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About us.

Everything you need to know about who we are, what we do, and why we do it!

Who we are.

We are a global organisation who provide study abroad experiences to Indonesia. We run study abroad programs across a wide range of disciplines including science,
business, law, international relations, health and more. So, there’s something for everyone!

We are a leading non-profit consortium, partnering with over 20 members from Australia, the Netherlands and the UK to help bring these extraordinary experiences to
the world. We were established in 1994 in Perth, Western Australia and are the longest-running provider of study abroad experiences in Indonesia. We play a pivotal role
in enabling our participants to gain invaluable insights and forge deeper connections with Indonesia.

Our programs and activities are overseen by a National Reference Group, which includes academics, Indonesia specialists and study abroad professionals.

We are more than an exchange program—we are a community of leaders, teachers and learners who are passionate about expanding our horizons and enriching lives
through study abroad experiences!

Our purpose.

Our purpose is to provide immersive and fully-supported experiences in Indonesia so that people can discover new ways to connect with themselves, the world, and those around them. We do so by providing a wide range of incredible study abroad opportunities with a variety of programs across multiple fields of study!

We hope that our study abroad experiences will leave participants with a newfound and lifelong connection to themselves and their surroundings.

 

Our vision.

At Acicis, our vision is clear: to create a world where studying abroad in Indonesia is a seamless process, and considered a rite of passage for all walks of life. We play our part in this vision by striving to be the most accessible study abroad program in Indonesia.

We recognise the value and importance of studying in beautiful countries like Indonesia, and we want to share this beauty with students and knowledge seekers alike.

 

Our values.

Our values are what we live by and use to make sure that we deliver the best experiences possible to all of our participants. These are the values that will guide your study abroad journey with us.

Curiosity

We approach everything with curiosity—a yearning to learn more, experience more, and discover new ways of doing things. We also encourage this curiosity in our participants.

Connection

We’re committed to building genuine and strong connections with the world, our participants, our members, and our team.

Growth

We believe in seeking constant growth—both
personal and professional—and facilitate this through everything we do and every experience we create.

Support

You’re never alone. We genuinely care about your experiences, and are always there to make sure you feel confident, connected, and safe.

Our team.

We have offices across Indonesia in Yogyakarta, Jakarta, Bogor and Bandung. Our Australia office is based in Perth at The University of Western Australia. Get to know our team below!

 

National Reference Group.

Our programs and activities are overseen by a National Reference Group, which includes academics, Indonesia specialists and study abroad professionals.

National Reference
  • Liam Prince
    Liam Prince
    Liam Prince was appointed ACICIS Consortium Director in July 2018. As Consortium Director, Liam provides executive leadership of ACICIS and is responsible for all aspects of the consortium’s operations— both in Australia and Indonesia.

    Liam joined ACICIS’ Perth team as a Secretariat Officer in 2012. Prior to taking up the role within the Secretariat, Liam was working closely with then ACICIS Consortium Director, Professor David Hill AM, on an ALTC Teaching Fellowship focused on developing a national plan for the future of Indonesian language studies in Australian universities.

    From 2014-2018 Liam served as ACICIS Secretariat Manager, heading a small team at the consortium’s national secretariat at The University of Western Australia in Perth.

    Liam completed his initial undergraduate studies in Economics and Indonesian at The University of Western Australia in 2006. In 2012 he obtained First Class Honours in Indonesian from UWA’s School of Social and Cultural Studies. His dissertation, entitled “All the Way with OVJ: Javanese theatre on Indonesian television – A case study of Trans7’s Opera Van Java”, examined the reinvention of late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Javanese theatrical traditions for early twenty-first-century Indonesian television audiences. Liam spent a semester as a student in Yogyakarta with ACICIS in 2000 and has ever after been scheming at ways various and novel to get himself back to Indonesia.
  • Dr Ross Tapsell
    Dr Ross Tapsell Member
    Ross Tapsell is a senior lecturer and researcher at the ANU’s College of Asia and the Pacific, specialising in media and culture in Island Southeast Asia. He is the author of Media Power in Indonesia: Oligarchs, Citizens and the Digital Revolution and co-editor of Digital Indonesia: Connectivity and Divergence.

    As well as scholarly publications, Ross’s articles have appeared in The Canberra Times, The Guardian, The Converstaion, Tempo, The Jakarta Post, the Malay Mail and others. He has previously worked in Indonesia with The Jakarta Post and the Lombok Post.
  • Dr Elisabeth Kramer
    Dr Elisabeth Kramer Member
    Dr Elisabeth Kramer is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Social Sciences, a Scientia Fellow and an ARC DECRA Fellow (2023) at UNSW Sydney. She previously held the position of Deputy Director of the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre at the University of Sydney. She completed a PhD in Indonesian Studies, focused on Indonesian political parties and their use of anti-corruption discourse in political communication and campaigning. Elisabeth has taught a number of Southeast Asia-related courses, including in-country field school units as well as Indonesian language to non-native speakers.

    Dr Kramer also holds a BSc/BA(Asian Studies)(Hons) from the University of Sydney and a Masters of International and Community Development from Deakin University. Between studying and working in academia she has also worked as a public servant, an international development consultant and an ESL teacher.
  • Professor Caroline Chan
    Professor Caroline Chan Deputy Member
    Professor Caroline Chan, a seasoned education professional with over 30 years of experience, has been a driving force in promoting excellence in education, enhancing organizational performance, and fostering positive organizational culture. As an executive leader, she has held senior management positions in global, large, and complex universities across Australia and overseas. Currently, she holds the position of Strategic Leader for Global Engagement and Partnerships at the University of Newcastle, where she spearheads the university’s strategic direction in international education and global partnerships, with a focus on regions like Singapore, Vietnam, and Indonesia. With a background as the Pro Vice Chancellor Global Partnership and CEO at the University of Newcastle Australia in Singapore, as well as experience as the Dean and Head of the School of Business IT and Logistics, Caroline has a history of driving organisational growth and transformations, and overseeing global expansion initiatives.
  • Professor Caitlin Byrne
    Professor Caitlin Byrne Member
    Professor Caitlin Byrne is Director of the Griffith Asia Institute. Prior to joining Griffith University, Caitlin was Assistant Professor of International Relations and Diplomacy at Bond University, Gold Coast. She is a Faculty Fellow of the University of Southern California’s Centre for Public Diplomacy (CPD), and alumna of the Asialink Leaders Program 2016.

    Caitlin’s teaching and research is focused on diplomacy and soft power in the Asia-Pacific with a special interest in the role and relevance of people-to-people links including those forged through international education, culture, sport and social media.
  • Dr Annie Pohlman
    Dr Annie Pohlman Deputy Member
    Dr Annie Pohlman teaches Indonesian at The School of Languages and Cultures, The University of Queensland. Her research investigates historical injustices and she works closely with a range of Indonesian human rights groups on the documentation of abuses.
  • Tom Power
    Tom Power Member
    Tom Power is a lecturer in Indonesian at Flinders University, with a research interest in Indonesian political studies, including political parties, democracy and corruption. He is an alumnus of the ACICIS East Java Field Study (EFJS) program at Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang in 2012.
  • Sarah Argles
    Sarah Argles Member
    Sarah Argles is the Associate Director Travel Risk and Safety at Monash University, overseeing travel safety protocols for all Monash staff and student travellers. She has over 15 years of experience in differing roles in the learning abroad sector and has expertise in travel risk and safety, study tour development and learning abroad governance. She led her first ever study tour to Indonesia in 2013, which transformed into one of the first New Colombo Plan funded programs. Sarah has a BS Business Administration from the Ohio State University, an MA Intercultural Relations from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA, is an IEAA (Associate Fellow) and is an active member of Pulse: International Safety and Security Professionals in Higher Education, Inc.
  • Philippa Scott Deputy
    Philippa Scott Deputy Member
    Philippa Scott is Coordinator, Global Experiences at RMIT University. She has 15 years’ experience in higher education in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, with the last 10 at RMIT supporting student global experiences and mobility. She is a passionate advocate for RMIT staff and student engagement in the Indo-pacific, and also works on international risk and student pre departure and travel support. Philippa has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Victoria University of Wellington in Aotearoa New Zealand.
  • Dr Thor Kerr
    Dr Thor Kerr Member
    Thor Kerr is Dean ASEAN at Curtin University and a senior lecturer in its School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry. Thor co-chairs the Western Australia East Java Universities Consortium (WAEJUC) and has held a fellowship at Universitas Airlangga. Thor has authored two books, led two edited volumes and written many articles for academic and general publications. Thor has supervised Indonesian PhD projects and undertaken collaborative projects with researchers in Indonesia. Thor has coordinated study tours, given public lectures and keynote presentations at several universities in Indonesia.

    Thor has extensive experience living and working in Indonesia. In the late 1990s Thor worked in journalism for The Jakarta Post and local television. He then co-founded Southeast Asia’s leading construction information service, BCI Asia, and its FuturArc media brand. Thor served as the founding Commissioner of PT BCI Asia until 2021 when it was merged into Byggfakta Group and listed on Nasdaq Stokholm. Thor enjoys Indonesian novels and time with family in Java.
  • David Scholefield
    David Scholefield Deputy Member
    David Scholefield is an Engagement Partner for the College of Law, Arts and Social Sciences at Murdoch University. He is passionate about the transformative impact of tertiary education, and the enablement of students and their institutions to enrich society.

    Indonesia, and the pursuit of engagement within the region has been a driving force in many aspects of his life since a high school exchange to Surabaya in 2010. Since then, David has lived and worked in Indonesia, represented Australia in the 35th Australia-Indonesia Youth Exchange Program and continues to support bi-lateral youth organisations such as Australia-Indonesia Youth Association and the Conference of Australian and Indonesian Youth. David holds a Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies, Indonesian and Anthropology and speaks Bahasa Indonesia
  • David Norman
    David Norman Host (UWA) Representative
    David Norman is Senior Policy Advisor to the Vice-Chancellor at the University of Western Australia. He leads the UWA’s counter foreign interference work and is the Secretary of UWA’s Defence and Security Committee.

    With former Foreign Affairs and Defence Minister Stephen Smith, David created UWA Public Policy Institute, which works to increase the translation of UWA research into evidence-based policy, and to increase the impact of UWA’s work in Australia, the Indian Ocean Region and the Indo-Pacific. He is a former board member of the Australia Indonesia Centre and former Chair of the WA-East Java Universities Consortium. David has 30 years of experience working in public and private tertiary education in Australia, the UK, Japan and Spain, and in government in the UK.
  • Dr Sara Beavis
    Dr Sara Beavis Member by invitation
    Dr Sara Beavis is a Senior Lecturer at the Fenner School of Environment and Society at the Australian National University where she convenes and teaches courses in water science, water management and island sustainability at undergraduate and graduate levels. She has published extensively on the impacts of natural and anthropogenic processes on water quality, water security and water management. Current research includes: the transport and fluxes of heavy metals associated with artisanal mining in eastern Indonesia; the implications of climate variability and change on water and sediment quality in inland and coastal aquatic environments; and, examining the ethical dimensions of water resources management in the Pacific and Pacific Rim region.
  • Professor David Hill AM
    Professor David Hill AM Emeritus Professor David T. Hill AM Founder and Immediate Past Consortium Director
    David Hill is Emeritus Professor of Southeast Asian Studies at Murdoch University in Perth and both the founder and immediate past Director of ACICIS. David has an extensive record of research and publication on Indonesian media, literature, biography, and cultural politics. David has served as a Board Member of the DFAT Australia-Indonesia Institute (2011-14) and previously chaired the Board of Management of Murdoch University’s Asia Research Centre.
  • Lydia Santoso
    Lydia Santoso Member by invitation
    Lydia is an Australian qualified lawyer and public notary, specialising in the area of Indonesian-Australian law. She speaks fluent Indonesian and English and has worked in law firms in both Sydney and Jakarta. Lydia has acted for many Australian businesses with interests in Indonesia, Indonesian business owners located in the greater Sydney area, Indonesian property developers, and many Indonesians living in Australia. She has also represented the Indonesian Government in Sydney. Lydia is passionate about fostering Australia – Indonesia relations and spends much of her time on philanthropic endeavours in this field. She currently holds appointments as an Advisory Board Member of DFAT’s Australia Indonesia Institute (since 2015), Vice Chair of the NSW Branch of the Australia Indonesia Business Council, and as the founding Chair of the Balai Bahasa & Budaya Indonesia of NSW.
  • Louise McGrath
    Louise McGrath Member by invitation
    Louise McGrath is Head of Industry Development and Policy at the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group). She has a particular interest in international business training and facilitation, trade and border regulations, and international transport. Louise has extensive experience providing advice and counseling to manufacturing companies on export and trade related matters. She regularly represents Australian industry in multilateral forums such as the B20 Coalition and the East Asia Business Council working group on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Louise has advocated for the interests of Ai Group members within several free trade agreement negotiations. Louise has a Bachelor of Arts (Arabic Language and Culture) from Deakin University and an Advanced Diploma in International Trade from RMIT. She has studied Arabic at universities in Jordan and Egypt.
  • Dr Kirrilee Hughes
    Dr Kirrilee Hughes Member by invitation
    Dr Kirrilee Hughes is an international education professional with expertise across Southeast Asia and in the global higher education and schools sectors. She has held leadership and strategy roles for global education organisations as well as sessional teaching and research positions at four leading Australian universities. Kirrilee is a Senior Fellow of the International Education Association of Australia and currently works in Singapore, where she has founded an international education consultancy – Bestari Consulting.

    Kirrilee’s doctoral research, undertaken through the Australian National University, focused on Australia’s Asia literacy agenda. She also completed her honours degree at ANU and is an ACICIS alumni – having undertaken two semesters of study in Indonesia through ACICIS in 2001. Kirrilee has previously managed the Australia Indonesia Business Council and held the role of Supervising Program Manager for the Australian Phase of the Australia Indonesia Youth Exchange Program, funded through Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
  • Elena Williams
    Elena Williams Member by invitation
    Elena Williams is a higher education consultant and PhD candidate at The Australian National University, researching the impact of DFAT-funded learning abroad programs (including the New Colombo Plan and ACICIS) on Australia-Indonesia relationship building. Between 2013 – 2017 she served as ACICIS’ Resident Director in Indonesia, and has since advised on learning abroad and higher education to Indonesia with The University of Melbourne, The Victorian Department of Education, Palladium, Tetra Tech and Cowater International. Elena holds an MA in Gender and Development Studies (ANU), BA Honours in Indonesian Studies (USyd), and a BA Communications and International Studies (UTS). Elena regularly presents at conferences and speaks with media on Australia-Indonesia relations, learning abroad and higher education, and currently serves on the board of DFAT’s Australia-Indonesia Institute, and as a panel member for The Australia-Indonesia Youth Exchange Program, The Australia Awards Indonesia, and The New Colombo Plan’s selection committees.

    In February 2024, Elena was selected by The Australian Government as a delegate in the ASEAN-Australia Emerging Leaders’ Dialogue and in 2022 was awarded ANU’s Sir Raymond Firth Research Prize in recognition of her research on the Australia-Indonesia relationship. She is a proud ACICIS alumna from 2005 (Semester 21), where she completed a year of in-country study in Yogyakarta.

Our partners.

We work with a range of universities, organisations and sponsors to provide the best possible study abroad experiences in Indonesia to our participants.

 

Member universities.

We work closely with our member universities to make sure that as many students as possible have access to unforgettable Indonesian study and real-world work experiences, that directly earn credit towards their degree.

Check out our awesome member universities below! If you don’t see your university, talk to our team today.

 

Curtin University
Deakin University
Flinders University
Griffith University
La Trobe University
Universiteit Leiden
Monash University
Murdoch University
University Of New England
Queensland University Of Technology
RMIT University
SOAS University Of London
Australian National University
The University Of Melbourne
The University Of Newcastle
The University Of Queensland
The University Of Sydney
The University Of Western Australia
UNSW Sydney
University Of Technology Sydney
Western Sydney University