Indonesian Classes to Connect with Brunei School

We are thrilled to announce that Port Lincoln High School was recently selected as one of nine schools across the nation for the second cohort of the ASEAN–Australia BRIDGE School Partnerships Program – this exciting initiative will see our school partner with the staff and students at Maktab Sains Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan school in Brunei, an independent Islamic sultanate on the northern coast of the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia.

Over the next two years, our school will enter a sister school-like relationship with Maktab Sains. This connection will enable our Indonesian language classes (and other curriculum areas) to engage in assorted learning activities such as:

• conducting video calls into classrooms in both schools
• creating and sharing digital storyboards featuring “A Day In The Life” in each country
• exchanging treasure boxes containing artefacts of importance to each culture
• swapping recipes and making cuisine from the other country

Our place in this prestigious program is the result of months of work by dedicated PLHS Indonesian teacher Mrs. Melanie McGown (who, incidentally, received her 30 Years of Service certificate from PLHS Principal Mr. Craig Akehurst earlier today).

We congratulate Bu McGown on this incredible work and look forward to sharing the results of this wonderful cultural opportunity for our school.

The ASEAN–Australia Centre and Asialink Education recently issued the following press release:

Strengthening educational ties across Australia and Southeast Asia

The ASEAN–Australia Centre and Asialink Education are delighted to announce the selection of 18 new schools for the second cohort of the ASEAN–Australia BRIDGE School Partnerships Program.

This cohort brings together primary and secondary schools from across Australia and Southeast Asia, continuing the momentum of the inaugural program launched earlier this year and joining the 38 schools already participating.

The selected schools represent a diverse mix of public and private institutions, regional and metropolitan locations, and a strong commitment to inclusive education, innovative pedagogy, and intercultural learning. These school partnerships will connect educators and students across nine ASEAN Member States and Australia, fostering mutual understanding and collaboration.

The second cohort will engage in a year-long program of professional learning, virtual collaboration, and reciprocal visits. Southeast Asian educators will travel to Australia in March 2026, followed by Australian educators visiting their partner schools in Southeast Asia in April 2026. The program also includes 4 virtual student workshops and joint projects designed to deepen intercultural understanding and build lasting relationships.

Lisa Hayman, Acting Director of Asialink Education, said:

“This second cohort reflects the growing enthusiasm among schools to build meaningful connections across our region. We are thrilled to welcome these new partnerships and look forward to the innovative learning experiences they will create for their students and school communities.”

Fiona Hoggart, Head of the ASEAN-Australia Centre, said in her remarks to the second cohort: “Schools prepare our future thinkers and leaders. Classrooms are crucial places for igniting curiosity and shaping global citizens. Through BRIDGE, we hope the connections you make will have a lasting, positive impact on your students and communities.”

Participating Schools – Second Cohort

Australian Schools:

• Alyangula Area School, NT
• Hills International College, QLD
• Holy Rosary School / Our Lady of Good Counsel School, WA
• Mungindi Central School, NSW
• Oxley College, NSW
• Plympton International College, SA
• Port Lincoln High School, SA
• St Mary’s Primary Laidley, QLD
• St Michael’s Lutheran Primary, SA

ASEAN Schools:

• Angsilapittayakom School, Thailand
• American University of Phnom Penh High School – Foxcroft Academy (AUPPHS-FA), Cambodia
• Bình Phú Lower Secondary School, Vietnam
• EBC Asumau Remexio, Timor-Leste
• Maktab Sains Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan, Brunei
• Mee Toh School, Singapore
• Phonmee Secondary School, Laos
• SMK Pulau Ketam, Malaysia
• SMK Takis Papar, Malaysia

The ASEAN–Australia BRIDGE School Partnerships Program is an initiative of the ASEAN–Australia Centre and is implemented by Asialink Education (formerly Asia Education Foundation) at the University of Melbourne.

For more information, visit https://asialink.unimelb.edu.au/education/program/asean-bridge or contact asean-bridge@unimelb.edu.au.