Okay. Some of you might have known that I got a fellowship from the Australian government in Flinders University, but probably wonder what exactly it is and how the program runs. Well… actually it all depends on its subject. And since my subjects are about business and social studies which are based in a university, so that the learning delivered through the combination of variety of guest lectures, intensive trainings, and field visits, academical and practical knowledge abridge, in order to have strong fundamental theoritically, yet we can implement them in effective ways.
Lecturing, training, field visit. Which one is my favorite? Oh yeah, definitely the outside class sessions!! Ehehe… We visited many respectable government offices and enterprises, but because I tend to always bring my business head, I want to share about the business side and parts that I think are interesting for me personally, my business, and my lovely hometown, Bandung =)
Because there are too many, I will divide the summary into several parts. And these are the first ones:
1. Adelaide City Council
Located in the heart of the city, it’s very close to my apartment, and I always passed the office every time I go to Rundle Mall from Flinders Campus xD From my first weeks in Adelaide, I was amazed with their initiatives. You can find brochures about the City Council Programs in many places, including campuses, city library, etc. They run soo many programs, yet some of which attracted me are:
a. Digital Hub
Not everyone can operate a Macbook. Not everyone can optimize Windows either. Not everyone even knows how to use the e-library. Digital skill is one of the 21st century “must have” skills (I think). But even in Australia, there are still many people who do not acknowledged yet about how to use those electronics (and of course, especially aged people). For the younger generation, the level may be different. More advanced, perhaps. (Hey, look at me.. sometimes I’m also still face trouble with the Mac OS, zzz :|)
The point is… along the technology improvement, our people are also always need to be updated.. rite? And how the Adelaide Digital Hub do that?
They provide a free training for specified subjects, even one-on-one training with a trainer. And how did they get the trainers? They hire and open for volunteers (there are benefits for those who applied). Australian citizenship is not compulsory. Anyone can get involved, anyone can learn together. And they even eager to know what kind of training that we currently need. Remember… investing in people is investing in long-term business, too.
Bandung? I’m sure we can do this!
b. Adelaide Business Start-Up Grants
meeting with some stakeholders in Tonsley
You know, I can feel that the City Council is really encouraging for people setting up a business in this city. And for this year, they run this grant program. If I want to open my business in Adelaide, they can grant me up to $30,000 and use the under-utilized public building here. Surely it has terms and conditions. That number may only cover no more than 50% of the total cost, and there are common rules that we have to follow. But hey, it’s tempting, isn’t it? And it can also help them to grow a sustainable economy and optimize the unused land.
One of my Indonesian fellows, mba Rizna, the owner of @bakpiapia from Yogyakarta has applied for this grant, had a meeting with their representative, and I really hope everything goes well, so we can observe more about the opportunity provided. The City Council told her that if this program succeeds, they plan to make it an annual program, yeay! \o/
For Bandung? Our mayor has launched the “Kredit Melati” for the SMEs. It is also a good sign of his will. Just hope it will persist and grow to help our society starting up a business.
And hey hey hey, wait! I just remember that we also have that “Little Bandung” store program. How about to make it in Adelaide? I guess I should talk with kang Emil after this. G to G must be a lot easier (?), moreover for this good partnership. Another “Little Bandung” store in South Australia, how cool is that? 😀
c. Sustainable City Incentives Scheme
Solar PV is everywhere >,<
This one is what I’m really craving for, aaaakkk…!! ~~\o/ The City Council is really aware of environmental issues. They provide funding for residents, business, schools, community, and organizations that want to help to reduce carbon emission, conserve energy, water, and natural resources! D*mn cool!!
The incentives scheme can provide up to $5,000 for us installing solar PV, or energy storage, electric vehicle charging controller, building energy efficiency upgrade, changing out quartz halogen to LED, solar hot water system, rain water tanks, etc. THAT-JUST-COOL!
I’m not sure if it is possible to be implemented in Bandung, or even in any city in Indonesia. But yea… we can learn from this :’)
People-Planet-Profit. That’s all connected to make sustainable system.
d. The City Adelaide Prize
around the city, we can see many design installations side by side with the heritage buildings
The Adelaide City Prize is an annual prize to encourage people to propose and nominate projects that activate and enliven the city. The projects can be of any scale and may include buildings, public art installations, landscape works and temporary contributions to public space that actively engage the community and enhance the city’s public spaces.
I think the keywords are “brainstorm ideas for urban design”. And Bandung? With our mayor who comes from architectural engineering background? It is more than just possible! X) We had this in the latest “Babakan Siliwangi Design Prize”. And maybe we can develop more in wider cover range ^_^
The more livable a city, the more dynamic the sectors within.
Whuff! Even only from the City Council, I already write this long >,< Okay.. just 2 more for the rest of this part…
2. City of Prospect
the bus that pick us up to the City of Prospect library
In brief, my first impression of this is… it’s like BCCF! (Bandung Creative City Forum), even though it’s not really similar. The City Prospect has established more than one century! It is also area based. There are some acres allocated to be part of the community. They build their own infrastructure, and the development covers several aspects of economy, technology, and social. The similarity comes from the idea that they help the local government to achieve their missions, related to city improvement, people involvement, (hobby based) community engagement, kind of that sort. Then I think, aha! We already have this. And I feel more grateful because in Bandung, we have a potential strength that not all cities in the world have; we are dominated by youth &/ productive-aged people. (And fyi, our population is twice as many as in Adelaide).
Collaborations across sectors are opened widely. And in Bandung, we are… people who love to collaborate =)
City of Prospect Digital Hub. Interestingly, the word “PROSPECT” is ended by “CT”
with Matt Grant, the director of business and economic development of City of Prospect, who said that he has visited some co-working spaces in Bandung and met Yohan Totting, one friend of mine, too (Uwh yeah Yohan, who doesn’t know you? :)))
3. SASS Place
Carly, the founding director
I have ever mentioned it in my Facebook post, but I want to re-write about this place. This is a co-working space which also became my exploration in making paper/policy brief in Flinders University, one that I presented in the symposium, observe the possibility how if we adopt the concept for women in SMMEs in Indonesia, to optimize their contribution in the country’s economy.
For those who not yet have an idea what kind of place it is, here is my brief explanation: SASS Place is a co-working space located in the city of Adelaide, with their tagline; A Hub For Female Change Makers. Sooo interesting! Why? In fact, I’m also interested in making a co-working space, but I’ve never thought that women could be the specific target market. During the visit, we shared a lot with the founder, including what I know about how it is going in Indonesia. Emerging business model which is still struggling to survive, and so does in Australia. But owh, really… the idea has attracted me. Women have special needs and concerns. In SASS, they even provide child care and space for breast feeding so that women who have kids or in pregnancy could feel accommodated. Women should support other women. And by that, their husbands (&/families) are also feel safer, because they know that their partners are working in a “less man” area :B
Women who are renting spaces here come from various industries. Then I wonder.. how if we adopt it in Indonesia? Who’s with me? 😀 (spoiler: some of institutions in Australia interested to be the donor)
the child-care space in the 1st level
space in level 2
glance of the main place
one of the dedicated rooms
A women only co-working space. What an exciting idea. But along the process, I become consider about the current situation. There is also a chance to implement the gender perspective in the existing co-working spaces. Instead of making a new one, we can also persuade private sectors who already run the (mix) co-working spaces to make their spaces women friendly. This is in their own business interest as with the increasing number of women entrepreneurs in Indonesia, such spaces can become more profitable.
To point this objective, my group, made a recommendation to The Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection in Indonesia. They can play a vital role in establishing guidelines for the private sectors on what constitutes a women friendly work space. And actually they can also help the women entrepreneurs through their channels for funding, marketing, and other supports. What do you think? 😀
Whuff! There are still visits I want to share. But I think it is enough for this time. I will continue with the next posts. But before I end up this part, don’t forget to leave a comment below. Any ideas and advises are appreciated :*
Who wish you for always having a great day,
Hani Rosidaini
Daddy's Little Warrior 