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JETAAWA activities

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kaiWA

In around 2007, JETAAWA was looking for a way to maintain its activities on a regular basis, rather than simply holding key events every few months. Of course, all being volunteers, we needed to make sure the idea was not prohibitively labour-intensive.

We also wanted to make sure that we were catering to the interests of our ex-JET members in preserving their links to the real, living Japan. The best way to do that, we thought, was to devise an event that attracted Japanese residents of WA, through discussions with whom our members could get their Japan ‘fix’.

Of course, that meant the event needed to be able to offer something to those Japanese residents too!

The solution was 会WA (kaiWA), a casual language and cultural exchange event that has been held every fortnight since.

The venue is an inner-city pub, which is convenient and attractive for both ex-JET professionals working in the city, and local Japanese people.

We bring a lot of business to the venue, so room hire is free. We ‘charge’ a $2 donation for entry, which we then use to buy snacks for everyone from the bar.

Being open to the public, kaiWA is also a great way to promote the JET Programme itself (and related events) to potential applicants – as well as to Japanese visitors who are then proactive in making contact with and supporting current JETs when they return to their homes in Japan. It’s win-win!

See https://www.facebook.com/kaiWAJETAAWA

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World of Food – Japan Festival

In November 2013, JETAAWA was fortunate enough to be invited by the Perth Consulate-General to participate in the ‘World of Food Festival’, an event organised by the consular bodies of various countries in Perth.

While the Consulate itself prepared yaki-soba, JETAAWA catered to the thirsty masses by selling かき氷 (kaki-gori), or shaved ice, a staple of any Japanese summer festival.

The idea proved a great fundraiser for JETAAWA, so in February 2014 we repeated it at the first Japan Festival in Perth’s Forrest Place. We sourced high-quality syrups and a number of ice crushers, and again took advantage of the Perth summer to sell around 1,000 serves of kaki-gori, including our own recipe for a green-tea speciality!

We were also able to use our stall to promote our activities and the JET Programme in general, via word of mouth, flyers and a specially prepared video presentation.

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  • The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this Correspondence in PDF.

  • The latest of our correspondence is released.

    View this Correspondence in PDF.

  • The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this Correspondence in PDF.

  • 2023/2024 CLAIR Forum 

    Theme: Disaster Management and Resilience

    Disaster Management is essential for local governments as it helps save lives, protect properties, build resilience, and ensure the overall well-being and stability of communities in the face of disasters such as natural disasters and epidemic outbreaks. And it has become more important than ever in recent years. In the 2024 CLAIR Forum, presented by CLAIR Sydney and UTS, we  explored the practices of prevention, response, and recovery to disasters in local governments in Australia and Japan. We also reflected on new ways of thinking about and building resilient communities, built and natural environments, economies and governments. 

    Date:  11 March,2024 (Monday)
    Time: 1:00pm to 5:00pm 
    Venue: The Japan Foundation, Sydney – Seminar Room （Hybrid）

    Speakers

    – Tomoyuki Takemura (Assistant Director, CLAIR Sydney / Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications)

    Provided an overview of recent disaster occurrences in Japan such as the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, the role of administrative organisations (national, prefectural, and municipal) during disasters, and the updated information on the status of the support system established by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

    – Reiko Kunisaki (Assistant Director, CLAIR Sydney / Fukuoka Prefectural Government)

    Described the recent heavy rain disasters in Fukuoka, efforts in supporting evacuees requiring assistance (including training on municipal guidance, operation of evacuation centres, and creation of individual evacuation plans) in collaboration with local governments and partners.

    – Kana Tsujiwaki (Assistant Director, CLAIR Sydney / Wakayama Prefectural Government)

    Touched upon the anecdote of Goryo Hamaguchi, a native of Wakayama, which led to the establishment of “World Tsunami Day.” Also explained distinctive disaster countermeasures in Wakayama, such as setting safety levels for evacuation destinations, the “Dokodemo Stand” mobile gas station, and mobile disaster prevention education.

    – Nicole Parsons (Manager Regional Resilience Programs, Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation)

    The presentation highlighted collaborative efforts with local governments and partners in the Illawarra Shoalhaven region to reduce disaster risks, including enhancing infrastructure resilience, improving access to geographic data, and developing environmental monitoring and early warning systems.

    – Shinnosuke Matsumoto (Assistant Director, CLAIR Sydney / Ichihara city council)

    Discussed disaster response in his city, the response system during disasters, types and conditions for opening evacuation centres, and examples of efforts in adapting to changes in operating the centres during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    – Hideaki Ota(Assistant Director, CLAIR Sydney / Odawara city council)

    Provided an overview of medical services during disasters in Japan, focusing on the Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT), including the outline, process, and roles of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, and disaster base hospitals. Presented examples, including Odawara City Hospital’s dispatch of DMAT to the Noto Peninsula Earthquake.

    – Tommaso Briscese (General Manager, Burwood Council) & Miriam Wassef（Executive Manager, Place Management and Communications Burwood Council）

    Presented Burwood Council’s response to and recovery efforts for COVID-19, including care for the community, financial support for small and medium-sized enterprises for economic recovery, and events to promote human interaction that were reduced following the outbreak.

     

    The Q&A session allowed for exchanges of many questions and opinions among participants. Carol Mills concluded the forum, reflecting on the discussions.

  • The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

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  • From the 3rd to the 13th of December, eight selected swimmers from the Fukuoka Swimming Association visited NSW, where they participated in joint training sessions with a local school and competed in the 2024-25 Speedo NSW Senior State Age Championships.

    During the joint training, the athletes deepened their connections, and in the competition, the Fukuoka swimmers achieved remarkable success, earning numerous medals.
     
    The visit is based on the Memorandum of Understanding signed in December 2023 between the Fukuoka Prefecture, the Fukuoka Swimming Association, and Swimming NSW. CLAIR Sydney received a request from Fukuoka Prefecture to assist them with their activities and accompanied them during some parts of their visit.
     
    We will continue to support and deepen exchanges in the field of sports between Fukuoka Prefecture and NSW.
    To all the athletes, coaches, and accompanying staffs, Otsukaresamadeshita!
     
     
     
     
     
     

  • The latest issue of our correspondence is released.
    View this Correspondence in PDF.

     

     

  • The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this correspondence in PDF.

     

  • The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this Correspondence in PDF.

  • The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this Correspondence in PDF.