The Australia-ASEAN Muslim Exchange Program (AAMEP) offers emerging Muslim leaders in Australia and Southeast Asia the opportunity to participate in an international visit program of cultural, religious, and intellectual exchange.
The AAMEP is designed to promote intercultural understanding and provide a rich experience of the diverse cultures and communities of Southeast Asia and Australia. The program reflects the diversity of multicultural Australia and Muslim communities in Southeast Asia, and provides a unique opportunity to engage in dialogue and exchange with like-minded individuals from different backgrounds.
The AAMEP is a flagship program of the Australia-ASEAN Council, one of the cultural councils established by the Australian Government to support people-to-people links between Australia and countries in our region.
The program is open to a wide range of emerging community leaders and activists aged between 23-40. Past delegates have included community workers, teachers, entrepreneurs, lawyers, journalists, and artists.
Australian AAMEP delegates visit Tonson Mosque, a historic mosque in Bangkok, Thailand.
This year, delegates from Australia will visit Brunei Darussalam, and delegates from Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, and the Philippines will visit Australia, over 7-10 days. Participants will have the opportunity to experience life in their neighbouring region, gain an awareness of the challenges and opportunities facing communities there, and build personal connections that can last a lifetime.
Nema Hayba, a postdoctoral research fellow at Macquarie University and an AAMEP alumna from 2019, said, “I found the AAMEP program to be an amazing opportunity to meet and network with Muslim influencers ranging from grassroots organizations to political parties, and really immerse myself in the culture, traditions and way of life of our brothers and sisters in Malaysia and Thailand. One of the key learnings that I took from this experience was to really start to think globally about the impact that we can make, and really drawing upon and utilizing connections we have with Southeast Asia.”
She said one thing that surprised her was how empowered she felt by witnessing Muslim women in positions of power, including in political parties, as government ministers, and as changemakers in Muslim society.
2019 AAMEP delegate Sahema Saberi is greeted by students at an Islamic school in Krabi, southern Thailand
Rowan Gould, co-founder of Mosaic Connections, who run the AAMEP, said, “The AAMEP is not just about cultural exchange and intellectual dialogue; it is about building relationships and networks that can lead to collaborations and initiatives that benefit both Australia and Southeast Asia.”
“We have over 300 alumni from both the AAMEP and AIMEP (Australia-Indonesia Muslim Exchange Program). Now travel restrictions have ended, I’m excited that the AAMEP is in-person again! The program has really provided a platform for emerging leaders to share ideas, learn from one another, and collaborate on projects that have a positive impact in their communities,” said Brynna Rafferty-Brown, co-founder of Mosaic Connections.
Applications are now open for the AAMEP 2023 program, which will take place in June-July 2023. If you are a young Muslim, community worker, or emerging leader aged 23-40, you are encouraged to apply before the deadline of 12 March 2023.
AAMEP 2023 applications are open until 12 March
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