Deakin Indonesian Language Internship
Learn Indonesian in an immersive environment
Program overview
Learn Indonesian intensively while getting real-world work experience
The Indonesian Language Internship is available to all Deakin students interested in developing their Indonesian Language at skills at any level. Including time in both North Sumatra and Jakarta, this immersive four-week program offers a combination of teacher-led and experiential language learning in Indonesia.
You will spend your mornings studying Indonesian language at our prestigious program partner, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU). Your afternoons will mainly be spent working alongside Indonesian students on a project, which will require you to utilise your Indonesian skills in a real-world setting. You will also interact with a broad range of stakeholders through organisational visits, and engage exciting activities, including trekking with orangutans in Gunung Leuser National Park!
The program includes preparatory and reflective language classwork to maximize learning outcomes and reinforce language acquisition.
We will work with you to help you Earn University Credit. You may also be eligible for funding, including a New Colombo Plan grant of $5,000 and an OS-HELP loan of up to $10,130.
The program next runs from 13 June - 11 July 2026
Applications close on 13 April 2026
Program details
Build networks, develop your language skills and get real work experience
Day 1 - Day 24: North Sumatra
In North Sumatra your typical weekday will start with approximately 3 hours of Indonesian language classes at the University of North Sumatra (USU) before moving to your host organisation and working on your immersive project-based internship. You will receive guidance through regular catch ups with your instructor from USU and the International Internships team. You will be primarily based in North Sumatra’s capital, Medan, but will also spend some time staying nearby to the rainforest and surrounds of Gunung Leuser National Park (GNLP).
Orientation
Language Classes
Make Friends
Team Internship
Jungle Trekking
Medan – Read more about the location & what we do there
Medan, the capital of North Sumatra, is one of Indonesia’s largest cities. It has a long history as a trading centre, is an important port and today serves as a centre for the palm oil industry and financial services sector in Indonesia. By visiting Medan, you will gain an understanding of the key drivers of change by hearing from high-level decision makers and researchers.
Our time will include:
Airport pickup
You will be met at the airport when you arrive in Medan, then taken to your hotel.
Orientation
We will show you around and give you all the info you need to help you be safe, mobile and happy while in Indonesia.
University of North Sumatra (USU)
USU is the premier university in North Sumatra and a close partner in the development and delivery of this program.
During the orientation at USU, specialists will present about the complex interplay between industrial development and the environment, deforestation and the drivers of trade, providing you with a real depth of understanding of these issues.
Students from USU will likely join the team internships and other activities in North Sumatra, providing local insight and knowledge on key issues and helping you to discover the real Indonesia.
Language Classes
Most weekday mornings will be spent at USU, where you will attend a three-hour Indonesian language class.
Internship
You will complete your internship throughout your time in Medan, working most afternoons. At the conclusion of your internship you will present the outcomes of your work to your supervisors and the group.
Gunung Leuser National Park – Read more about the location & what we do there
One of the most biodiverse areas in the world, Gunung Leuser National Park is home to key fauna including orangutans, tigers, elephants, rhinoceros and much more. During our visit you’ll be immersed in the dense, tropical environment and experience a range of unforgettable activities including work with local change-makers and on-the-ground experience of environmental conservation.
Undertake Conservation Activities with a Grassroots NGO
Get your hands dirty by doing conservation work to support the initiatives of a local grassroots NGO. This will most likely involve planting trees on the perimeter of the national park.
Trek with Orangutans
Trek through the national park to see orangutans in their natural habitat and immerse yourself in the unique biodiversity of Gunung Leuser National Park. Conditions permitting, you will also have the option to raft along a river bordering the national park.
Stay in a Local Village
We will be hosted by the home village of the founder of our local NGO partner. You will learn about life in the village and some of the challenges presented by development and tourism.
Day 25 - Day 28: Jakarta
In Jakarta, you will visit key institutions such as the Australian Embassy, Indonesian government departments, and companies/NGOs of interest. Sessions are tailored to provide an overview of international relations within the Southeast Asian region, and Australia's role in particular.
Visit Decision Makers
Explore
24/7 Support
Jakarta - Read more about the location and what we do there
It is impossible to get a thorough understanding of how things work in Indonesia without spending time in it’s bustling capital, Jakarta. Home to the ASEAN Secretariat and the heads of many international government, non-government and corporate offices, Jakarta is where key decisions are made and national strategy is formulated. We will hear from some of the organisations at the heart of this decision making, which helps provide context for the visits in North Sumatra.
Our time will include:
Cultural immersion
Visit some fantastic sites such as Istiqlal (Independence) Mosque and Jakarta’s Kota Tua, or Old Batavia.
Organisational Visits
We will visit a range of organisations such as government departments (both Australian and Indonesian), international and local NGOs, think tanks and innovative organisations disrupting the status quo.
Available projects
Stories That Spark a Love for Reading
Developing Interactive Storybooks and Storytelling Techniques for Children’s Literacy
Yayasan Cinta Baca Sumatra Utara is a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting literacy and access to educational resources across North Sumatra. The foundation supports local communities through libraries, reading programs, and literacy initiatives aimed at empowering children, youth, and adults. By fostering a culture of learning and curiosity, Yayasan Cinta Baca works to create sustainable change, improving educational outcomes and providing vital resources for under-resourced areas.
More About the Project
Project Background
In today’s digital era, engaging readers of all ages—children, youth, and adults—presents unique challenges, with screen-based distractions often replacing traditional reading. This shift impacts literacy, critical thinking, and imagination. Storytelling remains a powerful tool to counter these trends, sparking engagement, conversation, and curiosity.
Creating authentic storybooks in Bahasa Indonesia from scratch, inspired by local and Australian narratives, enriches this approach by offering readers diverse perspectives that broaden their understanding of the world. Collaborating with children in story development fosters ownership and interest, making reading more meaningful and accessible. This project with Yayasan Cinta Baca leverages storytelling to cultivate a love for reading, build literacy skills, and empower communities to embrace lifelong learning.
Project Objective
The objective of this project is to enhance literacy and foster a love for reading among children, youth, and adults through the development of interactive storybooks and engaging storytelling techniques. By creating original story books inspired by both local and Australian tales, the project aims to broaden readers’ horizons, nurture imagination, and support Yayasan Cinta Baca’s mission to promote literacy in North Sumatra.
Project Outputs
- Develop Interactive Storybooks: Authentically crafted storybooks inspired by local and Australian narratives. Conduct research on creative storytelling techniques and collaborate with volunteers and educators to workshop these methods, ensuring they are culturally relevant, impactful for the local context and following the organisation’s standards and guidelines.
- Cultural Exchange and Community Engagement: The team will conduct two school visits and participate in three Friday storytelling sessions with children, teachers, and parents. Through these interactions, they will share aspects of Australian culture in Bahasa Indonesia, fostering cross-cultural engagement and building connections within the community.
- Presentation of Research and Learning: The team will prepare a presentation or mini-report detailing their research findings, observations, and learning journey, highlighting their engagement experiences and insights gained.
Interactive & Educational Game Development
Strengthening Conservation Education & Awareness Impacts for Orangutans and Their Habitat
Yayasan Ekosistem Lestari (YEL) is a non-governmental organization based in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia. The organization focuses on Sumatran orangutan conservation through habitat protection, orangutan rescue and rehabilitation, environmental education, community engagement, and sustainable development initiatives. YEL works closely with local communities, schools, government institutions, and international partners to promote biodiversity conservation and long-term ecosystem sustainability.
More About the Project
Project Background
Over the last few decades, rapid digitalization and modernization have significantly influenced how children and communities learn, communicate, and interact. Traditional education approaches are no longer sufficient to fully engage younger generations. At the same time, the need for orangutan conservation remains urgent due to habitat loss, deforestation, and human-wildlife conflict.
To increase the effectiveness and impact of conservation education programs, innovative and engaging methods are required. Interactive and educational games offer an opportunity to combine learning with creativity and digital engagement. By developing game-based learning tools, conservation messages can be delivered in a more attractive, participatory, and impactful way, especially for children and youth.
This project aims to strengthen conservation education by integrating interactive tools that enhance awareness and understanding of orangutans and their habitat.
Project Objective
The objective of this project is to design and develop interactive and educational game-based tools that support and enhance existing conservation education and awareness programs.
- Create engaging educational materials that increase understanding of orangutan conservation.
- Integrate conservation messages into interactive learning formats.
- Support schools and communities with innovative conservation learning tools.
- Increase the overall impact of YEL’s environmental education programs
Project Outputs
- Development of a prototype board game focused on orangutan conservation.
- Development of interactive activity-based games for educational sessions.
- Development of a simple digital application game (for TV or mobile devices)
- Final report and presentation summarizing the development process, outcomes, and recommendations.
Dates & fees
| Details | Summer Program |
|---|---|
|
Arrive in Indonesia |
13 June 2026 |
|
Depart Indonesia |
11 July 2026 |
|
Duration |
4 weeks |
|
Apply by |
13 April 2026 |
|
Program fee |
$4,600 |
|
NCP funding* |
$5,000 |
* NCP funding is limited and only available to eligible students. Learn more.
Inclusions & exclusions
Inclusions
- Industry project placement and support
- Accommodation in a mixture of private accommodation in shared apartment or co-living arrangement and twinshare (same gender) accommodation at a hotel
- Pre-departure support, including visa advice and sponsorship where required
- Administrative support, including academic credit approval (if applicable)
- Airport transfers on nominated arrival and departure dates
- Immersive orientation program
- Intercultural communication workshop
- Approximately 40 hours of Indonesian language classes
- Career development workshop
- Explore the surrounding areas through an organised weekend trip
- Cultural and social events with Indonesian buddies
- 24/7 in-country support
- Weekly check-ins
- International internships completion certificate
- Connection with Indonesian students from local universities
Exclusions
- Internet, phone and home working set-up
- Flight costs, airport taxes and associated costs
- Visa costs and passport fees
- Travel insurance
- Meals and drinks
- Enrolment fees for any subjects at your university
- Host-specific requirements (ie. uniform, safety equipment)
- Vaccinations (if required)
- Laundry, toiletries and amenities
- Extra activities and travel, or any other items of a personal nature
- Daily transportation costs
Why Indonesia?
Opportunities abound with this key partner and centre for regional strategy and economic development
Indonesia has the largest economy in Southeast Asia, and is predicted to be the world’s fifth-largest economy by 2030. Australia and Indonesia signed the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) in 2020, marking the beginning of a new era of enhanced strategic and commercial cooperation. Opportunities abound in a diverse range of areas, including business and trade, finance, technology, infrastructure development, education, environmental conservation, security and more.
Click here to learn more about the opportunities Indonesia has to offer you.
Course credit
We support you to earn credit for your course
To earn academic credit for this program you must enrol in AWL203 – Expand Your Experience (1-credit point). You are welcome to join the program without earning academic credit, but will not be eligible to receive an NCP grant, as detailed below.
For more information, please contact Agustina Wayansari at agustina.wayansari@deakin.edu.au or Indah Sari indah.sari@deakin.edu.au. Both domestic and international students are eligible to apply although you must be an Australian citizen to be eligible to receive the NCP funding.
Grants & funding
$5,000 NCP grants exceed the program fee!
New Colombo Plan (NCP)
You are likely to be eligible for an NCP grant if:
- You are an Australian citizen
- You are an undergraduate student
- This experience will count toward your uni degree
- You have received no more than one NCP grant previously (no more than two in total)
You can earn an NCP grant of $5,000 for joining this program. With a program fee of $4,600, this means there is $400 left over to help cover additional costs. See ‘Dates & Fees’ for the program costs and inclusions.
There are limited NCP grants available and applications received early will be prioritised. We work directly with you and your faculty to confirm your eligibility for an NCP grant before you accept your position on the program and pay the deposit.
Please note you are still eligible to apply for the program even if you are not eligible to receive NCP funding.
Contact International Internships for more information.
OS-HELP repayable loan
OS-HELP is a loan available to eligible students enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place who plan to undertake some of their study overseas. If your experience with us will count towards the requirements for your Commonwealth supported course in Australia, you may be able to borrow up to $10,130. You may also be eligible to borrow an extra $1,345 if you study Indonesian language in preparation for your internship.
Learn more about OS-HELP here.
Other funding options
Learn about all other funding options that might be available to you, on our webpage here.
Past Information Session
Find out more about internships we offer, fees, grants and credit
Apply by 13 April 2026
Apply to Deakin
Confirm your spot
Finalise and prepare
What next?
Book in a chat with us to discuss your options
We make everything as easy as possible for you, and it all starts with a commitment-free consultation.
Click below to book your obligation-free consultation, or just email us with any questions:
info@internationalinternships.com.au
What our interns say
Real experiences, real impact – hear from those who’ve been there
