[November 2023] JETAA – A Vital Link Between Australia/New Zealand and Japan

Last month, we attended the JETAA Oceania Conference held in Melbourne. JETAA is an abbreviation for JET Alumni Association which is a self-supporting alumni association established to strengthen and maintain the bonds of friendship formed between JET Programme participants. The purpose of JETAA is to promote a broader and deeper understanding between Japan and the countries participating on the JET Programme. There are eight JETAA chapters in Australia and New Zealand. They continue to be a vital link between Australia/New Zealand and Japan.

Representatives from each branch in Australia and New Zealand gather once a year for the JETAA Oceania Conference, where they engage in lively discussions, exchanging recent activities and sharing ideas to address issues they face. The Singapore representative also attended this year’s conference. Each branch hosts it once a year on a rotational basis. We would like to express our gratitude to the VIC/TAS/SA chapter for organising this event. On the evening before the conference, a welcome reception was hosted by the Consulate General of Japan in Melbourne. We would like to take this opportunity to thank them. I was once again deeply impressed and humbled by their sincere efforts throughout the conference. It was truly amazing.

As of 1 July 2023, there are 455 JET Program participants from Australia/New Zealand in Japan. We believe they are helping to maximise the potential of young Japanese people, especially in regard to globalisation and they gain many exciting and unique experiences that they will continue to cherish after leaving Japan. We hope that after their time as a JET, they will participate in JETAA activities and continue to be a vital link between Australia/New Zealand and Japan. We would greatly appreciate if you could introduce JETAA to former JET Program participants around you. CLAIR Sydney will continue to support JETAA.