A program to build capacity to support people with disability in Indonesia has brought 25 Australia Award Fellows to Flinders University.

The program is supported by a $250,000 grant from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The three-week program aims to assist in developing the expertise underpinning effective services that will build and sustain inclusion and citizenship opportunities for individuals living with disability in Indonesia

Dr Caroline Ellison, Head of the Department of Disability and Community Inclusion, who is co-ordinating the program, said that as well as attending a series of intensive workshops run by Flinders and TAFE staff, the visitors will visit a range of community-based programs for people with disability in Adelaide, run by government agencies and other providers.

“The Fellows will be assessing what they see, with the idea of adapting approaches and practices that they can use in Indonesia,” Dr Ellison said.

Ms Ellison said that many of the course participants are heads of rehabilitation centres in Indonesia, and part of the program is designed to help them develop their advocacy and leadership skills in order to accelerate the implementation of disability rights.

The program also incorporated a disability arts event featuring local performers including Tutti Ensemble, Company @ and Restless Dance Theatre.

Flinders also has a Memorandum of Understanding with Indonesia’s Ministry of Social Affairs that allows for continuing development of collaborative education and training programs in the area of social work and disability.