Rocky rep participates in prestigious professional placement
Rockhampton’s Gabrielle Jeffs has been selected as one of just six young professionals nationally to take part in the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Professional Placements Program in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The CQUniversity Student Leadership Officer is the only participant selected from the higher education sector and the sole representative that’s based in regional Australia.
The 2025 cohort brings together emerging leaders from a diverse range of sectors including agriculture and hospitality, law and consulting, non-profit and think tanks, IT and the arts.
Joining peers from Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, Gabrielle has begun the four-week placement that kicked off last week (September 22) and will conclude on October 17.
Funded by DFAT and delivered by Strategic Development Group in partnership with the Australian Consortium for ‘In-Country’ Indonesian Studies (ACICIS), the program is a direct response to the Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, which aims to strengthen economic and people-to-people ties with Southeast Asia.
“This program provides an invaluable opportunity to build mutual understanding and foster meaningful collaboration between Australia and Indonesia through shared learning and professional exchange,” Gabrielle said.
“This first week alone has deepened my understanding of how CQUniversity’s regional and practical approach to education could help meet Indonesia’s ambitions for agricultural transformation. There’s a genuine appetite for partnerships that support farmer-led innovation and environmental sustainability.”
The program is designed to help early to mid-career professionals build commercial acumen, cross-cultural competencies and valuable networks, while exploring opportunities for collaboration between Australia and Indonesia.
Gabrielle brings a strong background in cross-cultural education to the placement, having previously studied in Germany (as a Rotary Youth Exchange student and at Universität Stuttgart), China (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), India (Centre for Escalation of Peace) and Indonesia (Universitas Katolik Parahyangan and Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana) through ACICIS programs.
“This is an opportunity to strengthen my professional commitment to cross-cultural education and contribute to the growing partnership between Australia and Indonesia,” she said.
Participants have already taken part in an intensive program of orientation, language study, company visits and professional networking - including engagement with the Australian Embassy.
“We’ve visited the BliBli (e-commerce) Head Office, the Australian Embassy in Jakarta which included lunch with Ambassador Rod Brazier and a seminar with Australian Trade and Investment Commissioner (Technology, Healthcare, Agribusiness) Lauren Adams, attended a seminar on Professional Communication in Indonesia facilitated by Oka Simanjuntak, former Commissioner, Chief Country Representative Indonesia of the Queensland Government and Clarice Campbell, Lead Adviser Skills at IA-CEPA ECP Katalis,” Gabrielle explained.
The group also attended a networking event with representatives from participating Indonesian host businesses before commencing their placements in Jakarta.
Gabrielle was welcomed by Professor Pierre Viljoen on her first day at CQUniversity’s Jakarta office.
"Staff at CQU in Jakarta were excited to host and support Gabrielle during her DFAT Professional Placements Program,” Professor Viljoen said.
“We are also looking forward to the professional expertise she will add to the team during her stay - everyone here is impressed with her ability to relate in Bahasa Indonesia already."
Gabrielle said the Australian Government was offering similar support to Australian businesses that might be interested in hosting temporary work placements of young professionals from Southeast Asia.
“I encourage any business, particularly if there is a business unit within CQU that would like to participate in the program, to get on board.”
More information is available on the placement program website.
