About us
The Australia-Japan Foundation (AJF) is Australia’s oldest cultural council supporting people-to-people links underpinning this key bilateral and regional relationship.
Established by the Australian Government in 1976, the AJF aims to:
- increase awareness and understanding in Japan of shared interests with Australia;
- increase awareness and understanding in Australia of the importance of Japan to Australia as an economic and strategic partner; and
- increase recognition in Japan of Australian excellence and expertise.
Eminent Australians, appointed to the AJF board, provide a range of expertise and input to Australia’s foreign policy and economic diplomacy priorities through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The AJF provides grants to projects aligned with the Australian Government’s priorities with funding from the International Relations Grants Program (IRGP). The AJF expands people-to-people and institutional links through programs and partnerships on contemporary issues including in economic diplomacy, the arts, media, education, business, science, technology and sport.
The AJF has its headquarters in Canberra and is supported by an office at the Australian Embassy in Tokyo