Graduate Highlights
Faculty of Asian Studies, Australian National University
Postcard from East Timor
Justine FitzGerald
Bachelor of Asian Studies (Indonesian) / Bachelor of Arts combined degree
I arrived in East Timor on the 29th of April to work as a translator/interpreter with an AUSAID funded project in the division of labour and social services. This contract came about following an earlier stint in East Timor with Australian Volunteers International during March - April 2001. Prior to this I spent some time in Jakarta with our Attorney Generals Department doing mediation training.
At the moment there is a huge need for Indonesianists in East Timor in particular translators and interpreters. I have found myself continually drawing on my Indonesian language and culture skills learnt through my Bachelor of Asian Studies degree. I wouldn't call this a hardship post - it is however intense and there is a lot of work to do to rebuild the infrastructure and services in East Timor.
East Timor is an incredibly beautiful place. The struggles of this area have been enormous and it will certainly be interesting to see what happens here in the lead up to the elections scheduled for 30 August. At the moment they are going through the registration of voters and education process and it is wonderful to be here to see this in action! My contract here finishes in June and following this I have been offered a job with the UN in an interpreting / translating role for possibly the
Timor National Parliament and to provide other training.
My Asian Studies degree continues to provide opportunities for me in the work place
Debbie Sprigge
Graduate Bachelor of Asian Studies (Indonesian) 1996
Graduate Diploma of Education - University of Canberra 1998Work History
- Merici College - Indonesian, Asian Studies teacher
- Marcellin College - Indonesian Teacher
- Edlink/Connex - Academic counsellor/student adviser for international students
- IDP Education Australia - Project Coordinator (Defence Cooperation Scholarships Scheme - South East Asia)
Current Position
Department of Education, Science and Training
Case Manager - Education Services for Overseas Students Act2000 Group, International Policy Branch
Every day, in one way or another, I use the skills I developed and the knowledge I gained during the course of my degree, especially in areas of languages, linguistics and Asian history and culture. The year in Asia was an experience that I continue to draw upon in my work. During my time studying in Indonesia I learnt to adapt to different ways of learning and living. There were many challenging days but in the end it was an experience that guided to me to a career in education with a focus on developing countries.
In my current position I liaise with representatives from other government departments, educational institutions, education agents, and students from all over the world. They are often interested to know my background and are impressed when I tell them that I graduated from the ANU and spent a year at university in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
I was attracted by the flexibility of an Asian Studies degree at the ANU
Linda Yan
Bachelor of Asian Studies (Indonesian) 1996
Work History
- Australian Customs Service - Graduate Administrative Assistant (GAA)
- Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) - Project Manager, South East Asia Office
- Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) - Project / Office Manager, South East Asia Office
Current Position
Australian Trade Commission (Austrade)
Regional Information Manager, South East Asia Region
Throughout my career with Austrade, I have been very fortunate to work in an environment where I have been able to draw upon the skills learned through my university experience both in Australia and Indonesia. The knowledge gained through studies in accounting, Asian history, linguistics and Indonesian prepared me for positions as a Graduate Administrative Assistant working on various research projects with the Australian Customs Service, to project management roles within the South East Asia Region of Austrade.
I was attracted by the flexibility of an Asian Studies degree at the ANU. I could use the elective area of my degree to major in Accounting as well as getting the concentration I wanted in Indonesian and Asian culture / history subjects. The year in Indonesia component of my degree allowed me to further develop my Indonesian language skills, to communicate and interact with people from many different backgrounds and to experience life as an international student. The year in country was an invaluable experience and certainly a highlight of my studies at the ANU.
Life at university was not just about studying. There were many opportunities available to join such groups as the ANU Indonesian Society, participate in Indonesian camps at the ANU's South Coast property and to make long lasting friendships. Friends who I studied Asian Studies with are now working for the UN in East Timor, the Department of Defence, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Federal Police, studying Masters and PhD's in law, women's health and education. There are endless opportunities where you can use your Asian Studies degree to complement your work.
Many of the world's biggest names in Asian Studies are at the ANU
Simon Butt
Bachelor of Asian Studies (Indonesian) / Bachelor of Laws with Honours, 1998
Why I came to the ANU
I found Canberra to be a wonderful place to live and study. After finishing high school in Sydney, I wanted to continue studying Indonesian and hear that the ANU was the best place to go. Coming to Canberra was a decision I made reluctantly at the time, but never regretted.
Many of the world's biggest names in Indonesian and Asian Studies are at the ANU. The ANU has internationally recognised and widely-published experts in Indonesian politics, military, religion, economics, law, demography, anthropology, culture and history, to name a few. I found the staff extremely approachable and the course gave me a great foundation for a career or further study in Indonesian-related fields.
The highlights of my study
The two highlights of studying Asian Studies at the ANU have been my Honours and Year in Asia programs. Honours is a demanding but extremely rewarding year, where you can take advantage of the ANU's expertise, choose almost any Asia-related area and explore this in depth and write a thesis.
The year I spent in Yogyakarta, Indonesia on the Year in Asia program was probably the best experience of my life. I had a fantastic time living and traveling in Indonesia, meeting new people and experiencing life there. I learnt invaluable lessons about Indonesians, their language, society and culture.
What I have done with my combined degree
Studying Indonesian and Law has opened up many new career opportunities for me. I have translated for Channel 7, worked in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, worked on an AusAID-funded project teaching intellectual property law to Indonesian government officials and judges, and assisted in a training project to teach advocacy skills to young lawyers from Indonesia's Legal Aid Institute.