Australia Pledges priority funding links with Thailand

The Australia-Thailand Institute (the Institute) was established in mid-2005 to promote bilateral relations with Thailand and to expand institutional, cultural and people-to-people links.

Report by Phill Smith

Wherever possible, the ATI seeks to expand people-to-people and institutional links through programs, partnerships with other organisations and seed funding of projects to enable them to grow.
The Institute seeks to target the next generation of leaders in both countries across a broad spectrum of backgrounds from the arts and business, cultural and community groups.

The Institute comprises an Advisory Board with between 5 and 8 members appointed by the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs and a Secretariat provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The current Board Members are as follows:

Mr Mike Courtnall (Chair),  Mr Doug Hall, Mr John Hancock, Mr Michael Laverty, Mr Jim Middleton,

Mr Sidney Myer, Prof Abdullah Saeed, Ms Gillian Bird (DFAT Ex-officio member)

The mission of the Australia - Thailand Institute is to advise the Australian Government, through the Minister for Foreign Affairs, on broadening and deepening the relationship between Australia and Thailand and to undertake and support programs that strengthen links between Australia and Thailand.

The ATI's goals are:

To contribute to the development of Australia's economic and political relations with Thailand;

To broaden awareness and understanding in Australia and Thailand of each other's culture, values and traditions, including sport
To promote increased people-to-people contacts between Australia and Thailand.
To support Australia's broader diplomatic objectives in Thailand.

Funding Priorities: youth; regional Thailand and long-term linkages

At the first Board meeting (17 February 2009) the Board determined the focus for ATI projects will be youth exchanges, programs that involve activities in regional Thailand and programs that will produce long-term links between Australia and Thailand.

The ATI awards grants through a competitive selection process. The ATI will fund programs in three Priority Areas:

Public policy (including democratic governance, public administration and trade and economic reform) Education Culture and the Arts, including sport.

If you have any suggestions or a desire to seek a grant further information is available on the ATI Website.

The page that provided notes for applicants http://www.dfat.gov.au/ati/funding_guidelines.html

You are also encouraged to make contact with the Secretariat at the following address:

Ms Alison Purnell,  Secretariat Manager

Australia-Thailand Institute

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade,  RG Casey Building

John McEwen Crescent,  Barton ACT 0221 

Phone: +61 2 6261 3202  Fax: +61 2 6261 2342

Website: http://www.dfat.gov.au/ati/