Growing up as an Indonesian-Australian has shaped Zac Sumarno's perspective on identity, culture, and career. For Zac, his Indonesian heritage is more than ancestry, it’s a meaningful connection that continues to influence his life and choices. From studying politics and Asian studies in undergrad to now pursuing a Juris Doctor, Zac’s journey reflects a deep curiosity about navigating the intersections of culture, society, and law. Zac Sumarno joins Billy Adison Aditijanto on The Perantau...

Starting his journey in Australia as an RMIT student, Adji Baskoro shares how his education and experiences shaped his transition start up his own business, Koskosan. Having not only thrived for over a decade but also received recognition, Adji reflects on the growth of their business. Adji Baskoro joins Billy Adison Aditijanto on The Perantau Podcast to share about the ideas behind Koskosan, the highs and lows in managing a start-up, and the challenges that Indonesians may face when...

Living and working abroad has shaped Wulan Dirgantoro’s understanding of her identity and Indonesian contemporary art. For Dr Dirgantoro, her journey has been one of personal growth, cultural exchange, and deep connections. Working internationally has given her unique insights to see Indonesian art through a global lens. Wulan Dirgantoro joins Billy Adison Aditijanto on The Perantau Podcast to share about how Indonesian diaspora is contributing to the global recognition of Indonesian art and...

Ever wondered what it’s like to teach Bahasa Indonesia in a foreign country? It’s a rewarding experience, but it comes with its own set of challenges. With students from diverse backgrounds, teachers go through extensive training to be prepared for any situation in the classroom. But beyond the challenges, there’s also the privilege of learning alongside the students—sometimes the teacher becomes the student too. Bayu Prihantoro joins ⁠Billy Adison Aditijanto⁠ on The Perantau Podcast to...

PPI Australia serves the varying needs of Indonesian students, not only across different states but also considering their different population sizes, which brings its own set of challenges. Aside from representing student aspirations, PPI Australia also relays government communications and other student-centric stakeholders. Wildan Ali and Yudhi Hartawan, past and present presidents of PPI Australia, joins Billy Adison Aditijanto on The Perantau Podcast to share how the organisation has...

How much do you know about dangdut? It’s not just a genre; it has become an important symbol of Indonesian identity. Since being given the name in the ‘70s and its peak in the ‘90s, dangdut has become one of the many faces of Indonesian pop culture. Has time now come for them to take on the world? Michael HB Raditya – founder of the Dangdut Studies centre and current PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne – joins Billy Adison Aditijanto on The Perantau Podcast to share his journey of...

As a migrant, as perantau, sometimes you become more conscious of how you present yourself and how others perceive you. We expect ourselves to be emotionally composed, sometimes straying from our true feelings. That’s emotional labour. But what happens if you’re a migrant journalist? Tito Ambyo is an Indonesian-Australian journalist and lecturer at RMIT and joins Billy Adison Aditijanto on The Perantau Podcast to share his journey of settling in Melbourne for over 20 years. On this...

As Indonesia is projected to become the 4th or 5th largest economy in the next decade, it makes sense for Australia to strengthen its ties with Indonesia. Yet, since 2012, funding for language learning in Australia has been cut, leading to fewer students and even fewer future teachers to teach Bahasa Indonesia. This creates a cycle in which Australia, at the policy level, has fallen short in recognising the importance of learning more about Indonesia. Darcy Murphy, a VCE Indonesian teacher...

Aside from the coffee and colonial-style architecture, Melbourne and Bandung share a strong identity as art cities, each with vibrant street art scenes, rich histories, and deep community engagement in the arts. Dubbed Australia’s cultural capital, Melbourne's renowned street art and festivals are paralleled by Bandung's innovative community art initiatives and historic charm. Dea Azalia visited Melbourne on a 4-month work placement program at the RMIT Gallery as part of her Masters degree...

Art is a window, a reflection, and the embodiment of the world we live in. What could be a representation of our truths may change – given new surroundings and new stimuli, we may see a shift in how we colour the world. Patriot Mukmin is a visual artist and lecturer at the Bandung Institute of Technology with a particular interest in how history and social events shape Indonesian art today. Having presented solo exhibitions in France (2023), Japan (2019), Jakarta (2017), South Korea (2016),...

Back to school! As Melbourne passes its coldest point of the winter, university students face a new semester ahead of them. We wonder about our classes, meeting new people, and face the challenges of balancing studies, social life, and personal growth. It’s a time of change and opportunity, filled with both uncertainty and excitement. Saskia Sukmana, currently pursuing a double degree from Universitas Indonesia and the University of Melbourne, joins Billy Adison Aditijanto⁠ on The Perantau...

More than 2000 Indonesian students study across Victoria alone, making it one of the top destinations for Indonesian students studying abroad. As the peak representative Indonesian student body in the state, PPIA Victoria celebrates the Indonesian identity by serving and supporting Indonesian students across Victoria through student and community-oriented events. PPIA Victoria President, Agung Padmeshwara, joins Billy Adison Aditijanto on The Perantau Podcast to talk about what makes PPIA...

The growing number of Indonesian restaurants in Melbourne is solid proof of the high demand and the high quality of Indonesian food readily available. From nasi goreng to iga bakar, to Indonesian coffee and es campur, Indonesian food looks to pave the way to bring Indonesia to the world. As its namesake, Kenangan brings Indonesian flavours and culture to Australia, rekindling memories of home and sparking new ones along the way. Although having started out as a vacuum-packed delivery service...

Global education plays a key role in connecting Indonesians studying abroad and Australians learning about Indonesian language and culture. While navigating cross-cultural challenges, pop culture and social media goes a long way to teach Australians about Indonesia. As more Australians engage with Indonesian culture, we start to see positive changes. This allows for meaningful connections and enhancing cultural exchange efforts. Sharyn Davies, Director of theHerb Feith Indonesian Engagement...

Playwriting and drama can be a powerful tool for exploring migrant identities, sharing their stories and cultures. Through understanding and awareness, one can reconnect with their roots and continuously explore who they are, both for themselves and what they may represent. Victoria Winata is a playwright and director, through her original "MAY 1998" and "Dear Sun, Love Joy", and actively works with the Australia-Indonesia Youth Association of Victoria. Victoria joins Billy Adison Aditijanto...

Around 20,000 Indonesians call Melbourne home, ⁠ABS data⁠ shows. With a predominantly younger group of diaspora, Melbourne, and Victoria more broadly, becomes a melting pot of Indonesians past and present, old and new. This comes at a time when Indonesia and Australia continue to strengthen bilateral ties and brings about even more opportunities. Pak Kuncoro Giri Waseso, ⁠Consul General for the Republic of Indonesia in Melbourne⁠, joins ⁠Billy Adison Aditijanto⁠ on ⁠The Perantau Podcast⁠ to...

Home to the largest population of active social media users in Southeast Asia and third in Asia-Pacific, millions of Indonesian diaspora actively stay connected with what goes on back home through social media. Dr. Monika Winarnita, Indonesian studies lecturer from the University of Melbourne, joins Billy Adison Aditijanto on The Perantau Podcast to talk about how social media strengthens the international Indonesian consciousness, how migrants have different social media profiles for...

The Australia-Indonesia Youth Association (AIYA) is a non-profit, youth-run organisation that bridges young Indonesians and Australians together with active chapters in every Australian state and territory, as well as Jakarta, Jawa Barat, Yogyakarta, South Sulawesi and East Nusa Tenggara. AIYA Victoria President Angus Baranikow joins Billy Adison Aditijanto on The Perantau Podcast to share his thoughts on the Australian-Indonesian relationship in Victoria, aspirations for the future, and why...

Ramadan Mubarak! Happy fasting to all observing Muslims. In this blessed month for some, it is also a time for reflection and to look at how we view religion when we’re far away from home. Eqi and Alfath from the Young Indonesian Muslim Students Association (YIMSA) join Billy Adison Aditijanto to talk about their experiences as Muslims living abroad, YIMSA's role in providing a supportive environment for Muslims in Melbourne, and the importance of finding a community with shared values and...

The things you do will always matter to someone, even if you don't realise. Just because you’re abroad, doesn’t mean you’re helpless to what goes on back home. You can still make a difference! Jane and Aretha from Solar Chapter Melbourne join Billy Adison Aditijanto to discuss how they raise funds to build clean water infrastructure and improve education in remote NTT villages, what it means to make a social impact, and all the highs and lows of giving back to Indonesia from abroad. Find...

Youth plays an important role in celebrating and maintaining the use of Indonesian abroad but also continues to shape the way we speak and understand each other. Indonesian academic Yacinta Kurniasih joins Billy Adison Aditijanto to talk about how she continues to teach Indonesian and Javanese at Monash University, how being away from Indonesia makes you more Indonesian, and how she believes Indonesians are the most multilingual people in the world. This episode is delivered predominantly...

Hirzi Putra Laksana, Editor-in-Chief of What is Up Indonesia? (WIUI) talks to Billy Adison Aditijanto about how they inspire young Indonesians, especially those abroad, to actively engage in politics. Explore the role of digital media in democratising information and empowering individuals to stay news-savvy. Tune in for an insightful discussion on staying informed and making informed decisions in the realm of Indonesian politics. Stay updated with the latest insights and perspectives on...

Welcome to The Perantau Podcast. Join Billy Adison Aditijanto and have a chat with overseas Indonesians to talk about what it means to be – well – Indonesians, and to celebrate the vibrant tapestry of our diaspora.