The Australia Indonesia Awards were initiated by AIA NSW in 2014. The aim of the awards is to recognise and honour those individuals who have made a significant contribution to the greater understanding and friendship between Australians and Indonesians.
This award program is open to Australians and Indonesians. The awards are made in 3 categories which are varied each year. Finalists each year have come from all over Australia and Indonesia. They have ranged from people with a lifetime involvement, to those who are much younger but have been an inspiration to others.
Nominations for the Awards are made online. An independent Selection Panel reviews the nominations received and selects 3 finalists in each category, and also selects the winner in each category.
The finalists are announced once the selection process has been finalised, and the winners announced at the Awards Presentation. Short videos are made of each of the finalists and their achievements, and these are shown at the Awards presentations held in Sydney.
Proceeds from the Award Presentations events are donated to designated charities. In the first year the proceeds were donated to the Nusa Tenggara Association (NTA) providing self help projects in eastern Indonesia. Since then, donations have been made to the Papuan Health Initiative for health projects in Papua and West Papua, and to the Qantas Helping Hands Community. The Nusa Tenggara Association (NTA) has again been selected as the charity for 2021.