THE ROLE OF BALAI BAHASA INDONESIA IN PERTH AS A NON-STATE ACTOR IN PROMOTING INDONESIAN CULTURE AND LANGUAGE EDUCATION 2008 – 2018

Abstract

The Indonesia and Australia dynamic relation that described as ‘roller coaster’ as both countries shared a long history in the past of relationship were filled challenges that lead to the Australian negative perception towards Indonesia. In maintaining a good relationship is important to gain mutual respect and understanding that can be reach in many way, one of them through cultural approaches especially in language teaching. As language is one of communication tools in order to achieve deeper cross-cultural understanding, therefore the establishment of Balai Bahasa Indonesia in Perth as Indonesian language program that run Indonesian cultural activities. From 2008 – 2018, BBIP play an active role in promoting Indonesian culture in order to linking both Indonesia and Australian communities that indicated to International Relation study which is the utilization of cultural diplomacy and multi-track diplomacy. In identifying those relation, this research used qualitative method with analytical descriptive approaches with reports from Balai Bahasa Indonesia in Perth Chair person’s report, and an interview with Karen Bailey as the founding of Balai Bahasa Indonesia in Perth as the primary data along with literatures, journals, and books as the secondary data.