In July 2026, Acicis hosted 20 students from seven Australian universities for the Public Health Study Tour (PHST), held from July 4 – 19 . The program was once again led by Dr. Emily Rowe, a repeat Tour Leader across both in-country and virtual iterations of the PHST.

The tour opened with an orientation session run by Acicis staff, giving students grounding in Indonesia’s public health landscape and cultural context, followed by an official opening ceremony hosted by the Faculty of Public Health at Universitas Indonesia.

Split between Depok and Yogyakarta, the program combined expert-led seminars, site visits, and cultural excursions. Alongside discussions on a range of public health themes, students visited Universitas Indonesia Hospital, waste management facilities in Bogor, the YAKKUM Rehabilitation Center in Yogyakarta, the Code River community, and both Puskesmas (government-mandated community health centers) and Posyandu (community-based centers for early childhood development).

 

Field visits also took students to the Kebaya Foundation in Yogyakarta, an NGO providing shelter, support, and empowerment for people living with HIV/AIDS and members of the LGBTQIA+ community — part of a broader effort to expose students directly to Indonesia’s public health infrastructure and its challenges.

Cultural programming rounded out the academics: a visit to Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII), where students explored provincial pavilions and museums showcasing Indonesia’s biodiversity and cultural diversity, and a batik-making workshop at Kebon Agung Tourism Village in Yogyakarta, where each student created their own piece.

 

Each week closed with student presentations of their academic findings and recommendations, assessed by the Tour Leader and Universitas Indonesia lecturers. The program concluded with a closing lunch and mini award ceremony recognizing students’ participation and enthusiasm, capped by a traditional dance performance from a local Yogyakarta studio depicting the Indonesian tales of Srikandi and Cakil.

We hope the program was a rewarding experience for all involved, leaving students with new insights, friendships, and lasting memories. Wishing them every success ahead — until we meet again.

Sampai jumpa lagi!

 

Learn more about Public Health Study Tour (PHST)