Career Summary

Isabella is an Australia-Indonesia relations specialist and Project Officer at the Australia-Indonesia Centre, where she works across Australia and Indonesia to build connections between universities, government, researchers and communities. A Monash Arts graduate with a background in Sociology and Indonesian, Isabella’s interest in Indonesia grew through her language studies, an exchange at Universitas Gadjah Mada, and an Honours research project exploring cigarette advertising and portrayals of masculinity in Indonesia. Her career has since included experience across government policy, major infrastructure, youth diplomacy and international development, with experiences including the Australia Indonesia Youth Exchange Program and the Darmasiswa Scholarship. An internship at the Australia-Indonesia Centre also helped her build the professional networks that eventually led to her current role, where she now coordinates international projects and regularly uses her Indonesian language skills in professional settings. Drawing on the research, analytical, communication and cross-cultural skills developed through her Arts education, Isabella has built a career around her passion for Indonesia, international engagement and people-to-people connections.

Career Pathway:

Jul 2025 - Present: Project Officer, Australia-Indonesia Centre (AIC)

Dec 2024 - Jul 2025: Policy Officer, Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions

Sep 2023 - Jul 2024: Darmasiswa Scholar, Universitas Katolik Parahyangan

Oct 2022 - Sep 2023: Policy Officer, Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions

Nov 2021 - Dec 2022: President of Victoria Chapter, Australia-Indonesia Youth Association

Jul 2022 - Oct 2022: Project Support Officer, Suburban Rail Loop Authority

May 2022 - Jul 2022: Future Leader Series Delegate, Youth Australians in International Affairs

Nov 2021 - Dec 2021: Research Intern, Australia-Indonesia Centre (AIC)

Nov 2021 - Dec 2021: Delegate, Australia Indonesia Youth Exchange Program (AIYEP)

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Career Journey questions:

What inspired you to pursue an Honours Degree of Bachelor of Arts at Monash University?

Graduating from high school, I chose Arts at Monash because I wanted a broad degree with opportunities to explore different areas. I had studied French and Indonesian in high school and wanted to continue. During my undergraduate studies, I specialised in Sociology and Indonesian, which I really enjoyed. When the opportunity for Honours came up, I wanted to take my learning a step further through an Honours year and research project.

The idea for my research came during a semester at UGM in Yogyakarta. Seeing cigarette advertising in Indonesia and how gendered it was, inspired my thesis on cigarette advertising and portrayals of masculinity. Coming from Australia, where cigarette ads were banned before I was born, seeing them in Indonesia was confronting. Combining my background in Sociology with my interest in Indonesian culture made an Honours research project the perfect fit.

How did studying Arts shape your understanding of different cultures and perspectives?

Massively. I took a unit on translating and working across cultures where we partnered with students from language disciplines (LOTE) like French, Spanish, Chinese and German to translate work and discuss the process.

While studying at UGM, I took a similar unit delivered in Indonesian. I was the only non-Indonesian student and was often called on to speak, which was intimidating given my language level at the time. Learning the theory is one thing, but putting cross-cultural communication into practice is where real growth happens.

Was there a particular subject, experience or mentor at Monash that had a lasting impact on your career direction?

My Indonesian teachers, Ibu Yacinta and Pak Thomas, had the biggest impact on my time at Monash. Pak Thomas recommended I apply for ACICIS to do an exchange at UGM; without his encouragement, I wouldn't have pursued that program. Ibu Yacinta is famous among Indonesian language students at Monash for running great classes. She’s an absolute pocket rocket and I along with many of her former students have fond memories of her. The guidance from these two educators and the experiences they enabled had a lasting influence on my pathway.

You undertook an internship at the Australia-Indonesia Centre (AIC). What was the most valuable thing you learned from that experience?

The networking and connections I gained were invaluable and directly led to my current role. My supervisors were incredibly supportive; my mentor, Marlene, introduced me to the Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer. I made a point to stay in touch with contacts from my internship so they knew I was looking for opportunities. Years later, when a job opened up at the AIC, they remembered me and reached out directly. Staying connected opened the door to my current career path.

You completed an exchange at Universitas Gadjah Mada in Indonesia. What advice would you give students considering studying abroad?

My best advice is to plan thoroughly beforehand. Map out your units, set up a budget so money isn't a source of stress and research cultural norms. Eg. pack conservative clothing if you're traveling to a conservative country.

Once you arrive, be as flexible, adaptable and open-minded as possible. Academic and institutional systems in Indonesia can be very different eg. classes might be canceled last minute (kelas kosong). The students who go with the flow, adapt to culture shock, and remain resilient always have the best experience. If you are considering studying abroad: definitely do it.

Your career has included international relations, government policy, electoral operations and major infrastructure projects. How did your Arts education prepare you to navigate such diverse fields, and what transferable skills have been most valuable along the way?

While an Arts degree doesn't always offer a single linear career path, it gives you a strong foundation. I knew I was interested in gender studies and working in or with Indonesia, and I wanted to build a career around those passions.

The most transferable aspect of my degree was my Honours year. Designing and executing an independent research project teaches you how to manage projects, gather data, write clearly, and analyse complex information. These tools made policy development and legislative work much easier to navigate in state government. It can be intimidating to wonder how your Arts degree translates to the workforce, but the soft skills, analytical mindset, and adaptability you gain are directly applicable to almost any industry.

Can you tell us about your current role at the Australia-Indonesia Centre, the projects you work on, and what a typical day looks like?

As a bilateral organisation co-funded by both governments, the AIC operates in a unique space, which means managing stakeholders with diverse interests across both nations. A typical day involves close coordination with colleagues and stakeholders in Australia and Indonesia, including university partners and government departments.

My work centres on project coordination and stakeholder management. Recently, I coordinated the PAIR Annual Meeting in Makassar, a four-day conference for 100 researchers, NGOs and local government partners. I've also collaborated with the Monash Climate Change Communication Research Hub to run workshops for Indonesian journalists on climate reporting.

It is incredibly rewarding because it's the first role where I regularly use my Indonesian language skills in professional meetings and correspondence. Seeing years of studying language in high school and university pay off in my daily work is deeply satisfying.

Looking back on your journey so far, what advice would you give Monash Arts students who are interested in building an international career?

Don't be afraid to ask questions and seek help. My biggest regret as a student was not fully utilising the resources available at Monash earlier. I only discovered the Careers Office (CareerEdge) in my final year, which offers fantastic workshops on interviews, resume writing, cover letters and LinkedIn.

Reach out to your lecturers, peers, and broader network about potential opportunities. Cold emailing or asking questions can feel intimidating, but the worst response you will get is a 'no'. Be curious and explore all available avenues, including organizations like the Australia-Indonesia Youth Association (AIYA) or scholarships like the New Colombo Plan (NCP). Tap into your networks, ask questions and take advantage of every resource available to you.

Interviewed by Zoe Lee Bachelor of Global Studies as part of the Monash Arts Global Industry Connections (GIC) project, 8 September 2026