Padang Pariaman, 30 September 2025 — The Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Rod Brazier, visited Nagari Sungai Buluh Barat in Padang Pariaman Regency to see how local women are building collective strength through the Women’s School (Sekolah Perempuan). The initiative is implemented by Institut KAPAL Perempuan and Pambangkik Batang Tarandam (PBT), with support from the Australia–Indonesia Partnership Towards an Inclusive Society (INKLUSI).
The Sekolah Perempuan learning model focuses on strengthening women’s rights, leadership, economic skills, and access to basic services, particularly for those from low-income and marginalised groups. In Padang, more than 400 women have participated in the programme, and with INKLUSI’s support, PBT has now expanded the initiative to Padang Pariaman.
During the visit, Ambassador Brazier met with participants of Sekolah Perempuan Nusantara Kampus Jaya, along with community leaders and local government representatives. He also visited a collective vegetable garden managed by local women – a community-led initiative that supports both economic resilience and social solidarity.
“I was truly inspired by the stories of how women are learning, rising, and becoming changemakers in their communities. I will take these stories back to Jakarta as inspiration for our work moving forward,” said Ambassador Brazier.
According to PBT Director, Yulianti Puti, the Sekolah Perempuan serves as a safe space for women to learn, build confidence, understand their rights, and access essential services such as legal identity, social protection, and violence reporting mechanisms.
“In Padang Pariaman, women have established community stalls and collective gardens. In fact, five per cent of their business profits are allocated to support survivors of violence,” Yulianti explained.
Meanwhile, Budhis Utami, Executive Director of the Institut KAPAL Perempuan, added that the Sekolah Perempuan serves as a platform for fostering inclusive and solidarity-based women’s leadership.
“This initiative enables women to advocate for their rights, build cross-identity networks, and strengthen life skills to achieve wellbeing. In doing so, women play a vital role in driving gender-equitable and inclusive development,” said Budhis.
Strengthening Collaboration for Resilience and Inclusion
Ambassador Rod Brazier’s visit to Padang Pariaman formed part of his broader diplomatic mission to West Sumatra, aimed at strengthening Indonesia–Australia cooperation in inclusive development and community resilience.
A day earlier, on 29 September, Ambassador Brazier opened the Third International Conference on Disaster Mitigation and Management (ICDMM) in Padang, alongside the Head of Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Lieutenant General Dr Suharyanto, Governor of West Sumatra H. Mahyeldi Ansharullah, and representatives from key ministries. The conference commemorated the 2009 West Sumatra earthquake and encouraged scientific collaboration to advance disaster risk reduction.
“West Sumatra is at the forefront of disaster risk management. Australia is committed to deepening its partnership with Indonesia in strengthening resilience, inclusion, and community empowerment,” said Ambassador Brazier.
During the visit, the Ambassador also met with researchers from the KONEKSI platform to discuss projects on climate resilience and social inclusion in coastal communities across West Sumatra, visited the #AussieBanget Corner at Universitas Negeri Padang, and met with Australia Awards alumni in Padang and Bukittinggi.
Concluding his visit, Ambassador Brazier took time to appreciate West Sumatra’s rich cultural heritage, visiting iconic sites such as Jam Gadang and the Bung Hatta Birthplace Museum, and sampling kopi talua — a reminder of the strong people-to-people ties between Australia and the people of West Sumatra.
