This project provides Australian secondary schools with the opportunity to engage with the business community with the objective of building demand for Asia literacy among Australian secondary school students.

On this page, you will learn more about the project, its objectives and the range of benefits that can be realised with your participation and support:

• Why Asia Literacy?
• The Project
• The Commitment
• Role of Schools
• Role of a Key School Contact
• Benefits for Schools
• How can I get involved? 

Why Asia Literacy?

The imperative for Australian students to become Asia literate has never been greater. Employment and lifestyle opportunities for Australians are increasingly influenced by the economies and societies of the Asian region, while immigrants from Asia play an active role in communities across Australia. Students leaving school with knowledge and understandings about Asia, and strong intercultural skills will be best placed to maximise these opportunities.

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The Project

This project enables the establishment of meaningful, long-term partnerships between skilled professionals (Ambassadors) and secondary schools across Australia. Ambassadors volunteer their time to assist school communities to better understand the diverse career and life opportunities available to employees who are knowledgeable about Asia and have the skills and dispositions needed to effectively engage with the people and cultures of Asia, off-shore and domestically.

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The Commitment

Ideally, partnering Ambassadors and schools will participate in at least three face-to-face interactions in the school, workplace or other contexts with students, school leaders, teachers, career practitioners and school councils over a six-to-eight month period. That said, the number of interactions and when they occur will depend very much on the availability and goals of the Ambassador and school. Interactions can take many forms - for example, an interaction could be a student visit to the Ambassador's workplace, a presentation to a student group, dialogue with leadership teams, career practitioners, teachers and school councils, etc. Project participants have flexibility to establish a partnership that best suits the specific interests, expertise and availability of the Ambassador and the needs of the school community.

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Role of Schools

School principals and leadership teams play a crucial role in supporting Asia literacy in schools. Schools participating in the project are asked to:

• commit to working with an Ambassador selected by the AEF for at least six-to-eight months, following the receipt of an email notifying them of the Ambassador selected and his/ her contact details;
• support one Key School Contact's full participation in the project, which may require them to:
  • coordinate student visits to the Ambassador's workplace;
  • assist with Ambassador presentations to student groups;
  • facilitate a dialogue between the Ambassador and school councils; or
  • support the Ambassador in his/her mentoring of students.
• ensure the development of partnership activities that are aligned with the school strategic plan; and
• be committed to sharing their partnership with other Australian secondary schools and/or their local community.

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Role of a Key School Contact

The role of a Key School Contact is to welcome an Asia Literacy Ambassador into the school community and collaborate with them to plan activities that highlight the career and life benefits of being Asia literate. To achieve this, Key School Contacts:

• work with their Ambassador to develop and submit a Partnership Plan to the AEF;
• participate in, ideally, at least three face-to-face interactions in the school, workplace or other contexts with their Ambassador over a six-to-eight month period;
• provide the necessary hardware, software and resources required to execute partnership activities;
• submit an account of the partnership to the AEF to feature on the project website;
• promote the project to colleagues and other Australian secondary schools to further engagement between schools and the business community; and
• develop partnership activities that build Asia literacy across the curriculum.

The AEF ensures that each Ambassador has a current Australian Federal Police National Police Check. Any school-specific protocols regarding visitors remain the responsibility of the school.

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Benefits for Schools

The benefits of being involved in this project for members of the school community include:

• support for targeted teaching and learning in a range of curriculum areas that builds students' Asia literacy;
• opportunity for students to better understand how being Asia literate can influence their career prospects and lifestyle aspirations;
• mentoring partnerships between Ambassadors and students and staff;
• exposure to high-calibre role models from the business community;
• establishment of direct links with local businesses and their employees; and
• raising the profile of the school within the local business community, state/territory and nationally.

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How can I get involved?

To register your interest in participating in the project, please complete an online Expression of Interest form. It only takes 5 minutes!

On this form, you will be prompted to explain why you would like to be involved in the project and, if desired, elect a particular Ambassador and/or organisation with which you would like to be partnered.

If you do not elect an Ambassador or organisation, the AEF will use the information provided in your completed Expression of Interest form to match you to an Ambassador based on your location, Asian languages/studies taught, existing connections with the Asian region and/or Asia-Australian communities, and aspirations for the project.

Please note that you must have your Principal's support for your school's participation in the project prior to submitting an Expression of Interest.

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