Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Greg Moriarty said their visit aimed to show the group the broad cultural diversity of Australian Muslims, made up of 70 different ethnic backgrounds, including from Indonesia. "Islam in Australia is one of the country`s fastest growing religions and makes an enormous contribution to the success of contemporary, multicultural Australia." the Ambassador said.
Muslim contact with Australia pre-dates European settlement and goes back to the sixteenth century when Macassan traders and fishermen shared their lives with local Indigenous people throughout northern Australia.
"It is also important that these young Indonesian Muslims are able to contribute to Australia`s understanding of the role of religion in Indonesia and share their perspectives on a range of issues," the Ambassador added.
During their two week program in Australia (13- 26 June) the participants will visit Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra and meet with community and religious leaders, academics and media representatives. The delegation will experience the diversity of Australian society, the ways government and non-government organisations engage the community, and exchange ideas on the future of Australia-Indonesia relations. They will also make a brief visit to the rural Victorian town of Shepparton which has a long history of immigrant settlement in the region.
This is the last of three delegations from Indonesia who are scheduled to visit Australia under the Australia-Indonesia Institute Muslim Exchange Program in 2011. From 16-29 May, four young Muslim leaders from Australia made a reciprocal visit to Indonesia to learn firsthand about Indonesia`s diverse, democratic and tolerant society.
This Muslim Exchange Program was established by the Australian Government through the Australia-Indonesia Institute in 2002.(*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
