Ceremony confirms MoU between AIC and Indonesia’s disability commission

Further bilateral cooperation on disability services is expected following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) by the Australia-Indonesia Centre and the Indonesian National Commission for Disability (KND).

Before a gathering of key stakeholders, the MOU was signed at the campus of AIC partner Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) by AIC chair Professor (Emeritus) Andrew MacIntyre and KND head Dr Dante Rigmalia.

Addressing the gathering, Professor MacIntyre welcomed the “further cementing of this very important partnership with the Indonesian National Commission for Disability”.

Professor MacIntyre said PAIR Sulawesi, the research initiative which builds on the model developed for PAIR South Sulawesi, could make a meaningful contribution to the lives of people with disabilities.

“The Commission was a welcome and supportive partner for PAIR South Sulawesi in its
focus on disability inclusion,” he said.

“As we move forward with PAIR Sulawesi, we will be working closely with the Commission to guide our research to improve the lives of people with disabilities in Sulawesi and beyond.”

Dr Dante said the agreement would allow for further cooperation and research that would empower people living with disabilities.

“We hope that people with disabilities will not only be subjects of research but also equal partners in conducting this research,” she said.

“KND also believes that the research results from this collaboration can serve as a reference for data-driven decision-making.”

Minister counsellor at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, Madeleine Moss, said Dr Dante had been a strong advocate for evidence to policy and using data to underpin decision making, ideas that aligned strongly with the work of PAIR.

Ms Moss spoke about gender, equity, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) being a focus of Australian government development investments.

According to Australia-Indonesia Centre executive director, Eugene Sebastian, the MoU will bolster efforts to address an important social issue.

“As a knowledge partner with Indonesia’s national disability commission, we can better amplify and advocate our research and findings, ensuring our work makes an even bigger impact.”

Dr Sebastian said evidence-based research since 2019 has been working to improve the lives of people with disabilities in South Sulawesi.

“This partnership now allows us to expand our efforts across the wider Sulawesi region and beyond.”

PAIR findings were instrumental in supporting the development of a Disability Centre at the University of Hasanuddin, the first of its kind on the island.

Professor MacIntyre acknowledged the leadership of Universitas Hasanuddin Rector, Professor Jamaluddin Jompa, in establishing the Disability Centre.

The United Nations has been driving a campaign on the inclusion of people with disabilities in Indonesia since 2019 and last year announced a new program entitled Disability Inclusion Matters: Leaving No One Behind.

The Australia-Indonesia Centre is a consortium of universities in both countries with Monash University as the lead agency.

Previous examples of AIC/PAIR research regarding people living with disabilities are listed below:

• Indonesians with a disability band together to overcome the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic
• Digital inclusion guidelines for people with disability: The role of the matrix
• Dancing and music mark first anniversary of Disability Center, Unhas
• PAIR research examines themes of education, health, safety, gender equality, disability, and social inclusion

Feature image by PAIR