The ASEAN-Australia Centre was announced by the Prime Minister of Australia at the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in March 2024. We deliver programs and initiatives that deepen Australia’s connections with Southeast Asia and ASEAN and support a peaceful, stable and prosperous region.
The Centre supports the ASEAN-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and progresses implementation of Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.
Kaya the Kangaroo
The Centre has a kangaroo mascot, named 'Kaya'. A competition was held on social media to find a suitable name and nearly 300 entries were received from across Australia and Southeast Asia. The winning entry 'Kaya' means 'hello' or 'yes' in Noongar, an Aboriginal language from Western Australia. It also means 'rich' in Indonesian and Malay and kaya toast symbolises sweetness in Singapore. The name reflects the Centre's commitment to building connections with Southeast Asia and Australia's First Nations cultures. The name was supported by the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council. You can Watch a video from Noongar man Ash Penfold about Kaya below.