy debate and awareness of the bilateral relationship including supporting dialogues and symposiums.

Road Safety capacity-building: saving lives through partnerships

The Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety (CARR) at the University of Queensland, in collaboration with Malaysian road safety partners Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS), the lead government agency focussing on road safety research and Malaysian Road Safety Department (JKJR), the government agency focusing on road safety management, developed a program for Malaysian road safety that included capacity building and educational training materials and a course curriculum.

Research undertaken by the International Roads Assessment Program (iRAP) between 2006-2007, assessed approximately 3,700km of national roads throughout the Malaysian peninsula in order to develop a star rating of the road network for cars, motorcyclists, pedestrians and cyclists.

The program identified road engineering improvements that are predicted to prevent 32,000 deaths and serious injuries on the roads surveyed over the next 20 years. As a result of this assessment, the Malaysian Government is committed to extending the iRAP survey to the rest of the Malaysian road network.

The training materials CARR has helped develop will be used to train Malaysian road safety staff in the development, delivery and on-going management of iRAP assessments within Malaysia. The project will also form part of a more comprehensive postgraduate road safety qualification in the longer term. As a result of CARR’s assistance and the AMI’s support, Malaysia has become the first country to integrate systematically the iRAP approach into government practice.



EDUCATION AND SCIENCE PROGRAM

Support programs for students and teachers to encourage an interest in each others’ countries and language skills.

Visit from Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy, SCORE

The AMI hosted a visit to Perth from 24 – 28 May 2010 for two representatives from Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE). The objectives of the visit were to investigate potential areas of collaboration with Australian TAFE colleges and to meet with key personnel at the Central Institute of Technology.

Sarawak does not have educational institutions equivalent to Australian TAFE colleges that focus on developing ‘para-professional’ skills. In particular, Sarawak lacks qualified electrical technicians, making it difficult to maintain equipment in regional communities.

The visit program included meetings with key personnel involved in delivering industry relevant training programs at the Central Institute of Technology, Challenger Institute of Technology and Curtin University, all located in Perth.

The Malaysian visitors were particularly struck by the close partnership between TAFE colleges and industry. Their visit provided opportunities to develop further bilateral linkages in education and research. Interaction is continuing between Western Australia Institute of Technology and SCORE.

Two representatives from Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) Mr Julin Alen and Mr Dawend Jiwan with AMI Chair Professor Lance Twomey on the roof of the Central Institute inspecting solar panels (Photo courtesy of AMI Secretariat)



Members of Central Institute of Technology with Mr Julin Alen and Mr Dawend Jiwan and AMI Chair


’Excellence in Research for Australia’ Initiative - Visit by Professor Kuru Ratnavelu

The AMI supported the visit by Professor Kuru Ratnavelu from the University of Malaya to Flinders University to study the university’s response to the Australian Governments’ ‘Excellence in Research for Australia’ (ERA) initiative.

In addition to discussing ERA, Professor Ratnavelu gave a number of well-attended and received lectures to Flinders University students.

Sabah (Malaysia)-Australia Educational Links

The School of Social Sciences at the Universiti Malaysia Sabah undertook an extensive review of literature and current educational initiatives between Australia and Malaysia to identify contemporary educational links. The review highlighted the vital role played by the educational sector in ties between Malaysia and Australia.

The study also identified opportunities for governments and the private sector to utilise the research to boost bilateral educational ties.



Review of Maternal Health Policies in Malaysia and Australia

The AMI funded a workshop hosted by the International Medical University in Kuala Lumpur in July 2010 to discuss maternal health policies in Malaysia and Australia. Nearly 40 participants attended from various divisions and disciplines from the Ministry of Health in Malaysia and from local universities.

Participants identified important aspects of maternal health policies to help reduce Maternal Mortality Rates (MMR) in Malaysia. An implementation plan was developed to further reduce MMR rates to achieve the Millennium Development Goal 5 to Improve Maternal Health by 2015. The implementation plan will be used by policy makers in Malaysia and disseminated to all state health offices, district health offices, hospitals and clinics.

Workshop participants in group session(Photo courtesy of Dr Tan Kok Leong on behalf of Professor Dr

Hematram Yadav)

Tan Sri Dato Dr Abu Bakar Suleiman (President of International Medical University, IMU) delivering his opening speech for the workshop.

(Photo courtesy of Dr Tan Kok Leong on behalf of Professor Dr Hematram Yadav)



INTERFAITH (SOCIOCULTURAL) PROGRAM

Support activities that encourage interfaith and mutual social understanding and promote greater linkages between Australians and Malaysians.

’No East, No West’ Conference, Malaysia 26 - 30 April 2010

The AMI funded Sheikh Haisam Farache to attend the ’No East, No West’ International Conference on Intercultural Dialogue: “Fostering Understanding and Building Bridges Across Cultures Among Young People of Asia and Europe” organised by the World Youth Foundation.

Sheikh Haisam reported enthusiastically on the conference, describing the thought-provoking topics and excellent opportunity to meet like-minded people.

“No East No West” is a follow-up to the 2006 Dialogue “We Are One” which provided an opportunity for young people to discuss and understand the different religious, cultural and social priorities and beliefs in their regions.

Cross-Cultural Youth Initiative

The AMI supported the participation of four young Australian Muslims in a five-week training program that included a number of cross-cultural activities. The program, which was held at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) in Kuala Lumpur, provided these young Australians with an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Malaysian society. The group visited several prestigious institutions, met with community leaders and attended site visits around Kuala Lumpur.



SPORTS PROGRAM

Develop collaborative programs with schools and institutions to establish sporting programs of mutual interest to both Australia and Malaysia.

NETBALL AUSTRALIA

Netball Australia in partnership with the Australia Institute of Sport (AIS) developed a high-performance strategic plan to assist Malaysia Netball to build sustainability and achieve high results internationally. The program developed by Netball Australia included the education and mentoring of high-performance personnel, coaching of athletes and information sharing on holistic daily training.

Bridging the gap between sports science and sports coaching

The AMI provided funding for a symposium to establish collaborative links between sports scientists in Malaysia and counterparts at the University of Sydney. Over 275 participants, including members of the Malaysian National Sports Coaching Association, attended the symposium in Kuala Lumpur on 1-3 December 2009 to discuss the most recent research findings in sports science and sports coaching. Agreed outcomes from the symposium included the development of the 2010 Malaysian Coaching Education Program and a Coach Education Course for national sports coaches of Malaysia at the University of Sydney. The course will provide a catalyst for possible collaborative research links, PhD programs and educational internships.

From Left Dr Ahmad Munir (Chairman National Coaching Board), Dato Mohd Yassin, Dato Zolkples Embong (Director General, National Sport

Council, Ms Low Beng Choo, Vice President Malaysian Olympic Council) at the Coaching Science Conference, Kuala Lumpur, 2nd December 2009

(Photo courtesy of Associate Professor Thompson)



Malaysian participation in management of elite coaching training program

The AMI funded the attendance of directors and officers from the National Sports Council of Malaysia at a ‘Management of Elite Coaching’ seminar held from 17-20 May 2010 at the University of Sydney.

The seminar covered athletic profiling, talent development, optimising performance, and coach education. Leading sports professionals presenting at the seminar included staff from the University of Sydney, John Longmire, coach of the AFL Sydney Swans, and Brian Canavan, Chair of the National Rugby League’s Research Board. The seminar concluded with a visit to the New South Wales Institute of Sport and Sydney’s Olympic Park.

Participant feedback was very positive and identified opportunities for further collaboration arising from the seminar.



MEDIA PROGRAM

Encourage balanced coverage of Australia in the Malaysian media and of Malaysia in the Australian media.

AMI Media program

Board members Lance Twomey (Chair) and Geraldine Doogue met with key media contacts from Media Chinese International Limited. The Board members had in-depth briefings and discussions on the complexities of the contemporary media environment in Malaysia. As a result, the Board is looking to arrange a visit to Malaysia by Australian senior editors to gain insights into contemporary Malaysian politics and society.

International Media Visit

The AMI sponsored Mr Shanon Shah, Editor of The Nut Graph, a Malaysian online news site to participate in a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade International Media Visit program in Perth to coincide with the Fifth Regional Interfaith Dialogue. Journalists from Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam also participated in the program, which included meetings with a wide range of academics, artistic organisations and Western Australian Government agencies, and opportunities to interview the then Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Smith.

The journalists later commented that the visit had improved their knowledge of inter and intra faith issues in Australia, education opportunities in Western Australia and Australian art and culture. The chance to have a first-hand look at Australian Indigenous art and interviews with some of Australia’s leading academics were considered particularly valuable.



CULTURAL COLLABORATION PROGRAM

Develop and support initiatives for collaboration in the arts to establish sustainable institutional links.

The South East Asian and Pacific Writing Exchange

The AMI was proud to support Kuala Lumpur-based Malaysian writer and journalist Dina Zaman, author of ‘I am Muslim’, to attend the SouthEast Asian and Pacific Writing Exchange.

Since its inception in 2004, the Northern Territory Writers’ Centre has focused on developing cross-cultural conversations with writers from South- East Asia and the Pacific region through the South-East Asian and Pacific Writing Exchange, which incorporates WordStorm and the Festival of Australian Writing.

The festival provided an excellent opportunity for Northern Territory, South East Asian and Pacific writers to gain exposure to regional styles and subject matter; and to access professional development experiences and networks with cross-cultural story-telling modes.

Dina Zaman’s work was included in Terra, the Bilingual Anthology from Wordstorm published by the Northern Territory Writers’ Centre.

The 6th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art

The AMI assisted in bringing the Malaysian artist Shooshie Sulaiman to the 6th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, (APT6) in December 2009. Shooshie Sulaiman is a highly respected young artist in Malaysia, who has shown widely internationally and exhibited a major new body of work in the Asia Pacific Triennial, APT.

The APT continues to be the only major recurring exhibition in the world to focus on the contemporary art of Asia, Australia and the Pacific.


AMI_Annual Report_2009_10.indd 23 15/07/11 10:45 AM

Australian Malaysian Film Festival

The AMI continued to fund the Australian Malaysian Film Festival (AMFF), which was held in October 2009 at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) Cinemas in Melbourne. The five-day film festival screened the best and latest of Malaysian cinema providing Australian audiences with an opportunity to experience Malaysian stories as told by Malaysians.

The AMFF collaborates closely with National Film Development Corporation Malaysia to showcase high quality Malaysian films, inviting featured films’ makers to present their work.

The festival also included a film-makers networking session and an exhibition of Malaysian art, music, dance and batik design to the Australian public.

Malaysian Film Makers at the Australian Malaysia Film Festival (Photo courtesy of AMFF)



(Photo courtesy of AMFF) Malaysian Film Makers at the Australian Malaysia Film Festival

society.

Meeting with Malaysian Students’ Council of Australia (MASCA) Victoria

Representatives from MASCA Victoria were invited by the AMI Advisory Board to meet for lunch during the Board Meeting on 11 August 2009. The Board briefed the MASCA representatives on the AMI and its activities and, in turn, was briefed on the concerns of Malaysian students in Australia. The Board invited MASCA to bring forward proposals from Malaysian student groups for projects that the AMI could consider funding in an effort to make the experience of Malaysian students in Australia positive and rewarding.

As a result of the meeting, the AMI has provided support for a number of MASCA events. The AMI has renewed its offer to consider supporting initiatives of Malaysian student organisations to strengthen interactions and understanding between their members and the broader Australian student body and Australian

Members of MASCA Victoria with AMI Advisory Board, Melbourne, August 2009




BOARD ACTIVITIES

In February 2010 five members of the AMI Advisory Board (Professor Lance Twomey AO (Chair), Ms Geraldine Doogue AO, Ms Rechelle Hawkes OAM, Ms Kathe Kirby and Professor Anthony Milner AM) visited Malaysia.

This was the first visit to Malaysia by the recently reconstituted AMI Advisory Board. Members found the program highly informative and beneficial for their understanding of political, economic and social issues facing contemporary Malaysia. At the same time, the visit helped to lift the AMI’s profile in Malaysia, including among senior Malaysian ministers, officials and media commentators.

Board members met with senior Malaysian Government Ministers including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, YAB Tan Sri Haji Muhyiddin Bin Mohammed Yassin, Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water, YB Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui, Minister of Youth and Sport, YB Dato’ Ahmad Shabery Cheek and Deputy Foreign Minister, Dato’ Lee Chee Leong as well as Deputy Chief Minister (1) of Sarawak, YB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam. The visit also provided many opportunities for the Advisory Board to meet with existing and potential partners including Malaysian sister schools, Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia, Mercy Malaysia, Matang Wildlife Sanctuary and AMI and Australian alumni.

AMI Advisory Board meeting with Malaysian Government officials including Minister of Youth and Sport, YB Dato’ Ahmad Shabery




A summary of outcomes from the board visit against the AMI’s priority areas follows:

Sports Program

The Advisory Board met with the Minister for Youth and Sport and Director General, National Sports Commission. At the meeting the AMI Board Chair announced that the AMI would fund a total of three elite sports coaching scholarships (two new scholarships plus the initial scholarship announced by the then Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Smith, during his visit to Malaysia in July 2009). Scholarships will be in the fields of cycling, hockey and swimming.

Areas identified for AMI sports collaboration included possible fellowships for sports journalists and commentators, exchanges in sports science fields including sports psychology and coaching and development of a model for sports development in Malaysia from the grassroots level upwards.

Young Leaders Program

Meetings were held with the Minister of Youth and Sport, YB Dato’ Ahmad Shabery Cheek and Deputy Foreign Minister, Dato’ Lee Chee Leong. Focal points for discussion were the need for leadership programs for Malaysian and Australian youth and ways to encourage more young Australian leaders to visit Malaysia.

AMI will pursue possible collaborative young leaders’ projects with other partners. The AMI will continue to support a Malaysian participant in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s annual Graduate Training Program and will assist in supporting further young diplomat roundtables.

Sister School Program

Board members met with officials from the Ministry of Education to discuss the Sister School Program. It was agreed that a review at the end of the second phase of the program would assist in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the program and lead to the development of strategies for consolidating the relationships between schools.

Science Program – Green Energy and Technology

Meetings with Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water, YB Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui and Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak YB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri



Dr George Chan Hong Nam demonstrated that the AMI could usefully provide encouragement for linkages in the green technology and energy sectors.

Reform of Malaysian electricity services and carbon sequestering were identified as priority areas for the Malaysian Government. AMI Board members agreed to investigate methods for technical knowledge transfers in these fields through either exchange officer programs or funding of technical delegations. Board Members also undertook to further the establishment of linkages between Australian and Malaysian green entrepreneurs.

Board Chair Professor Lance Twomey subsequently met with Datuk Amar Wilson Baya Dandot, General Manager/CEO Sarawak Regional Corridor Development Authority, to explore opportunities for cooperation in the green technology sector. As a result of the meeting a technical delegation from Sarawak visited Australia to examine vocational education training options in renewable energy technology for Sarawak.

Arts and Culture Program

AMI Board Members held meetings with representatives from the Malaysian arts community to investigate opportunities for further cooperation in the areas of arts and culture.

Meetings with current and potential partner organisations

During the visit, Board members were grateful for the many opportunities to meet with current and potential partner organisations including ISIS, Sisters in Islam, Mercy Malaysia, Matang Wildlife Centre, WOX and Kuching Museum. These meetings provided members with promising ideas for future collaboration.

Board members were grateful for the assistance provided in planning for and during the visit by the then Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, Ms Penny Williams, and High Commission staff.

Future collaboration between other Foundations, Councils and Institutes

This year provided opportunities for AMI Board members to meet their counterparts from the Australia-Thailand Institute (ATI) Board. The two Boards agreed to look for opportunities to collaborate on projects focusing on common priorities and goals as set out in the AMI and ATI Strategic Plans. Arts residencies, young leaders’ programs, sport and education appear to be prospective areas for collaboration.



ADMINISTRATIVE OVERVIEW

The period 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010 represents the fifth full financial year of the AMI’s operation since it was established in 2005.

Meetings

The Advisory Board is required to meet at least three times a year. The AMI Advisory Board met four times in 2009-10:

• 11 August 2009 (Melbourne) • 17 November 2009 (Teleconference) • 24 February 2010 (Kuala Lumpur) • 23 June 2010 (Melbourne)

Remuneration

Members of the AMI Advisory Board receive a “Category 2” daily fee for AMI business at rates determined under the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973 for part-time holders of public offices. Members are also entitled to reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred on AMI business.

Applications for Funding

The AMI grant program is advertised on the DFAT and AMI websites. Funding guidelines and copies of the application form are available on the AMI website. Hard copies can also be requested from the AMI Secretariat.

Auditor’s report

The Australian National Audit Office examines the financial affairs of the Australia-Malaysia Institute as part of its examination of the accounts of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.



Industrial Democracy and Workplace Diversity

Secretariat staff are covered by the industrial democracy and workplace diversity provisions of DFAT, including Collective Agreement.

Freedom of Information

The Institute received no applications under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 in 2009-10.

Public Information

Information on the Australia-Malaysia Institute, including its programs, can be found at www.dfat.gov.au/ami



Appendix A

AUSTRALIA-MALAYSIA INSTITUTE Strategic Plan 2009-2012

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Australia Malaysia Institute (AMI) is to promote Australia’s interests in Malaysia by initiating and supporting activities designed to enhance awareness, links and understanding between people and institutions in Australia and Malaysia.

The functions of the Australia – Malaysia Institute are to:

1) Provide advice to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), on ways to enhance Australia’s political, economic, social, cultural and sporting relations with Malaysia in the context of the AMI’s activities;

2) Develop an annual Business Plan of activities aimed at implementing the AMI’s objectives. The Business Plan will recommend expenditure on those activities from funds allocated to the AMI;

3) Administer a grants program under the priority areas of the Business Plan;

4) Organise visit programs, carry out joint activities with other organisations and leverage with other DFAT Foundations, Councils and Institutes; and

5) Prepare an Annual Program Report by 31 October each year for submission to the Minister

Accordingly, this Strategic Plan sets out the AMI’s goals and strategic programs. The Strategic Plan will be supplemented by a Business Plan for each financial year detailing activities more precisely and recommending expenditures for those activities from the funds allocated to the AMI.


AUSTRALIA-MALAYSIA INSTITUTEStrategic Plan 2009-2012


GOALS

In order to promote and strengthen the Australia - Malaysia bilateral relationship, the Australia – Malaysia Institute will pursue four goals.

1. Initiate and support influential persons and groups in Australia and Malaysia, with activities that encourage a greater interest in the development of relations between the two countries, including political and economic relations and broader diplomatic objectives.

2. Promote cooperation between individuals and institutions in Australia and Malaysia which enhance learning, teaching and research in areas of mutual interest and shared dilemmas.

3. Broaden awareness and understanding in Australia and Malaysia of each other’s culture, values and traditions through increased people-to-people contacts between Australia and Malaysia.

4. Publicly promote the Australia-Malaysia relationship and establish relations through media and alumni activities in order to facilitate long-term bilateral links.

STRATEGIES

The following strategies will enable the Australia – Malaysia Institute to meet its goals.

• Create and strengthen networks, contacts, partnerships and/or institutional linkages.

• Capitalise on partnerships which increase overall value of activities

• Provide seed funding for activities which will become self-sustaining

• Support activities which have the potential to deliver medium to longer term outcomes, including through institutions, groups or individuals

• Facilitate a broad geographic spread of activities both in Australia and Malaysia

• Leverage from high profile events to maximise benefits and the effective use of resources

• Promote complementarities and avoid duplication with other institutions active in Australia-Malaysia relations

• Collaborate in programs of mutual interest with other DFAT Asia focused Foundations, Councils and Institutes

MEETINGS The Advisory Board will meet three times a year, and at least one of these meetings will consider the Business Plan for the following financial year.



Appendix B AUSTRALIA-MALAYSIA INSTITUTE FINANCIAL INFORMATION 2009-10



PROGRAMS

ACTIVITIES/EXPENSES $ COST

Public Policy Program

Marshall - Exposure Program (08/09) $4,000.00

Road Safety Capacity Building: saving lives through partnerships $16,350.00

Wong - Generation 21 Asian Young Leaders Dialogue $10,000.00

Marshall - Young Muslim Leadership Training Program $20,000.00

No East No West conference $2,000.00

Young Malaysian Diplomat 09/10 $10,701.11

Mercy Malaysia $17,000.00

Sub-total Public Policy $80,051.11

Health Program

Assessment of telehealth systems for healthcare service delivery $10,000.00

The development and delivery of disability staff training programs $10,000.00

Malaysia Nurse Training $10,000.00

Yadav - Maternal mortality rates $8,200.00

Sub-total Health Program $38,200.00

Education & Science Program

Talkback Classroom $25,000.00

Studying the Excellence in Research for Australia initiative $7,100.00

Professional partnerships in language teacher education $4,740.00

Enhancing early childhood teaching and learning $10,000.00

Study exchanges for global social work $9,000.00

Talkback Classroom, supplementary funding $3,118.00



International Student Safety Campaign $10,000.00

Sister School Program $49,500.00

Idris - Sabah / Australia education links $9,900.00

Sub-total Education & Science $128,358.00

Sport Program

Establishment and implementation of a high performance netball strategy in Malaysia $25,000.00

Malaysian Chess Open 2009 $1,000.00

Capacity building in sports medicine, sports science, sports injury prevention and physical activity promotion $18,172.00

Sports Scholarship $25,000.00

Bridging the gap between sports science and sports coaching $18,220.00

Sub-total Sport Program $87,392.00

Media and Culture Program

The South-East Asian and Pacific writing exchange $3,200.00

Curating Malaysian Textiles online $1,000.00

MASCA Victoria $5,000.00

Bodies Across Boundaries $5,060.00

MASCA South Australia $5,000.00

Regional Interfaith Dialogue $3,040.00

Malaysian Textiles online $4,000.00

Talkback Classroom - supp. Funding $1,382.00

Sub-total Media and Culture Program $27,682.00

One off Additional Funding

Sport

2 x additional sports scholarships $50,000.00



Education

Green technology scholarships $50,000,00

Sub-total $100,000.00

Total Programs $461, 683.11

Administration

Board / Secretariat associated costs $27,615.66

Advisory Board Meeting (Melbourne 11 August 2009) $15,711.97

Advisory Board Meeting (teleconference 17 November 2009) $2,762.00

Advisory Board Meeting (Kuala Lumpur 24 February 2010) $0.00

Advisory Board Meeting (Melbourne 23 June 2010) $8,505.82

Other $635.87

Board Members travel to Malaysia $45,756.54

Other

AMI Scoping Study $39,150.00

ICSEI in Malaysia $1,800.00

AMI 10/11 Grant Advertising $15,702.74

Alumni Event $1,477.19

AMI 2008-09 Annual Report $760.56

AMI Information Booklet $1,647.02

Total Administration $133,909.71

Misc

Return of unspent funds -$1,544.72

Accrual 08/09 carry-overs -$2,626.20

Unallocated Funds $1,219.79

Balance Remaining $7,358.31

Sub-total Misc $4,407.18

GRAND TOTAL $600,000.00

