Speeches
Thursday, 18 June 2026
StudyAdelaide: Partnership in Progress Event, Jakarta
Good evening. I am pleased to join you in Jakarta to celebrate the enduring partnership between South Australia and Indonesia through education, research, innovation, and people-to-people connections.
Education has long been one of the strongest foundations of the relationship between South Australia and Indonesia.
Throughout my career, I have seen firsthand how international education transforms lives. It creates opportunity, broadens perspectives, and builds lasting connections between nations and communities.
As Governor of South Australia and patron of StudyAdelaide, I continue to witness the extraordinary contribution international students make, not only to our education institutions, economy, and the cultural and social fabric of our state, but also to their home countries, where many go on to become leaders, innovators, educators, researchers, and professionals who strengthen communities and deepen international connections.
South Australia is proud of its world-class education system and of the strong partnerships our universities have developed throughout Indonesia.
Adelaide University and Flinders University have built enduring collaborations with Indonesian institutions across education, health, research, innovation, and cultural engagement.
These partnerships reflect a shared commitment to academic excellence, knowledge exchange, and preparing future generations to address regional and global challenges together.
Importantly, these collaborations are producing meaningful outcomes through joint research, professional exchanges, workforce development, and student mobility that continue to strengthen ties between South Australia and Indonesia.
We are especially proud of the many Indonesian students who choose Adelaide as their place of study.
They enrich our campuses and communities through their academic excellence, cultural contributions, and entrepreneurial spirit.
We also acknowledge the remarkable legacy of the Australia Awards program in Indonesia — one of the longest-running and most significant education partnerships between our countries.
For more than seventy years, it has strengthened human capital development and fostered enduring bilateral relationships.
One of the great strengths of South Australia’s education sector is its close integration with industry.
Our universities work closely with employers, researchers, government, and global businesses to ensure students graduate career-ready and connected to opportunity.
Students benefit from internships, industry partnerships, research collaboration, and direct engagement with professionals throughout their studies.
South Australia’s economy is also transforming rapidly, with strong growth in health and medical sciences, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, digital technologies, agribusiness, and space.
Innovation precincts such as Lot Fourteen, Tonsley Innovation District, and Adelaide BioMed City bring together universities, researchers, startups, and industry leaders to prepare students for the industries of the future.
This evening’s panel discussion — “Partnership in progress: Transforming Indonesia and Australia’s healthcare systems through digital innovation” — highlights the importance of collaboration in healthcare innovation, digital transformation, and workforce development.
I am delighted that leaders from academia, healthcare, industry, and international development are coming together to share their perspectives on these important opportunities.
As Patron of StudyAdelaide, I have also had the privilege of presenting the International Student Awards and witnessing the remarkable achievements and contributions international students make to our community.
One such example is Richard Kennedy from Indonesia, a student in the Master of Disability Practice and Leadership, who was named StudyAdelaide’s International Student of the Year in 2024 in recognition of his academic excellence, leadership, and contribution to the community.
Tonight, we also celebrate the important role played by alumni, education agents, institutional partners, and community organisations.
You are ambassadors for the enduring relationship between Indonesia and South Australia.
To all Indonesian students considering study abroad, I warmly invite you to consider Adelaide, a safe, welcoming, multicultural, and globally connected city where students can thrive academically, professionally, and personally.
Thank you for your presence this evening and for your continued commitment to strengthening the partnership between Indonesia and South Australia.
Thank you.